University of Richmond Graduate Nicolas Ferree Awarded Prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
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Ferree is studying data related to the early Universe in graduate school.
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND — Nicolas Ferree, who graduated from the University of Richmond in May 2023, has received a competitive National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship to continue his research on the cosmic microwave background — the oldest light in our Universe.
Ferree is currently studying physics and astronomy at Stanford University, and he will finish his master’s degree this summer. He will transfer to The California Institute of Technology to complete his Ph.D.
Ferree is analyzing the cosmic microwave background using the South Pole Telescope to improve knowledge of the early Universe. His research team is pursuing the application of machine learning algorithms to aspects of this analysis that are hard to control with current methods
This prestigious fellowship provides three years of financial support to outstanding graduate students who have demonstrated the potential to be high-achieving scientists. Applicants must be pursuing full-time, research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in eligible STEM and social science fields.
“This award provides stability to my research funding and gives me the resources to explore promising analysis methods for future observations,” Ferree said.
Ferree, from Midlothian, Virginia, double majored in mathematics and physics at UR. His undergraduate research mentors were physics professor Ted Bunn and mathematics professor Jim Davis. Ferree studied abroad at Oxford his junior year and received a prestigious Goldwater scholarship, the preeminent undergraduate award in science and math.
“NSF graduate research fellowships highlight the caliber of our graduates and the research experiences University of Richmond undergraduate students are able to complete alongside faculty,” said Ethan Knight, associate director in the Office of Scholars and Fellowships.
Since 1955, 101 UR graduating seniors or recent graduates have been either selected to receive NSF Graduate Research Fellowships or been named an honorable mention.
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