Graduate Research Awards
We offer the following Graduate Research Awards to support graduate students and fund their research.
Graduate Research Award Winners
Asma Albariqi
Asma Albariqi
Title: Examining Molecular Factors under Immune Challenge in Nicrophorus Orbicollis
Faculty Sponsor: Curtis Creighton
Brenda Babirye
Brenda Babirye
Title: Culture and Sexuality A Qualitative Exploration of the sex lives of East African women
Faculty Sponsor: Chris Belous
Jessica Benge
Title: The Sexual Interest Matrix
Faculty Sponsor: Chris Belous
Charlene Benoit
Charlene Benoit
Title: Exploring Corporate Social Responsibility’s Role in Innovation
Faculty Sponsor: Austin Hestdalen
Abishek Kolakotla
Title: Simulating Hydrogen Fuel Blends in Reheating Furnace
Faculty Sponsor: Chenn Zhou
Sathvika Kottapalli
Title: CFD Prediction and Validation of Refining Stage of Industry-Size EAF
Faculty Sponsor: Chenn Zhou
Rohit Kumar Reddy Kovvuri
Rohit Kumar Reddy Kovvuri
Title: Virtual Crane Training Simulation for Enhancing Safety and Training
Faculty Sponsor: Chenn Zhou
Theodore Mantis
Theodore Mantis
Title: Reproductive Success of Burying Beetle Nicrophorus Orbicollis at Different Temperature Regimes
Faculty Sponsor: Curtis Creighton
Olivia McLeod
Olivia McLeod
Title: Intimate Partnership and the Gender Spectrum: An analysis of gender exploration within queer relationships
Faculty Sponsor: Chris Belous
Umme Hani Mou
Umme Hani Mou
Title: Optimization of Transportation Costs in the retail grocery supply chain
Faculty Sponsor: Ali Alavizadeh
Sai Bhuvanesh Nandipati
Title: Centerline segregation in a cast slab
Faculty Sponsor: Chenn Zhou
Tejal Lalji Rangani
Tejal Lalji Rangani
Title: Exploring the Impact of Communication Strategies in Human Robot Ruthless Prioritization
Faculty Sponsor: Sayanti Roy
Barbara J. Nicolai
Title: The Relationship of Water Quality and Quantity as Discovered by Pattern and Predictability Analysis of the Lake Michigan Watershed
Faculty Sponsor: Ge Jin
Migdalia Santos
Title: Critical Consciousness: Combating Discriminatory Trauma’s Impact to Mental Health and Well-Being
Faculty Sponsor: Chris Belous
Sumendra B. Singh
Title: VisionIoT A Physics-based Machine Learning Model for Cyber Physical System (CPS) Anomalies and Vulnerability Detection
Faculty Sponsor: Michael Tu
Sydney Smith
Title: First-Gen Again – Initiatives in STEM: A Top-Down Research Approach
Faculty Sponsor: Karen Bishop Morris
Gabrielle Soe
Gabrielle Soe
Title: Exploration of Therapist and Client Intersectionality Practices and Therapeutic Relationship
Faculty Sponsor: Mia Griggs
Christopher Wayman
Title: Constraining cosmological parameters by comparing the galaxy angular power spectrum from DELVE and cosmological simulations
Faculty Sponsor: Dan Suson
Sowjanya Telluripati
Sowjanya Yelluripati
Title: Alternative Fuel Injection in Blast Furnace – A CFD Study
Faculty Sponsor: Chenn Zhou
Rui Zhang
Title: PNW Gunshot Detection System: Enhancing Our Public Safety
Faculty Sponsor: Wei Dai
The family of John S. Tuckey, to honor his memory, has generously established the John S. Tuckey Graduate Research Award. The award memorializes a Purdue University Northwest (then Calumet) faculty member, whose teaching of American literature and editing/publishing of Mark Twain texts were internationally acclaimed. Dr. Tuckey’s long and outstanding service to the institution included headship of the Department of English/Philosophy and Assistant Dean of the Graduate School. His accomplishments were recognized when Purdue University conferred upon him the Hovde Distinguished Service Professorship.
The amount of the John S. Tuckey Graduate Research Award will be $1,500. An applicant must either be a regularly admitted, degree-seeking graduate student in the humanities at Purdue Northwest, or a college senior who, during the year of the award, will be a fully admitted, degree-seeking graduate student in the humanities at Purdue University Northwest. The recipient must be enrolled in no fewer than three graduate-level credits per semester during the award period. Students must be enrolled in both semesters.
Recipients may apply the award to research expenses during the year following the announcement (Academic year 2026-27). Expenses may include (but not limited to) travel, food and lodging, photocopying, or research materials. The University expects recipients to acknowledge the support of Purdue University Northwest and the John S. Tuckey Graduate Research Award in any publication that emanates from the award.
