Fernandes receives Donald M. and Janet C. Barnard Fellowship
Congratulations to BME PhD candidate Ninoshka Fernandes, who has received a Donald M. and Janet C. Barnard Fellowship from the College of Arts, Science and Engineering. These fellowships recognize outstanding achievement by PhD students in engineering and science, as evidenced through their coursework and their dissertation research work. The Fellowship provides a $2K stipend top-off of the student’s existing stipend, as well as a tuition award.
“Ninoshka stands out in our department as an outstanding citizen, promising educator and an excellent scientist,” says Amy Lerner, associate professor of biomedical engineering. “She is developing into a productive and creative scholar who demonstrates the enthusiasm and dedication that will lead to great success in a multidisciplinary field.”
Fernandes has volunteered in several capacities including serving as a tutor for younger students in Calculus and Chemistry through the Center for Excellence in Teaching and learning as well as part of our Early Connection Opportunity (ECO) program through the Office of Minority Student Affairs. The ECIO program offers an introduction to math and science for students from under-represented groups during the summer before their freshman year.
In spring 2015, Fernandes was asked to develop a new BME workshop for students who were required based on their basic math exam scores to enroll in a workshop in order to take the introductory Physics course. This workshop was extremely successful and is being expanded as a model for better retention of diverse groups in engineering.
Above and beyond her scholarship and educational roles, Fernandes has also demonstrated great leadership within the BME Graduate Student Council. During the coldest winter season on record, her warm personality and organizational talents certainly contributed to a banner year for recruitment.
"I’d like to convey my deepest thanks to the donors of this fellowship for their generous financial support and also to those who nominated me,” Fernandes says. “This award will be a source of encouragement for me and will provide financial relief to focus even more on my research, education, and career goals. I’m truly grateful for this gift and hope that one day I will be able to help students achieve their goals just as they have helped me."