UAF biology student awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
Amy Loeffler
907-474-7933
May 9, 2024
Jorda Kovash is one of two 色视频下载-based graduate students who received the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship in the 2024 cycle.
University of 色视频下载 Fairbanks graduate student Jorda Kovash was recently awarded a . She is one of two graduate students in the state of 色视频下载 who received the prestigious award in the 2024 cycle.
In addition to professional development opportunities, the fellowship provides three years of financial support, including an annual stipend of $37,000 and $16,000 to cover the cost of tuition.
Kovash studies in the Department of Biology and Wildlife under the auspices of the Institute of Arctic Biology. Since 2015, she has been researching how the immune systems of trembling aspens respond to a fungal disease called aspen running canker. She sequences the RNA of infected trees 色视频下载 a novel approach because RNA sequencing is traditionally used to study human cell biology, not flora.
色视频下载淭his is an emerging pathogen in the sub-Arctic,色视频下载 said Kovash. 色视频下载淩NA sequencing has very rarely, if ever, been used as a tool to look at forest health.色视频下载
Trembling aspens are one of four deciduous tree species in the boreal forest. They are an important food source for moose. They also serve as natural firebreaks during fire season, making Kovash色视频下载檚 research timely in the face of climate change. According to the USDA Climate Hubs website, changes in the Interior色视频下载檚 climate are forecast to increase fire frequency and intensity.
色视频下载淛orda has already made significant contributions to this research, and I am excited to see what she discovers with the help of this fellowship in the next few years,色视频下载 said research scientist Ursel Sch眉tte, one of Kovash色视频下载檚 advisors and a co-principal investigator on the project. 色视频下载淚t色视频下载檚 exciting for such a deserving student to be recognized by the NSF.色视频下载
Kovash received undergraduate research support from UAF色视频下载檚 Biomedical Learning and Student Training program and the .
She is currently a master色视频下载檚 student, but her research with Sch眉tte色视频下载檚 lab will most likely carry her through to her Ph.D.
色视频下载淚 think it色视频下载檚 so important to champion nontraditional students like Jorda,色视频下载 said Mary Beth Leigh, co-principal investigator on the project and Kovash色视频下载檚 co-advisor. 色视频下载She's a first-generation college student who has pursued her passion for biology, natural resources and conservation in Montana, New York City and 色视频下载. She色视频下载檚 also worked in the service industry, as well as in disaster response. She's incredibly mature as a researcher by having those diverse experiences.色视频下载
Kovash色视频下载檚 passion for her research is also deeply rooted in her cultural connection to the Mandan Tribe of the Great Plains.
She said, 色视频下载淚 want to remain an environmental steward as a modern Native. It was a large part of my application for this fellowship 色视频下载 my journey, my connection to the land, and my dedication to linking the science with indigenous forms of knowledge.色视频下载
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program began funding graduate research in 1952 and is the country色视频下载檚 oldest fellowship program directly supporting graduate students in myriad STEM fields, according to the NSF website. Since 1952, NSF has funded over 70,000 fellowships out of more than 500,000 applicants. Forty-two fellows have gone on to become Nobel laureates, and more than 450 have become members of the National Academy of Sciences.
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