Two grad students earn prestigious National Science Foundation fellowships
Two materials science and engineering graduate students have earned prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program awards.Ìý
Daniel Estrin and Yukai Tomsovic are both 2025 recipients of the NSF GRFP awards, which recognize and support outstanding grad students from across the country in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields who are pursuing research-based master’s or doctoral degree.
Awardees receive a $37,000 annual stipend and cost of education allowance for the next three years as well as professional development opportunities.
Find out about their research belowÌýÌý:
Daniel Estrin
3rd Year MSE PhD Student
Advisor: Stephanie Bryant
Lab: Bryant Lab
The goal of my research is to design materials capable of preventing the foreign body responseÌý(FBR). The FBRÌýis a pathological reactionÌýof the innate immune systemÌýthat occursÌýwithÌýnearly all implantable synthetic biomaterials regardless of their material properties.ÌýThe process of implantation inducesÌýan acute inflammatory responseÌýupon implantation, accompanied byÌýrapidÌýand non-specific protein adsorptionÌýto the surface.Ìý
As proteinsÌýadsorb, they can unfold and display damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Innate immune cells can senseÌýDAMPs, and activate anÌýinflammatory response.ÌýFor longterm implants, innate immune cells are unable to eliminateÌýthe material through phagocytosis andÌýinstead isolate it from the bodyÌýinÌýan avascular collagenous capsule. This response is critical for theÌýprotection of the host against foreignÌýmaterials.Ìý
However, for implanted medical devices such asÌýpacemakers, glucose sensors,ÌýandÌýhip implants, the fibrous capsule can lead to implant failure requiring replacement, repair,Ìýand additional surgical proceduresÌýthatÌýareÌýcostly and dangerous. DesigningÌýmaterialsÌýthat circumvent theÌýFBRÌýwouldÌýreduce implant failures,Ìýlead toÌýlonger lastingÌýimplants, and open doors to new implantable materials that currently areÌýprohibitedÌýdue to the FBR.
Yukai Tomsovic
3rd Year MSE PhD Student
Advisor:Anthony Straub
Lab: Straub Research Group
My research explores the mechanisms that govern per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) transport in nanofiltration membranes. These man-made, fluorinated chemicals have become ubiquitous in the environment due to their persistence and widespread use in consumer and industrial applications.Ìý
Pressure-driven membrane technologies show promise for concentrating PFAS-contaminated waste streams prior to destruction. However, membrane performance declines for short chain, ultra-short chain, and neutral PFAS, and the influence of feedwater composition and membrane properties remains unclear.Ìý
By providing a quantitative understanding of size-based exclusion and membrane-solute interactions that determine PFAS transport, my work seeks to enable innovative pathways in membrane design and support the development of energy- and cost-efficient water remediation strategies.