Prestigious NASA Fellowship Awarded to Graduate Student

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Jesus M. Velazquez, a University at Buffalo doctoral student in chemistry, has been awarded the competitive Harriett G. Jenkins Pre-doctoral Fellowship. While annual stipends for doctoral students routinely start at $24,000, Harriett G. Jenkins Pre-doctoral Fellowship Program (JPFP) award packages start at $32,000 per year for three years of graduate study.

The JPFP was established through the United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation and is sponsored by NASA to increase the number of women, minorities and persons with disabilities participating in the in the science, technology, engineering and mathmatics (STEM) workforce. Approximately 20 three-year fellowships are granted to graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in STEM disciplines.

Velazquez resides in Amherst and was born in Juncos, Puerto Rico. He graduated from the University of Puerto Rico at Cayey in 2004 with a bachelor of science in chemistry. After working for three years in private industry, Velazquez began his graduate career at UB in 2007 funded by a National Science Foundation–sponsored Bridge to the Doctorate program.

At UB, he is researching the fabrication of metal oxide nanowire arrays and their device applications under the supervision of Sarbajit Banerjee, UB assistant professor of chemistry.

Joseph Gardella, UB professor of chemistry, described Velazquez as "a superb student and dedicated and conscientious person" whose research "combines cutting-edge science and techology with his excellent work ethic and intellect."

Velazquez volunteers his time to the Western New York community through the UB-Buffalo Public School Partnership. He visits the Native American Magnet School, School 19, to encourage middle-school students to become enthusiastic about careers in STEM disciplines.