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K-State Today

Division of Communications and Marketing
Kansas State University
128 Dole Hall
1525 Mid-Campus Drive North
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-2535
vpcm@k-state.edu

May 14, 2019

Three students recognized with NSF Graduate Research Fellowship honorable mentions

Submitted by Communications and Marketing

Three Kansas State University students have been recognized with the National Science Foundation's 2019 Graduate Research Fellowship honorable mentions: Sydni Huxman, senior in psychological sciences, Hutchinson; Mikaela Rader, graduate student in geology, Wichita; and Kelsey Panfil, graduate student in behavioral neuroscience, Prospect Heights, Illinois. 

The fellowship supports and recognizes outstanding seniors and first- or second-year graduate students as they conduct research related to the natural sciences, social sciences, engineering or mathematics across a wide variety of disciplines at accredited U.S. institutions. 

Huxman is researching a dating/mating phenomena known as backup mating in the Human Adaptive Reasoning and Decision-Making lab led by Gary Brase, professor of psychology. She has served as president of the College of Arts and Sciences Ambassadors and is a member of the Center for Student Involvement Student Advisory Board. She is the recipient of a Beach-Vanier Scholarship, an Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry Undergraduate Research Grant, Kansas State University Foundation Scholarship; Arts and Sciences Research Travel Grant, Psychological Sciences Research Travel Grant, and Coberly-Twieto Memorial Scholarship. 

For her master's research, Rader is working with Pamela Kempton, professor and head of the geology department, to study lower crustal xenoliths from the Geronimo Volcanic Field. She is the recipient of an Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry Research Award, Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Travel Award, and Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Award. Rader also received a National Association of Geoscience Teachers Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award. 

Panfil is working with Kimberley Kirkpatrick, university distinguished professor of psychological sciences. She is studying decision-making and impulsivity, specifically the relationships between impulsive choice, inhibition and temporal perception.

Hannah Wilborn, a May 2018 bachelor’s degree graduate in industrial engineering, also received an honorable mention.

Current juniors, seniors and first-year graduate students who might be interested in applying next fall semester can learn more at nsfgrfp.org. Students can also obtain additional information by making an appointment to speak with the Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships in 215 Fairchild Hall. Call 785-532-3422 or email jimlth@k-state.edu to set an appointment.