Bucknell Seniors Earn Prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

Bucknell students who compete for top national fellowships need more than strong grades. The application process requires demonstrating curiosity, persistence, and the potential to improve the human condition through research, community service and other meaningful contributions.

This year, three Bucknell seniors — Evelyn Hergenhan '26, Cole Kratz '26 and Lucy Park '26 — were awarded the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (GRFP), a highly competitive program that supports graduate study in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and the social sciences. The fellowship provides funding for recipients to pursue advanced research aligned with their interests and long-term goals.

In addition, three Bucknellians were recognized by the National Science Foundation with honorable mentions: Madeleine Whitsitt '26, Kristie Semanchik '26 and Victoria Abramczuk '26.

Bucknell's presence in national fellowships is sustained by advising and preparation through Bucknell's Program for Undergraduate Research. Much of that guidance came from Margaret Marr, who retired in March after a decade of helping students clarify research goals, shape their applications and articulate their academic narratives.

Her impact extends beyond individual awards. In 2026, Bucknell was named a top producer of Gilman Scholars and, in 2024, a top producer of Fulbright Scholars and ranks in the top 5% of all institutions winning Goldwater Fellowships — national awards that underscore the University's growing strength in high-impact fellowship preparation.

Starlette Marie Sharp has joined Bucknell as the new program director of Undergraduate Fellowships & Research, continuing Marr's mission of guiding and supporting Bucknell scholars.

Evelyn Hergenhan '26, biomedical engineering

Evelyn Hergenhan '26 is pursuing a doctorate in biomedical engineering at the University of Virginia. Photo by James T. Giffen, Marketing & Communications

For Evelyn Hergenhan '26, a passion for science has always been closely tied to a desire to help others.

That motivation took on new meaning at Bucknell, where her research in therapeutic ultrasound for healing chronic wounds intersected with a personal experience — the loss of a family friend to wound complications. "I saw how I could combine my passions for science and helping others into one," says Hergenhan, of Collegeville, Pa.

Hergenhan's work in the Ultrasound and Mechanobiology Lab, led by Professor Olivia Boerman, biomedical engineering, helped shape both her research direction and her career goals. Her commitment to service extends beyond the lab as well, including a long-running effort to write letters to patients in a local nursing and rehabilitation center — a project she began during the pandemic that continues today.

Receiving the GRFP affirms both her dedication and her potential. "It proves to myself that I truly can achieve anything I put my mind to," says Hergenhan, who will be pursuing a doctorate in biomedical engineering at the University of Virginia. "I am reminded that I am more capable than I often believe."

She credits faculty mentors Professor Wendy Wright, mechanical & chemical engineering, Professor James Baish, biomedical engineering, and Boerman for their guidance throughout the application process.

Cole Kratz '26, mathematics and physics

Cole Kratz '26 is pursuing a doctorate in mathematics at Penn State University. Photo by James T. Giffen, Marketing & Communications

Cole Kratz '26 says he approaches his work with a simple guiding principle: curiosity.

"I make it a goal to always ask questions and seek understanding," says Kratz, who is from Gilbertsville, Pa. "Research to me is not just the advancement of a field, but also the advancement of community."

When he arrived at Bucknell, he intended to major only in physics, but discovered a deeper interest in mathematics during his time here and added it as a second major. A summer Research Experience for Undergraduates at James Madison University further solidified his path. “I left the summer knowing I wanted to be a mathematician,” he says.

The GRFP will provide both validation and opportunity, offering the time and financial flexibility to focus on his studies while opening doors for the future. "This award is also a reflection of how Bucknell invests in its students," says Kratz, who will pursue a doctorate in mathematics at Penn State University.

Kratz credits mathematics professors Nathan Ryan and Jeff Langford for helping him refine his application and develop the confidence to pursue the fellowship.

Lucy Park '26, chemistry

Lucy Park '26 is pursuing a doctorate in bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania. Photo courtesy of Lucy Park '26

Lucy Park '26 says she believes her interdisciplinary approach to science helped set her application apart.

At Bucknell, she has conducted research across chemistry and biomedical engineering, building a broad technical skill set and a flexible approach to complex problems. "Bringing together perspectives from different disciplines helped me approach problems more creatively and thoughtfully," says Park, who is from Pleasanton, Calif.

Her research experiences — including early work beginning the summer after her first year as an Emerging Scholar — shaped her interest in designing biomaterials that address real-world clinical needs. Spending three years in Professor Brian Smith's chemistry lab gave her a strong foundation in thinking at the molecular level, which she applied alongside her work with professors Donna Ebenstein and Olivia Boerman, biomedical engineering. Supported by their strong mentorship, she began to connect how molecular-level properties translate into larger, biologically relevant systems, motivating her to pursue research that can make a tangible impact on people's lives.

Park, who will be pursuing a doctorate in bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania, says receiving the GRFP is both affirming and motivating. "There were times I questioned my potential as a researcher," she says. "This award feels like reassurance and encouragement to keep pursuing challenging questions."