The CHESS/Education Graduate Research Award will be in the amount of $1,500. An applicant must be a regularly admitted, degree-seeking graduate student, or a college senior who will be a fully admitted, degree-seeking graduate student during the award year, in the College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (CHESS) or in the School of Education & Counseling. The recipient must be enrolled in no fewer than three (3) graduate-level credits per semester during the award period. Students must be enrolled during both semesters.
Recipients may apply the award to research expenses during the award year. Expenses may include (but are not limited to) travel, food and lodging, photocopying, or research materials. Tuition or other payments directly to the graduate student or faculty mentor are disallowed. Publications resulting from research supported by this award are expected to acknowledge the support of Purdue University Northwest.
The Graduate Studies Office also announces the availability of up to five (5) research grants in the sum of $750 each for the 2026-27 academic year, in any academic discipline.
Eligible Students
Regularly admitted, degree-seeking graduate students, or PNW undergraduate seniors who will be regularly admitted degree-seeking graduate students at the time of the award, who meet the minimum registration requirements during the award period, are eligible to apply for the award.
*Students may only receive one of these awards. Students who are awarded the Tuckey award are not also eligible to be awarded the Graduate Research Award.
Eligible Projects
Projects eligible for Graduate Research Awards ae those which relate to program requirements. Examples include thesis research, or non-thesis program research projects, such as directed projects, capstone projects, etc.
Registration and Academic Standing Requirements
For full Graduate Research Awards, recipients must be enrolled in at least three graduate-level credits (50000-level and above) per semester of the grant (two semesters). Recipients must maintain good academic standing for graduate students (3.0/4.0).
Credits to meet the enrollment requirement include thesis, directed project, other research credits, or required coursework for the degree.
As funds may allow, students who will only be registered for one semester (December candidates for graduation) may be eligible for a pro-rated award of the Graduate Research Award ($375), so long as they are registered for at least three graduate-level credits during their one session of enrollment, and maintain good academic standing.
Award Process and Reporting Requirements
Graduate Research Awards will be disbursed directly to the recipients through the Office of Financial Aid at the beginning of the fall of the academic year of the award. Full awards may be disbursed over the course of the two semesters, half in the fall and half in the spring. Recipients should plan to present their work at student research day (Days of Discovery/Research Days) in the spring of the award year, either by oral presentation or by poster session. Disbursements are awarded through Financial Aid, and recipients may be required to submit appropriate documentation to the Office of Financial Aid in order to process the awards.
The Tuckey Award may be disbursed directly to the recipient at the beginning of each semester of the award year (half for fall and half for spring). Disbursements are awarded through Financial Aid, and recipients may be required to submit appropriate documentation to the Office of Financial Aid in order to process the awards.
Application Process
The deadline for application is May 8, 2026. The awards can be used in the 2026-2027 academic year. Please note that the application submission is the same for all awards, except as noted.
- Letter of application, including name of faculty sponsor
- Project proposal for research, including:
- Title
- Brief description of research project
- Project design or approach
- Brief bibliography or literature review
- Description of any previous research on this topic by applicant
- Short biographical sketch of applicant
- Two letters of recommendation from faculty (one of these may be the faculty sponsor)
- Name and content information for the faculty member who will direct student’s research (Faculty Sponsor)
- The Tuckey Award and Graduate Research Awards do not require submission of a budget
Each application for an award must include all items listed above under Requirements for each award application. While we prefer that your letters of recommendation be submitted in InfoReady, original letters of faculty recommendation may be submitted by hard copy and scans of each letter may be sent to Dr. Durocher at the email address above. If emailing a letter of recommendation, please show Grad Research 2026 in the subject line.
There is no page limit on the application submitted, but students are encouraged to be concise in their applications. Each application should include adequate detail to allow the relevant review committee to understand the research project and its significance in the discipline. If the application is based upon a thesis, do not submit the thesis in its entirety. The award proposal should be a more focused and concise summary of your research project, and the items outlined above.
The application deadline is May 8, 2026.
Proposals are evaluated by the relevant review committee on:
- Completeness of application (all required items submitted)
- Project eligibility
- Student eligibility
- Overall quality of proposal
- Goals and significance
- Project design/approach
- Bibliography/literature review
- Any previous research
Notifications
The recipients of the awards are expected to be notified by June 2026.
Submit Questions and Materials
Award submissions will be submitted online through the InfoReady system. Digital (PDF) packets are preferred.
Margaret (Peggy) Greer
Associate Director of Graduate Admissions and Records
219‐989‐2257