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Washington State University
The Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering

Sarah Zeutschel Awarded the NASA Space Grant Undergraduate Scholorship in Science and Engineering

Sarah Zeutschel
Sarah Zeutschel

Sarah Zeutschel has been awarded the NASA Space Grant Undergraduate Scholarship in Science and Engineering. She will continue her work with Professor Haluk Beyenal. The award was made in recognition of her outstanding academic achievements and will facilitate her continued success in research at Washington State University. Her research focuses on how electrons are transferred from microbes to the solid phase electron acceptors.

Studies have shown that students who participate in an undergraduate research experience effectively integrate coursework, enabling them to more quickly become productive engineers. For these reasons, we are extremely pleased that NASA has enabled an outstanding student like Sarah to conduct research by working with a member of our faculty.

NASA Space Grant Fellowships Awarded to Our Students

Prof. Haluk Beyenal, Jerome Babauta, Sarah Zeutschel, Prof. Bernard J. VanWie and Sarah Haarsma.
(l to r) Prof. Haluk Beyenal, Jerome Babauta, Sarah Zeutschel, Prof. Bernard J. VanWie and Sarah Haarsma.

Three Voiland School students were selected to receive NASA Space Grant Fellowships in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements. The awards will facilitate their continued success in research. Campus-wide, 12 graduate fellowships and 6 undergraduate fellowships were awarded. Thus, Voiland School students received a disproportionately high fraction of the fellowships which were awarded. Sarah Zeutschel received the undergraduate fellowship. Sarah is working with Prof. Haluk Beyenal. Ms. Zeutschel’s research focuses on how electrons are transferred from microbes to solids. This work has application in fuel cells and wound healing. Graduate fellowships were awarded to Jerome Babauta and Sarah Haarsma. Mr. Babauta, who is seeking his PhD in chemical engineering working with Prof. Beyenal, studies electron transfer mechanisms in biofilms with an emphasis on microbial fuel cells. Ms. Haarsma is seeking her MS degree working with Prof. Bernard J. VanWie and is developing a unique detector for monitoring heart health. This device may be used to monitor the health of astronauts during extended space travel.