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.