Three Drexel students and alumni were selected for the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRFP), and two received honorable mentions. NSF GRFP recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and STEM education fields. GRFP provides up to three years of funding for individuals with potential for significant achievements in science and engineering research.
We're proud of all of our honorees, who are pursuing graduate studies at Drexel, the University of Pennsylvania, and Duke University School of Medicine.
Sylvia Cho, BS biomedical engineering '25
NSF Graduate Research Fellow
Sylvia Cho graduated from Drexel University with a BS in Biomedical Engineering in 2025. She is currently a first-year PhD student at the University of Pennsylvania in Dr. David Cormode's Nanomedicine and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, where she develops nanoparticle-based contrast agents for enhanced CT imaging and the therapeutic treatment of inflammatory sites. During her time at Drexel, she conducted research with Dr. Christopher Rodell, developing dynamic biomaterials, including supramolecular nanocarriers and injectable hydrogels for drug delivery. Sylvia was involved in the Pennoni Honors College as a 2021 STAR Scholar.
Daphna Fertil, PhD student in bioengineering
NSF Graduate Research Fellow
Daphna is currently a first year PhD in Bioengineering at Drexel University. She is currently conducting research in the Tissue Instructive Materials Laboratory under the mentorship of Christopher Rodell, PhD, where she is design biomaterials that can precisely regulate inflammatory responses. After graduating from Lafayette College, she had the opportunity to work at the National Institutes of Health, where her research focused on the intersection of immunology and biomaterials. The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program will be instrumental in helping her achieve these goals by supporting the development of innovative biomaterial therapies and strengthening my research capabilities. The fellowship will also provide the flexibility to explore translational aspects of her work and engage with local communities, further preparing her for a career in industry where both scientific innovation and real-world impact are essential.
Eric Gebski, BS biological sciences '21
NSF GRFP Honorable Mention
Eric is a PhD student at Duke University School of Medicine (DUSOM) with a strong interest in G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signal transduction. Having graduated Drexel University in 2021, he leveraged his third co-op experience into a five year role at Rutgers Institute for Translational Medicine and Science (RITMS), where he studied mechanisms of rhinovirus-mediated asthma exacerbation. From there, Eric began attending DUSOM as a PhD student within the Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB) graduate program. During this time, he has delved into his research interest of GPCR function and signal transduction where his application for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program received an honorable mention.
While at Drexel, Eric was involved in the Pennoni Honors College as a 2017 STAR Scholar and a SuperNova Undergraduate Research Fellow.
Julia Cano Matthews, PhD student in ecology, evolution, and earth systems
NSF GRFP Honorable Mention
Julia Cano Matthews is a biologist fascinated by how organisms evolve in response to environmental change. Since completing her BA in Biology at New York University in 2019, she has studied genomics and evolution in multiple systems, ranging from humans to fungal pathogens.
Julia is currently pursuing her PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology in the Munshi-South Lab at Drexel, where she plans to study how local amphibian populations are impacted by and, potentially adapting to urbanization. She aims for her graduate work to contribute to the development of conservation-conscious urban policy and habitat restoration efforts aimed at protecting urban wildlife.
*This announcement does not include one recipient who did not respond to our request for publicity.
About the NSF GRFP
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions.
As the oldest graduate fellowship of its kind, the GRFP has a long history of selecting recipients who achieve high levels of success in their future academic and professional careers. Fellows share in the prestige and opportunities that become available when they are selected. Fellows benefit from a three-year annual stipend along with a cost of education allowance for tuition and fees, opportunities for international research and professional development, and the freedom to conduct their own research at any accredited U.S. institution of graduate education they choose.
NSF Fellows are anticipated to become knowledge experts who can contribute significantly to research, teaching, and innovations in science and engineering. These individuals are crucial to maintaining and advancing the nation's technological infrastructure and national security as well as contributing to the economic well-being of society at large.
For more information about the NSF GRFP, visit nsfgrfp.org. To learn more about applying for this award through Drexel, please email fellowships@drexel.edu.