SPRINGFIELD, Mo., April 30, 2026 – Drury University senior Rana Umran (Springfield, Mo.) has received a distinguished three-year fellowship from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). The 2026 Graduate Research Fellowship covers her graduate school tuition for the next three years and provides a $37,000 stipend annually.
Umran, a 2025 Goldwater Scholar, is a chemistry major with a fine arts minor and visual arts certificate. She was one of 2,500 graduate and undergraduate students chosen for the Research Graduate Fellowship from an applicant pool of nearly 14,000 students. She plans to enter a five-year Ph.D. program at The Ohio State University in the fall.
“I am so honored to be named a recipient of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship,” Umran said. “This award will ease my transition into a new academic environment, allowing me to focus on my research and adapt to the demands of a Ph.D. program from day one.
“I’m especially thankful for my research advisors: Professor John Kiernicki (Drury University), Professor Gwendolyn Bailey (University of Minnesota, Twin Cities) and Professor Jamie Neely (Saint Louis University); their mentorship has been monumental to my development as a researcher.”
As a sophomore, Umran was selected for a summer lab experience at St. Louis University’s Neely Lab. Last summer, Umran studied at the University of Minnesota for a NSF-funded REU experience. She has presented her research at the Heartland Biochemistry Conference, the American Chemical Society national conference in San Diego and Drury’s RENS program. She plans to apply to graduate school to conduct research in inorganic chemistry and focus on the transition of metal catalysis and teach at the university level.
“Rana’s selection for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship is an extraordinary achievement that reflects her talent, dedication, and the outstanding faculty mentorship that defines a Drury education,” said Drury University Provost Dr. Beth Harville.
About the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is one of the nation’s most prestigious fellowship programs, providing three years of financial support, over five years, to graduate students who have demonstrated potential for significant achievements in research. For more than 75 years, GRFP has played a critical role in developing the talent pipeline required for sustaining U.S. leadership in science.
The 2026-2027 cohort of offer recipients represents a wide range of disciplines, including the fields of engineering; computer and information science and engineering; mathematical and physical sciences; geosciences; biological sciences; social, behavioral and economic sciences; and STEM education and learning research. Their research interests include critical areas that align with national priorities and workforce demands, such as artificial intelligence, quantum information science, biotechnology and nuclear technology.
Since its inception in 1952, GRFP has supported over 70,000 graduate research fellows, many of whom have gone on to become leaders in research and innovation. By recruiting and supporting outstanding students with exceptional potential for leadership in STEM, the program has spurred scientific breakthroughs and economically significant innovations, with more than 40 former fellows having received Nobel Prizes.
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Media Contact: Cris Belvin, Director of University Communications & Media Relations | (417) 873-7392 | gbelvin@drury.edu