NSF Graduate Student Fellowship and Career Development Panel at IEEE NANO 2025
The 25th IEEE International Conference on Nanotechnology (IEEE NANO 2025) was held July 13 – 16, 2025, in Washington, DC, USA.
IEEE NANO 2025 offered graduate student fellowships, sponsored by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), to support graduate students based in the United States. The fellowships were established to encourage student participation by enabling recipients to attend the conference and present their research.
Eligibility for the NSF Graduate Student Fellowship required applicants to be full-time graduate students (PhD or Master’s) at a U.S. university and the presenting author of a full paper or abstract at the conference. Application packages included a CV, the submitted paper or abstract, and a letter of support from the applicant’s supervisor. The selection committee consisted of Prof. Michael Adachi, Prof. Xiaoning Jiang, and Prof. Yong Zhu. Fellowship applications were evaluated based on merit, financial need, and contribution to the diversity of conference participation. Following a rigorous review process, 18 graduate students—including 6 female students—were awarded the fellowship. The award covered conference registration and expenses for a two-night hotel stay.
In addition to the Graduate Student Fellowship, NSF support also sponsored a Career Development Panel held on Tuesday, July 15, from 12:30 to 1:30 pm. The panel addressed challenges faced by young professionals in nanotechnology, including graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and early-career faculty. The international panel featured Prof. Michael Dickey (USA), Prof. Kremena Makasheva (France), Prof. Rafal Sliz (Finland), and host Prof. Yong Zhu (USA). Panelists shared their personal experiences in graduate school and their transitions to independent careers, followed by an engaging Q&A session with the audience.
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the NSF. Special thanks go to Professors Yong Zhu, Xiaoning Jiang, Orlin Velev, Amay Bandodkar, and Jong Eun Ryu for leading the successful NSF proposal. We also extend our appreciation to the IEEE NANO 2025 organizers and the IEEE Nanotechnology Council leadership for their valuable support.
