2025-26 PCE Graduate Fellowship Recipients
Alysha Allgood
John C. Jackson Fellowship
Alysha is an incoming PhD student who graduated with a combined HBS and MS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Utah. During her time as an undergraduate she researched the impact of copper on the Farmington Bay and Great Salt Lake. She then completed her master’s at the University of Utah and interned at Idaho National Laboratory within the Reactor Engineering Department. Alysha has a strong interest in 3D printing, novel materials, nanoparticles, and catalysis. She is currently collaborating with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. In her free time Alysha enjoys baking, crocheting, and reading.
Jerry Chen
John C. Jackson Fellowship
My higher education began at Western Washington University, where I earned a BS in Chemistry with a minor in Materials Science and Engineering. During my four years as an undergraduate, I spent some time working in a polymers lab on campus, and I found myself enjoying the concepts of MSE much more than chemistry. After graduation, I was able to continue my education at the University of Oregon Knight Campus to pursue an accelerated MS program in polymer chemistry and engineering, which led to a position at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the Materials Engineering Division. I thought this would mark the end of my academic career. However, due to the eye-opening experience and colleagues promoting the idea of a PhD, I ultimately decided to pursue a PhD in MSE at the University of Utah, where I continue to broaden my understanding of polymer science, in addition to other materials.
Adam Cossey
John C. Jackson Fellowship
Adam Cossey is a senior in the Civil Engineering Program at the University of Utah. He is researching snowpack distribution in complex terrain and snow-water equivalent in the Parleys Canyon watershed as an undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Johnson’s lab and will continue this research as a Ph.D. student beginning in the fall. He has worked as an engineering intern for the Division of Water Quality, a data analyst for oil and gas pipeline inspections, and a water collections and distribution technician for a local municipality. He and his wife are busy raising their two young boys but also volunteer as education mentors for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints helping first time and returning students enter and navigate the higher education system.
Olivia Draughn
Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Fellowship
Olivia is an incoming PhD student in mechanical engineering, transitioning from her undergraduate studies at Mississippi State University. Originally from Petal, MS, she has been researching lattice-integrated spinal implants designed for additive manufacturing. Under the mentorship of Dr. Ashley Spear, Olivia plans to pursue research in computational solid mechanics and computational materials science, with an emphasis in metal additive manufacturing. In her spare time, Olivia enjoys painting, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family.
Alex Edwards
Campbell Endowed Graduate Fellowship
Alex is a first-year Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. student with interests in Biomechanics and Motion Capture. He received his bachelor's in mechanical engineering in 2025 from Brigham Young University, UT. During his undergraduate studies, he worked with models that simulated the dynamics of the upper limb for patients with Essential Tremor and Parkison's Disease. He will now be joining Dr. Uhlrich's lab, developing single-camera motion capture systems for clinical use. In his spare time, he enjoys rock climbing, trail running, and ultimate frisbee.
Eli Friedman
Shane & Robin Robison Fellowship
Eli is an incoming PhD student in theoretical computer science, with strong interest in combinatorial graph algorithms. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 2025 with a bachelor's in computer science and a minor in classical studies, and he wrote an undergraduate thesis on the Directed Steiner Forest problem in planar graphs. Eli hopes to bring modern algorithmic techniques to classic theory problems and continue closing the gap between hardness and achievability on graph problems. Outside of research, Eli can be found skiing, cooking, or eating.
Tyler Gourley
L3Harris Foundation Fellowship
Tyler is an incoming electrical engineering PhD student. He received his bachelor’s in computer engineering from Brigham Young University. He graduated summa cum laude and was awarded the BYU Engineering Leadership Certificate. In his undergraduate studies, he researched sports data analytics, using machine learning to study the effect of team chemistry in soccer. Aside from research, Tyler leads an active lifestyle, and he enjoys volleyball, horseback riding, and wake surfing. He will be joining Dr. Jacob George's lab, where his research in neuromodulation will focus on helping patients who suffer from debilitating neurological disorders.
