The University of Tulsa is proud to announce that two undergraduates and one recent alumna have been named recipients of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) award for 2026: Parker Green, Maria Isabelle “Isa” Fite and Jenna Caudle (B.S. ’25, B.A. ’25).
Since 1952, the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program has recognized and supported outstanding graduate students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. The GRFP is one of the most prestigious and competitive fellowships for U.S. graduate students in STEM. Fellowships come with a three-year annual stipend of $37,000 and a $16,000 allowance for tuition and fees, as well as access to opportunities for professional development. This fellowship is not only a funding source; it serves as a “stamp of approval” on a researcher’s potential early in their career.
“I am beyond excited and grateful,” said Green, a senior from Guthrie, Oklahoma, majoring in mechanical engineering and mathematics. “This fellowship opens the door for me to have the financial freedom to explore the scientific questions I am interested in answering.”
Within her first semester, Green researched how to increase the lifespan of aircraft metals with Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering William LePage, Ph.D. (B.S. ’13). After graduating from UTulsa, Green plans to pursue a doctorate in metallurgical and materials engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. She will research the growth, manufacturing and predictive modeling of single-domain superconducting wires to decrease cost and increase accessibility to life-saving health care. “Ultimately, my motivation is to pursue materials engineering to make a difference,” Green said. “This fellowship is the first step to making that a reality.”
Isa Fite is a senior from Tulsa, majoring in physics and applied mathematics. Earning an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship is one of many recent achievements for Fite. She was named a 2024 Goldwater Scholar and became a first-author published in Physical Review A in 2025.
Fite recognizes the College of Engineering & Computer Science faculty and staff for aiding in her academic journey, naming Professor of Computer Science and Mathematics Brett McKinney (B.S. ’96, M.S. ’99, Ph.D. ’03) as a guide in her research. With McKinney, Fite studies ultracold Bose-Einstein gases to potentially apply a similar model to black holes. After graduating from UTulsa, Fite plans to attend Vanderbilt University, where she will study the sound speed of dark energy. “The fellowship will let me have more freedom and time to work on my research,” Fite said. “It’s a fascinating world out there!”
Originally from Fayetteville, Arkansas, Jenna Caudle graduated from The University of Tulsa with bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and French. Now pursuing her doctorate at Emory University’s Laney Graduate School, she is focusing on organic chemistry. Caudle attributes her achievements to the support of UTulsa’s Oxley College of Health & Natural Sciences and the mentorship of Associate Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry Angus Lamar, Ph.D. She notes that it was the opportunity to work in Lamar’s lab that set her academic trajectory in motion: “There, I developed my passion for research.”
Beginning her first year, Caudle worked on several projects spanning medicinal, green and synthetic organic chemistry. She acknowledged her undergraduate research for its pivotal role in preparing her to be a competitive candidate for the NSF GRFP. “As a graduate student, I am proud to join a community of outstanding scientists across the nation,” Caudle said. “This recognition is truly an honor.”
UTulsa offers comprehensive support for students seeking nationally competitive scholarships, such as the NSF GRFP award. For more information, visit https://utulsa.edu/about/leadership/provost/national-competitive-scholarship/.