Khoury College PhD and master’s students make meaningful contributions every day as students, scholars, teaching assistants, and research assistants. Many are recognized for their talents and potential by leading awards and fellowship programs, as well as by industry partners, for academic excellence, leadership potential, and research ambitions.

We also honor the PhD and MS students who are recognized annually at our Commencement celebration for their direct, meaningful contributions to education, research, and service at Khoury College.

Recent Khoury recipients of recognition awards and fellowship programs

PhD students

AJC STEM Graduate Fellowship

Administered by Northeastern University and established by donors, the AJC STEM Graduate Fellowship is given to exceptional doctoral students in STEM. The fellowship provides 12 months of funding, including professional development, to be used during the recipient’s PhD education.

• Fiona Shyne, PhD in Computer Science

Apple Scholars in AI/ML PhD Fellowship

The Apple Scholars in AIML PhD Fellowship recognizes the contributions of emerging leaders in computer science and engineering at the graduate and postgraduate level. Each scholar receives funding as they pursue their PhD, internship opportunities, and mentorship with an Apple researcher in their field.

• Ha Le, PhD in Computer Science

Commencement awards: Excellence in research, service, and teaching (2026)

• Harsh Chaudhari, PhD in Computer Science, research
• Andisheh Ghasemi, PhD in Computer Science, service
• Hye Sun Yun, PhD Computer Science, teaching

Draper Scholar Program

This program provides MS and PhD students the opportunity to engage and work with experienced engineers and scientists.

• Dorsa Zeinali

NSF CSGrad4US Fellowship

This program is designed to help people with post-bachelor work or industry experience transition back to academia to pursue a research-based PhD in computer science, computer engineering, or information science.

• Alejandro Ayala, PhD in Cybersecurity
• Kenneth Jusino, PhD in Computer Science

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program

The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship recognizes and supports outstanding students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who will pursue research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited US institutions.

• Matthew Laws
• Kevin Lu

NSF NRT PEAR Fellowship

This program provides funding and resources to admitted and enrolled graduate students (PhD or master’s thesis students) to help them understand and address the impact of digital platforms on today’s society.

• Sarah Gillespie
• Elaine Ly

Open Philanthropy

Open Philanthropy (renamed Coefficient Giving in November 2025) ran the Open Phil AI Fellowship to fully fund a small group of highly promising PhD students in artificial intelligence and machine learning whose research aims to reduce risks from advanced AI.

• Andrew Arditi, PhD in Computer Science

Outstanding Graduate Student Awardees (Northeastern University)

These honorees reflect Northeastern’s mission and highest ideals: a global university powered by experience, innovation, and partnership.

• Chantal Shaib (PhD research)
• Ha Le (PhD humanics)
• Guangyuan Weng (PhD teaching)

Master’s students

Commencement Awards: Excellence in research, service, and teaching (2026)

• Nihar Sanda, MS Computer Science Align (Seattle), research
• Ritika Kumar, MS Computer Science (Boston), service
• Mansi Krishnakant Modi, MS Computer Science (Vancouver), teaching

GEM Fellows  

The Graduate Education for Minorities (GEM) consortium offers MS and PhD level students an outstanding opportunity and access to dozens of the top engineering and science firms and universities in the US.

• Cesar Hernandez, MS Computer Science Align (Boston)
• Joyce Kimojino-Weiss, MS Computer Science Align (Seattle)

GEM Industry Fellows

The objective of this program is to promote the benefits of a master’s degree within industry. GEM Fellows are provided practical engineering summer work experiences through an employer sponsor and a portable academic year fellowship which may be used at any university participating in the Graduate Education for Minorities (GEM) consortium where the GEM Fellow is admitted. Please note that university/associate fellows are nominated by the university, not selected by the applicant.

• Tinashe Mazaiwana, MS Computer Science Align (Boston)
• Aimee Rohan Ramirez, MS Data Science (Boston)
• Ameir Ouadi, MS Data Science Align (Boston)

Laurel and Scroll 100 

Established in 2024, this program honors exceptional graduate students. The 2026 Khoury College Laurel and Scroll 100 recipients are:

• Srinivasa Sameer Addepalli
• Nandini Bommireddy
• Ritik Bompilwar
• Himalaya Dua
• Erdun E
• Kaustubha Eluri
• Daniela Alejandra Gonzalez
• Jenish Sunil Kothari
• Dipti Kulkarni
• Nihar Sanda
• Nayonika Sen
• Hunjun Shin
• Alyssa Smith
• Shashwath Udaya Kumar
• Princewill Umeh
• Songting Yang

Khoury College past recognition award recipients: PhD students

Khoury College past recognition award recipients: Master’s students