Two researchers from West Virginia University have been selected as recipients of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. Camila Romero, from Morgantown, and Christopher Smith, from Point Pleasant, join the program, which supports graduate education in STEM-based fields with a three-year annual stipend of $37,000 and additional professional development opportunities. The fellowship aims to ensure the quality and vitality of the scientific workforce in the United States.
Camila Romero, a 2023 WVU graduate in neuroscience, has been involved in various research labs and is currently a research assistant at Vanderbilt University. She is focused on developing brain-machine interface devices and using electrophysiology to understand learning processes. She aims to develop algorithms that mimic brain functions, using data from mice to train computational models. Romero will pursue a doctorate in psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and credits her experiences at WVU for fostering her research and leadership skills. “There’s an enormous amount of research going on at WVU in all different areas, and that was really helpful for my career,” she stated.
Christopher Smith, a first-generation college student, found his path in biomedical engineering after exploring different fields. “I realized I could make a difference and actually help people,” he said. Smith has been involved in the development of a diagnostic tool for early breast cancer detection and has participated in the Global Medical and Dental Brigades, working in rural areas in Central America. He plans to focus his doctoral work at Rice University on global health, aiming to improve access to diagnostic tools and vaccines in remote areas, saying, “For my doctoral program, I searched for labs working on biomedical engineering research for global health.”
Both Romero and Smith received assistance from the WVU ASPIRE Office during their fellowship applications. Smith was also recognized as a 2024 Goldwater Scholar, an achievement motivating for other first-generation, Hispanic, and rural students. “I want to make sure that my story inspires people who have a similar background,” Smith expressed.
