Annika Deans and Devin Wong named NSF GRFP Fellows
Annika Deans (BS BME student, ’26) and Devin Wong (BS BME alumna, ’25) have been awarded the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRFP).
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) supports outstanding students pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in STEM or STEM education. Fellows are selected for their potential for significant research contributions and receive three years of support, including an annual stipend. Applicants typically apply before or during the early years of graduate study. The program also aims to strengthen and diversify the U.S. scientific and engineering workforce, with a focus on broadening participation among underrepresented groups.
Annika Deans is an undergraduate in her senior year majoring in Biomedical Engineering here at the University of Rochester. She has participated in a multi-lab collaboration between the labs of Dr. James McGrath and Dr. Craig Morrell, where she studied protein release from murine and engineered platelets across an in vitro vascular barrier model in both static and fluidic conditions.
After graduation Annika plans to pursue a PhD in Biomedical Engineering at the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University in Dr. Wilbur A. Lam's Lab.
"I am truly honored to receive the NSF GRFP and excited to begin my PhD in the Georgia Tech and Emory BME program. My time at the University of Rochester and in the UR BME department has been incredibly impactful, and I am deeply grateful for the mentorship and support that helped me grow both as a person and a researcher."
~ Annika Deans
Devin Wong graduated from the University of Rochester Biomedical Engineering BS program in 2025, and is currently persuing her PhD at the University of Iowa.
During her time at the University of Rochester, Devin was a Biomechanics Technician at the UR Medicine Motion Labs and a Research Assistant in the Mixing Lab.
At the University of Iowa, Devin is a member of the Orthopedic Biomechanics Lab and the TIGER Team where she researches custom in-shoe orthotics for adult flatfoot to provide insight into functionality. The results aim to inform clinical decision making in the treatment of flatfoot.
"I am deeply grateful to have been awarded this fellowship. I could not have done it without my fantastic mentors at the University of Rochester, University of Iowa, and beyond. I am eager to continue my research and contribute to the advancement of orthopedics
We are proud to celebrate Annika and Devin’s achievements and the faculty mentorship that supports their success. We look forward to their continued impact in biomedical engineering and beyond.
