Five undergraduate students and two graduate students from UAB have been recognized by the Alabama Space Grant Consortium. Five undergraduate students from the University of Alabama at Birmingham College of Arts and Sciences and School of Engineering have been awarded NASA Alabama Space Grant Consortium scholarships, and two College of Arts and Sciences and School of Engineering graduate students have been honored as fellows.
“The NASA Alabama Space Grant undergraduate scholarships and graduate research fellowships allow UAB students to network with NASA scientists and prepare them for future careers in the science and technology fields,” said Yogesh Vohra, Ph.D., College of Arts and Sciences interim dean and College of Arts and Sciences associate dean for Research and Innovation.
Undergraduate scholarship recipients
Undergraduate students who are NASA Space Grant Scholars receive scholarships of $1,500 each. Three undergraduate students from UAB were selected to receive this scholarship.
Abhai Anand is a senior from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and is a UAB Honors College student majoring in biomedical engineering.
“Pursuing a college education with the hopes of a career in medicine and research would not be possible without the support of my community, and I am excited for the chance to give back,” Anand said. “I am extremely grateful for this scholarship, which supports my education and provides the opportunity to inspire younger students to explore the potential of higher education and STEM.”
Keith De La Rosa Gonzalez is a junior from Vestavia Hills, Alabama, double-majoring in advanced physics and mathematics and is a member of the UAB Honors College. This is the second year De La Rosa Gonzalez has been awarded this scholarship.
“Being recognized as a NASA Space Grant Scholar is especially meaningful to me because what I value most about science is not simply finding answers, but developing the tools and understanding needed to ask better questions,” De La Rosa Gonzalez said. “I am grateful for this support, which will help me continue growing as a researcher and preparing for a future dedicated to learning and discovery."
Roman Luckett, a Starkville, Mississippi, native, is a junior majoring in physics on the applied track and a student in the UAB Honors College. This is the second year Luckett has received this honor.
“I’m honored to receive a scholarship from NASA, an organization that has inspired me since childhood,” Luckett said. “This award provides me the opportunity to share that inspiration with others through STEM outreach.”
Undergraduate Teacher Education Scholarship recipients
The ASGC strives to support students who aspire to become educational leaders in science and mathematics. The ASGC Undergraduate Teacher Education Scholarship Program selected two UAB students, Ashton Richardson and Jordan Stinger, awarding each with a $1,500 stipend.
The Alabama Space Grant Consortium offers three different opportunities: internship, scholarship and fellowship.
“The Undergraduate Teacher Education Scholarships prepare UAB students to earn teaching certification in the sciences and mathematics for pursuing teaching careers in elementary and secondary schools,” Vohra said.
Richardson is a junior majoring in mathematics.
“The program’s outreach is the most important part to me because my mission is to show kids who don’t know they can be more what can be achieved,” Richardson said. “This scholarship is bigger than just an award for aspiring educators; it’s an opportunity to reinvest into the community and provide teaching moments that ignite a passion for learning in young scholars.”
Singer is a senior from Hoover, Alabama, majoring in mathematics.
“Receiving this scholarship is an honor and encouragement, as I keep pursuing a career in teaching,” Singer said. “I hope to make a difference in the lives of my students, and this scholarship helps make that goal even more possible.”
Graduate Research Fellows
Two graduate students working toward their doctoral degrees at UAB have been selected for the 2026-2027 Graduate Research Fellowship program. Fellows will receive $37,000 to conduct research at their home institutions and a NASA field center over 12 months.
Zachary Choi is a Hoover, Alabama, native working toward a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering. The NASA field center Choi will conduct research at is the Kennedy Space Center.
“I’m very interested in how the setting of space affects organ micro physiological systems and how this intersection can advance biomedical discoveries,” Choi said. “The NASA Alabama Space Grant Consortium provides me with the opportunity to explore this field, and I am incredibly grateful for their support in this fellowship.”
Sean Daugherty of Madison, Alabama, is a physics doctoral student and will conduct research at the NASA Johnson Space Center.
Through the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, the ASGC is voluntarily associated with eight research universities in Alabama, including UAB. The ASGC provides scholarship and fellowship support to undergraduate and graduate students who are working toward aerospace-related careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.