Texas A&M Selects Inaugural Chancellor’s National Academy STEM Ph.D. Fellows

The Hagler Institute for Advanced Study has announced the selection of 15 students to join the 2025 Chancellor’s National Academy STEM Ph.D. Fellowship Program.

“This nationally unique Ph.D. fellowship program was launched today with 15 excellent Ph.D. students. History will record today as a pivotal moment. This annual flow of nationally elite talent will lead to very significant enhancement of every STEM discipline at Texas A&M University,” said John Junkins, the founding director of the Hagler Institute for Advanced Study.

Fully funded by the chancellor of the Texas A&M University System, some of the nation’s top students are paired with a graduate committee co-led by a National Academy member and a rising star faculty member.

The selected students will receive a $40,000 annual stipend, along with full coverage of tuition and fees for their graduate studies. For the students who also receive a major national fellowship such as a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship or a National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship, the annual stipend will be raised to $50,000.

Mentors include members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences.

“Texas A&M’s system is not just one of higher education learning, but also service to others,” said Glenn Hegar, chancellor of the Texas A&M University System, during a ceremony recognizing the inaugural class. “You were selected due to your capabilities, willingness, drive and passion. I hope you take that as an honor and privilege, and remember you have a duty and an obligation to hold that standard.”

Fellows of the 2025-26 inaugural class, along with their mentors, are:

Edward Yu, Department of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering; mentored by Rodney Bowersox, regents professor, and Scott Jackson, associate professor

Matthew Barrows, Department of Nuclear Engineering, College of Engineering; mentored by Yassin Hassan, university distinguished professor, and Jian Tao, assistant professor

Molly Bickle, Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences; mentored by Karen Wooley, distinguished professor, and Emily Pentzer, professor and associate dean for research

Dave Boisie Laygo, Department of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering; mentored by Bonnie Dunbar, professor, and Ana Diaz Artiles, associate professor

Owen Cornmesser, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering; mentored by Thomas Overbye, professor, and Adam Birchfield, assistant professor

Justin Fiore, Department of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering; mentored by Terry Alfriend, university distinguished professor, and Manoranjan Majji, professor

Landry Graves, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering; mentored by Robert Ambrose, university distinguished professor, and Gray Thomas, assistant professor

Joshua Greene, Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences; mentored by Donald Darensbourg, distinguished professor, and Oleg Ozerov, professor

Luke Holloway, Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences; mentored by Marcetta Darensbourg, distinguished professor, and François Gabbaï, distinguished professor

Benjamin Jacobs, Department of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering; mentored by Terry Alfriend, university distinguished professor, and Robert Bishop, professor

Rahma Kamal, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, College of Medicine; mentored by Kenneth Ramos, professor, and Reid Powell, assistant professor

Hannah Lamar, Department of Nutrition, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; mentored by Catharine Ross, professor, and Heidi Vanden Brink, assistant professor

Luke Lovelace, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, mentored by P.R Kumar, distinguished professor, and Aydin Karsilayan, associate professor

Elvis Perez Galarza, Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences; mentored by Donald Darensbourg, distinguished professor, and François Gabbaï, distinguished professor

Ethan Rogers, Department of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering; mentored by Terry Alfriend, university distinguished professor, and Kyle DeMars, associate professor