Lia Ossanna Receives 2020 NSF Fellowship
May 8, 2020
University of Arizona Superfund Research Center (UA SRC) Trainee Lia Ossanna received a 2020 National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Fellowship. The fellowship program supports outstanding students who have demonstrated their potential for significant achievements in science and engineering research. As an NSF Fellow, Ossanna will receive three years of funding support, including stipend, travel, and tuition, and will have access to a variety of professional development activities.
Lia Ossanna has been working under the direction of Dr. Raina Maier and Dr. Julia Neilson at the Department of Environmental Science. In August 2020, Lia will pursue her Ph.D. with Dr. Elise Gornish in the UA School of Natural Resources and the Environment researching the soil microbiome of invasive buffelgrass to understand how it successfully competes against native plants.
This NSF fellowship will give her greater control over her research project, as well as additional resources to explore new questions that might not be included on the grant under which she was hired.
Ossanna intends to utilize her career as a scientist to expand science communication and access, and refocus research to benefit vulnerable and historically marginalized communities.
Please join us congratulating Lia Ossanna for her fellowship and wish her much success in this new journey!