Students Lucas A. Lisondo di Tada, Andrea N. Belvis Aquino, and Amanda B. Meléndez Pérez, from the Mayagüez Campus (RUM) of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), obtained the prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to outstanding students pursuing master's and doctoral degrees related to research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines at U.S. institutions.
The three award-winning students will begin their doctoral studies soon. Lucas completed his bachelor's degree in the Department of Chemical Engineering last December and was accepted to Stanford University starting in August 2026. On the same date, Andrea, who is currently completing her Master of Science in Industrial Engineering, was admitted to the Atmospheric Sciences doctoral program at University at Albany (SUNY Albany). For her part, Amanda, a Master of Marine Sciences student with a concentration in Oceanographic Chemistry, will focus her next graduate stage on coral reef biogeochemistry, integrating interdisciplinary tools and approaches.
“At 18 years old, I decided I would be an inventor. Since I’ve always enjoyed being outdoors, playing soccer, camping, or surfing at the beach, I decided that my area would be to protect the environment. This award represents a pat on the back for me; and that you can choose as a vocation what one loves to do the most,” affirmed Lucas, who is currently working as a laboratory technician in Dr. Catherine Drennan’s research group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
For her part, Andrea highlighted the honor and motivation that this recognition signifies for continuing the development of applied research.
“It is an extremely competitive scholarship, and I am very proud to have obtained it, thanks to my academic performance and the research I have carried out at the College. This award will fund my doctoral studies and allow me to focus on my area of interest related to the impacts of particulate matter on air quality, precipitation, and climate,” reiterated the scientist, who also holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering and the curricular sequence in Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, both from RUM.
Likewise, Amanda described this opportunity as a validation of the effort, dedication, and passion she has put into her scientific training.
“As a Puerto Rican student and a first-generation scientist, this recognition reaffirms that my voice and my ideas have a place within this community. It also strengthens a personal mission that guides my work: to help people stop turning their backs on the sea and recognize the profound connection that exists between the health of our oceans and our own quality of life,” she emphasized.
Precisely, while stating that she is still evaluating the institution where she will complete her doctoral degree, Amanda reiterated that she is interested in the link between scientific research and citizen science, and how to make knowledge more accessible to everyone.
“This award will significantly impact my academic future by giving me greater freedom to develop projects focused on coral reef protection, climate change, and environmental health. Above all, I am motivated by the possibility of returning to Puerto Rico after my doctorate and contributing as a scientist on my island,” pointed out the student, who holds a bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences from the Pontifical Catholic University in Ponce.
The NSF-GRFP scholarship, one of the most prestigious and competitive nationally in the United States for graduate students, awards each selected individual an approximate total of $159,000, which includes an annual stipend of $37,000 for living expenses, and $16,000 to cover tuition for three years. The 2026-2027 cohort consists of approximately 2,500 awardees who were selected from among 14,000 applicants, and who stood out for their academic excellence and potential to contribute to scientific innovation.
“For the University of Puerto Rico, it is an honor to have these talented students as ambassadors of the prestigious National Science Foundation graduate fellowship. Their performance and the academic and research preparation acquired at UPR reflect the strength of our institution in training highly competitive scientific talent, prepared to continue their academic and research legacy in renowned institutions,” stated Dr. Zayira Jordán Conde, UPR President.
“At the Mayagüez Campus, we are extremely proud of the achievements of Lucas Lisondo di Tada, Andrea Belvis Aquino, and Amanda Meléndez Pérez, who have received an excellent education, strengthened by experience in the field of research. In them, we have cultivated creativity, analytical capacity, and an inquisitive mind that seeks new horizons of intellectual growth. I congratulate them on this achievement and wish them a very successful future in their graduate careers and in all contributions to their respective fields of science,” reiterated, for his part, Dr. Miguel A. Muñoz Muñoz, interim Chancellor of the RUM.
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