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Two HCDE students receive NSF Graduate Research Fellowships


March 29, 2024

Dawn Sakaguchi-Tang and Kathryn Shroyer, both first-year Human Centered Design & Engineering doctoral students, are recent recipients of the prestigious National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). This fellowship is awarded to individuals early in their careers based on demonstrated potential for significant achievements in science and engineering. Awardees receive three years of financial support within a five-year fellowship period.

Dawn Sakaguchi-Tang's award is in the field of Human Computer Interaction. Her research interests are aimed at helping older adults who are living with a communication disorder.

"I would like to investigate how current technologies are supporting social connectedness in older adults living with a communication disorder. I would also like to learn ways technologies could be improved to facilitate rich and lasting relationships between older adults living with a communication disorder and loved ones."  

Kathryn Shroyer’s award is in the field of STEM Education and Learning Research. Her research interests are in the areas of engineering education and design thinking, teaching, and learning. 

"I'm interested in learning about how individuals learn to design and how people make sense of the world through designing. I have a particular interest in novice designers in non-professional spaces, and what tools and strategies we can create to make design learning more accessible to novice designers." 

Erin Hoffman, also a first-year PhD student, received an Honorable Mention in the area of Human Computer Interaction.    

The NSF selected 2,000 recipients for the GRFP, out of nearly 17,000 applicants this year. Please join HCDE in congratulating our students on this distinguished recognition of their research contributions.