Graduate Recognition
OVERVIEW
Khoury College graduate students in our master’s (MS) and doctoral (PhD) programs make meaningful contributions every day as students, scholars, teaching assistants, and research assistants. Some of them are recognized for their talents and potential by leading awards and fellowship programs, as well as industry partners, for academic excellence, leadership potential, and research ambitions.
We also honor the MS and PhD students who are recognized annually at our Commencement celebration for their direct, meaningful contributions to education, research, and community at Khoury College.
Though the history of our graduate students as awards recipients is deep, we established this recognition page in the academic year 2022-2023 to bring attention to the array of our currently known recipients. We have indicated each student’s degree program and field of study. Note: All PhD students are currently located on the Boston campus. Because MS students are located at one of several campuses across the university system, we have indicated their location.
Going forward, we will update this page twice each academic year – as a community celebration and as inspiration to prospective and new Khoury College graduate students.
AJC STEM Graduate Fellowship
Administered by Northeastern University and established by donors, the AJC STEM Graduate Fellowship is given to doctoral students in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) of exceptional merit. The fellowship provides 12 months of funding, including professional development, to be used during the recipient’s PhD education.
2023-2024 Recipients:
- Haneen Abderrazzaq, PhD in Computer Science
- David Atkinson, PhD in Computer Science
- Fiona Shyne, PhD in Computer Science
Amazon Robotics Day One Fellowship
Program empowers Black, Latinx, and Native American students to become industry leaders through scholarship, research, and career opportunities. The program was developed to support emerging leaders in science from backgrounds underrepresented in STEM, awarding scholarships, mentorship, and career opportunities. Fourteen students from seven leading universities were chosen as 2022-2023 fellows; two were from Khoury College.
2022-2023 Recipients:
- Zakar Handricken, MS Computer Science (Boston)
- Christopher LeBlanc, MS Artificial Intelligence (Boston)
Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Northeastern Partnership
This program, designed as a partnership between AWS and Northeastern, identifies promising students for a pathway to SDE co-ops and ultimately full-time SDE roles at AWS.
Apple Scholars in AI/ML PhD Fellowship
The Apple Scholars in AIML PhD fellowship recognizes the contributions of emerging leaders in computer science and engineering at the graduate and postgraduate level. Each Scholar receives funding as they pursue their PhD, internship opportunities, and mentorship with an Apple researcher in their field.
2024-2025 Recipient:
- Yiming Xie, PhD in Computer Science
Commencement Awards, Khoury College Graduate Program
Annually at our Commencement Celebration in the spring, Khoury College recognizes exceptional MS and PhD students in three categories: Research, Service, and Teaching.
Spring 2023 Recipients:
For their significant research impact
- Sumukh Vasisht Shankar, MS Data Science (Boston)
- Willy Quach, PhD in Computer Science
For their extraordinary measures in making an impact on our community
- Kristine Umeh, MS Computer Science-Align (San Francisco)
- Peter Ivanov, PhD in Computer Science
For their passion, excellence, and impact as an educator
- Haotian Shen, MS Computer Science-Align (Seattle)
- Seth Pate, PhD Computer Science
Draper Scholar Program
Since 1973, the Draper Scholar Program, formerly known as the Draper Fellow Program, has supported more than 1,000 graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in engineering and the sciences. Draper Scholars are from both civilian and military backgrounds, and Draper Scholar Alumni excel worldwide in the technical, corporate, government, academic and entrepreneurship sectors.
2022-2023 Recipient:
- Frank Rossi, MS Computer Science (Boston)
Fulbright Scholar Program
The Fulbright Program, the flagship international academic exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government, has fostered mutual understanding between the United States and other countries since 1946. At Northeastern University, each year roughly 850 faculty and professionals from around the world receive Fulbright Scholar awards for advanced research and university lecturing in the United States; the fellowship follows them to their institutional appointment.
2023-2024 Recipient:
- Daniela Alejandra Gonzalez, MS Data Science-Align (Boston)
2022-2023 Recipients:
- Alberto Mario Ceballos Arroyo, PhD in Computer Science
- Narmeen Shafqat, PhD in Cybersecurity
GEM Fellows
The Graduate Education for Minorities (GEM) consortium offers MS and PhD level students an outstanding opportunity and access to dozens of the top engineering and science firms and universities in the U.S.
