The School of Molecular Sciences at Arizona State University is celebrating the outstanding achievement of five of its students — Sukaina Al-Hamedi, Leslie Bustamante Hernandez, Lauren Harstad, Gabriella Cerna and Ikumi Ellis — who have each been awarded the highly competitive National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.
“It is a true honor for early-stage graduate students to receive an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship,” says Associate Professor Ryan Trovitch, who is also the associate director of graduate programs in the School of Molecular Sciences.
“Being chosen is a clear endorsement of their promise to become some of tomorrow’s leading scientists. I am really proud of them and certain that their contributions to their fields of research are just beginning.”
The five School of Molecular Sciences students are part of a class of 10 Sun Devils who are 2025 awardees.
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program is the oldest fellowship of its kind and one of the most prestigious awards for graduate students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. With a national success rate of only 6% this year, the NSF-GRFP identifies and supports exceptional individuals who demonstrate the potential to significantly advance knowledge in their fields.
Each year, between 12,000 and 16,000 students from across the U.S. and its territories apply, and only 1,000 were selected this year. The fellowship provides three years of financial support, including a stipend and tuition assistance, which allows recipients to focus on their research with greater flexibility and independence.
Exploring life’s boundaries
Al-Hamedi, a graduate student in geochemistry at ASU working under principal investigator Jie Xu, is investigating the metabolic capacity of Sulfurimonas denitrificans, a type of sulfur-oxidizing microorganism that thrives in low-energy environments. Her proposed research sheds light on the role these microbes play in marine geochemical cycles, particularly in oxygen minimum zones (OMZs).
But Al-Hamedi’s work goes beyond Earth. Due to the unique characteristics of these microbes — their ability to survive without light and oxygen, combined with their use of noncarbon-based compounds for energy — her study has implications for understanding possible life processes on extraterrestrial “ocean worlds.”
“This award isn't mine alone,” Al-Hamedi says. “It is a reflection of every teacher and professor that chose to support my ideas, sometimes in ways they may not have even realized. None of it, whether from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (her undergraduate institution) or ASU, was forgotten.”
Through optimizing cell culture parameters, particularly the use of various sulfur compounds at different concentrations, Al-Hamedi is contributing to the development of a comprehensive metabolic profile for Sulfurimonas denitrificans. This work offers insight into how specific microbes contribute to sulfur cycling and how these sulfur-eating microbes may potentially serve as model organisms for studying life as we don't know it.
Investigating inflammation and nutrition in the gut
Bustamante Hernandez is preparing to begin her PhD in immunology at Harvard University in the fall. Her proposed research explores the intersection of immunology and nutrition, focusing on how inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract can impair nutrient absorption.
“The GI tract is constantly balancing digestion with defense,” she explains. “When inflammation sets in — even at low levels — it alters this balance, often leading to malnutrition.”
Bustamante Hernandez aims to understand the molecular mechanisms behind this trade-off. Her work could have profound implications for treating malnutrition, a condition that disproportionately affects low-income communities and often results in prolonged hospital stays and increased health care costs.
“I’m incredibly honored and grateful to receive the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship,” she says. “It is a huge encouragement as I take the next step in my scientific journey. As a first-generation student, I came to college simply curious about biology, not knowing a career in science was even possible. I’m proud to be part of the growing community of women and first-gen scholars in science, and I hope this reminds others that there is space for us in STEM.”
Bustamante Hernandez credits her mentors, Assistant Professor Esther Borges Florsheim in the Biodesign Center for Health Through Microbiomes and Professor Tsafrir Mor from the School of Life Sciences, as well as her family, for their support. Her undergraduate experiences investigating allergies and their effects on behavior have sparked a lasting passion for asking big biological questions — even if her future research path leads her in new directions.
The other recipients of the fellowship — Harstad, Cerna and Ellis — are all School of Molecular Sciences alumna, having graduated last spring.
A legacy of impact
The NSF-GRFP has a distinguished history of identifying future leaders in science and engineering. Past recipients include Nobel laureates, cabinet officials and tech innovators. The fellowship not only provides critical support but also opens doors to collaborations and opportunities that often shape a recipient’s entire career.
With Al-Hamedi, Bustamante Hernandez, Ellis, Cerna and Harstad among its newest fellows, ASU’s School of Molecular Sciences continues to foster excellence and innovation in research and education.
“These awards are not only individual milestones,” Trovitch says, “they reflect the caliber of students and mentorship in our program — and the exciting directions our science is headed.”
Other 2025 ASU NSF-GRFP awardees include Joshua Kupfer and Cameron Morgan (chemical engineering), Nick Kirby (electrical and electronic engineering), Benjamin Herrera (computer science engineering) and Christian Hilgemann (economics).
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