Isabella Hoyer
Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Fellowship
Isabella Hoyer is a Ph.D. student in Chemical Engineering at the University of Utah. She earned her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Washington, with a minor in Data Science. While at UW, she conducted honors research focused on sustainability, served as Vice President of Women in Chemical Engineering, and taught as an Engineering Peer Educator. At the University of Utah, she will be conducting research in Dr. Kody Powell’s lab, where she plans to pursue research in geothermal energy. Isabella is passionate about mentoring and outreach, and hopes to pursue a career in academia, developing sustainable energy solutions while supporting the next generation of engineers.
Rui Jin
Ernst R. & Marianne M. Friedrich Fellowship
My name is Rui and I am a current biomedical engineering student at the University of Utah seeking an opportunity to continue research in the cardiovascular field. I have three years of experience in cardiac electrophysiology research, biomedical device design, software development and machine learning. I am currently working towards a B.S./M.S. Honors degree with an emphasis in cardiovascular engineering and computational applications of biomedical technology.
Logan Marks
Campbell Endowed Graduate Fellowship
Logan Marks earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Brigham Young University in 2024, where he conducted research in aeroacoustics and wearable medical devices. While at BYU, he worked for two years at Alpine Engineering and Design, contributing to mechanical product development, engineering analyses, and expert witness reports on engineering safety and personal injury. His research interests center on workplace injuries, human factors, and biomechanics. Raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Mapleton, Utah, he developed a lifelong passion for engineering and science.
Laura Needham
Ernst R. & Marianne M. Friedrich Fellowship
Laura is an incoming Biomedical Engineering PhD student with a focus on neuroengineering and brain-computer interfaces. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Chicago with degrees in Neuroscience and Art History, where she explored interdisciplinary questions surrounding visual perception. After graduation, she worked at health tech startups, a research consultancy, and volunteered at a neurorehabilitation center — experiences that sparked a fascination with BCI devices for sensory and motor restoration and ultimately brought her back to academia. Her research interests lie at the intersection of neurophysiology, technology, and sensorimotor systems.
A proud Utah native, Laura enjoys spending time on the tennis court or in the mountains. She is also an accomplished violinist, avid reader, and enthusiastic foodie and traveler.
Emma Wadsworth
Gerald & Barbara Stringfellow Endowed Fellowship
Emma Wadsworth is a rising Electrical and Computer Engineering PhD student with research interests in virtual sensors and computer generated holography (CGH). They began researching virtual thermal sensors during their ECE BS/MS at the U, and fell in love with the research process. They are excited to continue on in a PhD, working towards applications of CGH in additive manufacturing. When not researching, they can be found hiking or playing the cello.
Kennedie Wilding
Gerald & Barbara Stringfellow Endowed Fellowship
Kennedie is an incoming Ph.D. student in Materials Science and Engineering. She earned her bachelor's degree in physics with a minor in mathematics from the University of Utah. Her undergraduate research in astrophysics focused on analyzing X-ray emissions from the blazar VERJ0521+211 to investigate multi-wavelength variability. Now transitioning to space-focused materials research, Kennedie will work with Dr. Suhas Eswarappa Prameela to study the mechanical behavior and microstructure evolution of lunar regolith under simulated space conditions. Her work will contribute to in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) technologies for lunar construction, with applications including habitat development, landing pads, and protective shielding. She is particularly interested in how additive manufacturing can enable sustainable infrastructure for long-duration human space exploration.
Erica Wood
Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Fellowship
Erica is starting her first year as a Chemical Engineering PhD student. She received her bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering with a concentration in Biomolecular Engineering from Clemson University. During her undergrad, Erica was involved in research using microfluidic devices to study the effects of fluid shear stress on metastatic ER+ breast cancer. Erica plans to conduct research during her PhD related to biomolecular engineering and biotechnology, with the end goal of pursuing a career in pharmaceutical research and development.
Yang Yang
Gary S. & Patricia Watkins Fellowship
Yang is excited to start his first year in the mechanical engineering PhD program. He completed his undergraduate studies in mechanical engineering at the University of Utah. As an undergraduate, with the support of the U’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program and the Interfacial and Transport Physics lab, Yang created textured superhydrophobic surfaces to control heat transfer and adhesion between the surface and fluid droplets. Yang will be continuing research with Dr. Samira Shiri and the Interfacial and Transport Physics lab to investigate the interaction between microplastics and submerged surfaces.