Ph.D. candidate earns prestige from National Science Foundation
April 19, 2010
The National Science Foundation (NSF) selects Ratessiea “Tessa” Lett, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering, to receive one of the highly coveted and competitive NSF Graduate Research Fellowship awards.
Lett’s graduate level effort in advancing research in the area of “Solidification Defects in Castings” has earned her the right to become a member of a very elite group. In the past 58 years the NSF has granted only 46,000 graduate research fellowships out of more than 500,000 applicants.
“Ratessiea is most deserving of this award and it is indeed indicative of how hard Tessa has worked,” said John Berry, Coleman Professor of Mechanical Engineering. “We’re extremely proud to have a student of her caliber in our program.”
Lett’s selection was based on her outstanding accomplishments in the area of science research and engineering outreach. For instance, in the past five years, Lett has worked with the NASA Stennis Space Center and completed an internship in Spain at the Center for Automotive Research and Development.
“When I got into my second year at Mississippi State I started working for Drs. Sergio Felicelli and John Berry. They are really good at inspiring their students because they’re excited about the field we’re studying,” said Lett. “They’re supportive in giving me research that has been interesting to me. Earning this award is my way of saying thank you for all the things that they have done. And to show them this is what we [Mississippi State] have from it.”
Lett will benefit from a three-year annual stipend of $30,000, along with a $10,500 cost-of-education allowance for tuition and fees, a one-time $1,000 international travel allowance, and the freedom to conduct her own research.
“Ratessiea is an extremely bright doctoral student with a great attitude,” said Sergio D. Felicelli, professor of mechanical engineering. “Her research in materials science, studying metal castings to discover how to make them lightweight, fracture-proof, reliable, and with great strength, will have a significant impact on the environment and our economy.”
According to the website, the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is the oldest graduate fellowship of its kind and has a long history of selecting recipients who achieve high levels of success in their future academic and professional careers. The reputation of the GRFP follows recipients and often helps them become life-long leaders that contribute significantly to both scientific innovation and teaching.
Three other Mississippi State Bagley College of Engineering alumni who are pursuing graduate degrees at Cornell University and University of Virginia, also received fellowships: Darvin Griffin, biomedical engineering; Peter Ireland, mechanical engineering; and Jeff Brantley, electrical and computer engineering.