2023-2024 Recipients:
- Cesar Hernandez, MS Computer Science-Align (Boston)
- Zadie Moon, MS Computer Science-Align (Oakland)
- Kerry Owusu, MS Computer Science-Align (Boston)
2022-2023 Recipients:
- Yusuf Abdi, MS Computer Science (Boston)
- Joviane Bellegarde, MS Computer Science-Align (Boston)
- Graziano Peregrino Cezario, MS Data Science-Align (Boston)
- Vanessa Chatman, MS Computer Science-Align (Boston)
- Jonathan Chery, PhD in Cybersecurity
- Alexander Gonzalez, MS Computer Science (Boston)
- Xavier Husser, MS Cybersecurity (Boston)
- Sandra Kwawu, MS Cybersecurity (Boston)
- Bethlehem Mesfin, MS Computer Science-Align (Boston)
- Rodolph Mesadieu, MS Computer Science-Align (Boston)
- Thara Messeroux Peregrino, MS Computer Science (Boston)
- Melinda “Mino” Reyes, MS Computer Science-Align (Boston)
- LaKyah Tyner, PhD in Computer Science
GEM Industry Fellows
The objective of this program is to promote the benefits of a master’s degree within industry. GEM Fellows are provided practical engineering summer work experiences through an employer sponsor and a portable academic year fellowship which may be used at any university participating in the Graduate Education for Minorities (GEM) consortium where the GEM Fellow is admitted. Please note that University / Associate Fellows are nominated by the University, not selected by the applicant.
2023-2024 Recipients:
- Tinashe Mazaiwana, MS Computer Science-Align (Boston)
- Leonel Senai, MS Computer Science-Align (Boston)
2022-2023 Recipients:
- Anderson Julio Auza, MS Cybersecurity (Boston)
- Christopher McCune, MS Computer Science (Boston)
- Caroline Ninganga, MS Cybersecurity-Align (Boston)
- Netti Welsh, MS Computer Science (Seattle)
- Amari Parris, MS Data Science (Boston)
- Yaseen Ellison, MS Data Science (Boston)
Google Fellowship
Google PhD Fellowship students are a select group recognized by Google researchers and their institutions as some of the most promising young academics in the world. The Fellowships are awarded to students who represent the future of research.
2022-2023 Recipient:
- Nikolaos Tziavelis, PhD in Computer Science
J.P. Morgan AI PhD Fellowship
In its annual research awards program for both faculty and PhD students, J.P. Morgan recognizes the diversity of ideas and pioneering spirit of the recipients. The awards program demonstrates the company’s ongoing commitment to research in artificial intelligence (AI) and collaboration with the smartest minds in academia.
Spring 2023 Recipients:
- Dian Wang, PhD in Computer Science
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Fellowship
NIH supports training of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows through the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) program. The goal of these programs is to support promising applicants with the potential to become productive, independent investigators in priority scientific, health-related research fields.
2022-2023 Recipient:
- Maciej Rafal Kos, PhD in Personal Health Informatics, who was awarded the National Institute of Aging: Transition to Aging Research F99 Predoctoral Fellowship
NSF CSGrad4US
The goal of this NSF-sponsored research program is to increase the number of diverse, domestic graduate students pursuing research and innovation careers in the CISE fields: computer science, computer engineering, and information science. Combining mentoring and funding, the CSGrad4US fellowships help bachelor’s-degree holders return to academia and pursue their research interests.
2023-2024 Recipients:
- David Atkinson, PhD in Computer Science
- Shani Spivak, PhD in Computer Science
2021-2022 Recipient:
- Jeffrey Pflueger, PhD in Computer Science
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
The National Science Foundation (NSF) administers its Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) to recognize and support outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions. It is a five-year fellowship, with a three-year award that includes tuition and a stipend. The reputation of the GRFP follows recipients and often helps them become life-long leaders that contribute significantly to both scientific innovation and teaching.
2023-2024 Recipients:
- Haneen Abderrazzaq, PhD in Computer Science
- Derek R. Egolf, PhD in Computer Science
- Liam Pavlovic, PhD in Computer Science
2021-2022 Recipient:
- David M. Liu, PhD in Computer Science
2019-2020 Recipients:
- Laura South, PhD in Computer Science
- Max von Hippel, PhD in Computer Science
STARS Fellowship
The STARS Fellowship, initially funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), supports talented PhD students at Northeastern University from historically underrepresented minorities in earning a STEM doctoral degree. In addition to funding, STARS Fellows receive professional and career development opportunities and access to faculty advising and a mentoring support network.
2021-2022 Recipient:
- Jessica Teurn, PhD in Computer Science