Conductor Gayle Rhodes ('27), a Master of Sacred Music student, has been selected to have her work exhibited in the second annual Beauty of Understanding Showcase and Reception, hosted by the University of Notre Dame Graduate School. The Showcase will take place on June 4, 2026, from 5-7 pm, at the Jordan Hall of Science on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.
The Showcase is a highly selective, university-wide exhibition designed to expand the boundaries of academic contribution by highlighting what students found beautiful in their significant research and works across the university. As a selected participant, Rhodes will have her research conducted at SMND shown alongside scholars from over ten fields including engineering, mathematics, literature, poetry, photography, sculpture, and more, chosen for the depth, originality, and what they find compelling their work. "Seeking wonder through academic research can contribute to our flourishing as scholars," as the event aims to broaden academic horizons on what research can mean. This honor reflects Rhodes' emerging voice as a scholar committed to joyful excellence and collaboration within the choral field.
For more about the Beauty of Understanding Showcase, see https://gradconnect.nd.edu/register/?id=f8679514-047d-4556-b7e3-cd8bf5154d39
Originally published by at sacredmusic.nd.edu on June 01, 2026.
]]>Held in Ravenna and Verona from August 22–27, 2026, the program offers an intensive and multidisciplinary exploration of Dante’s life, works, thought, and reception. This special twentieth-anniversary edition features lectures by leading international scholars and addresses topics ranging from Dante and Franciscan culture to manuscript studies, cartography, paleography, literary reception, and contemporary Dante scholarship.
The Summer School is open to undergraduate and graduate students, doctoral candidates, teachers, researchers, and all those with a serious interest in Dante and medieval Italian culture. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with current research, develop critical skills, and explore the cultural landscapes of the cities most closely associated with Dante’s life and legacy.
Applications are open through July 19, 2026.
For full program details, faculty, fees, and registration information, click here.
Originally published by at italianstudies.nd.edu on June 01, 2026.
]]>Works by graduate students and postdoctoral scholars will be on display as they explore the connections, meaning, beauty, and pursuit of understanding found within their research and creative work—from art, photography, and poetry to science, engineering, music, and more.
The Beauty of Understanding Showcase and Reception will take place on Thursday, June 4, 2026, from 4:00–6:00 p.m. at the Jordan Hall of Science.
Mary Ann McDowell, Associate Dean for Professional Development, Graduate School: Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame
Phone: (574) 631-9771 Email: mmcdowel@nd.edu
As the Graduate School celebrates the Class of 2026, we asked four graduates to reflect on the end of this chapter and the excitement of what lies ahead.
They spoke about milestones celebrated under the Golden Dome, mentors who guided them, football plays that inspired them, and moments at the Basilica and the Grotto they will never forget.
This year's graduates are heading in many different directions—from academia and postdoctoral research to industry and public service—but they share a common goal: using what they have learned at Notre Dame to make a meaningful impact through their work.
Roxanne Li earned her doctorate in quantitative psychology and has joined Meta as a data scientist in the San Francisco Bay Area. She's stepping into the tech industry with a background that bridges statistics and psychology, applying her Ph.D. training to real-world problems.
"What excites me most is building that bridge between psychological insight and data-driven decision making," Li says, "and turning it into actionable suggestions or testable strategies that can improve user experience and support product growth."
Li's offer came in October, and she had to move before the commencement ceremony, but she shared two takeaways she will carry from her time at the University of Notre Dame. The first is resilience. "Completing a Ph.D. can be challenging,” she says, "and I've learned to stay patient, open-minded, and persistent when facing uncertainty and setbacks." The second is the importance of staying connected. "My mentor Lijuan (Peggy) Wang, along with other professors and peers, constantly reminded me that meaningful ideas often come from conversations—both inside and outside the classroom. That sense of connection and exchange is something I will carry with me moving forward."
Reflecting on what she will miss most, Li points to the quiet, everyday moments on campus. She especially enjoyed walking by the lake with friends, taking time to slow down and talk. "One of my favorite routines was walking at sunset," she recalls. "I loved watching the sky shift from blue to pink and then into evening, with the light reflecting on the water like oil paint. The ducks, turtles, and swans made those moments especially peaceful." Afterward, she would often stop at the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes for a moment of rest. "It always offered a calming atmosphere and a sense of strength."
Isaac Angera, who earned his doctorate in biochemistry, started working as an analyst at Cambium Analytica, an NSF company, shortly after finishing his dissertation defense. "I am thrilled to join the team while the company is still in its high-growth phase," he said.
As he reflects on his time at Notre Dame, Angera says competing in the University's Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition became one of the most influential parts of his graduate experience. After winning both first place and the People's Choice Award at Notre Dame, he won the regional competition at MAGS and advanced to the national competitions.
"The 3MT instilled in me the vital importance of the narrative," he said. "Even in three minutes, you can lose an audience's attention multiple times if you aren't intentional."
That skill became especially meaningful as Angera began his journey from graduate school into the workforce. He says one of the most challenging parts of earning his Ph.D. was learning how to translate the highly specialized skills he developed in the lab into the broader job market, particularly during a competitive hiring climate. Still, persistence eventually led him to a role that felt like the right fit.
Angera also credits much of his growth to the mentorship he received at Notre Dame, particularly from his adviser, Professor Juan Del Valle. "His infectious enthusiasm for scientific breakthroughs and his unique vision of combining chemistry with determination and joy profoundly influenced my graduate career," Angera said. "This mentorship has left a lasting mark on my life in regards to both my research and my personal growth."
While this professional growth shaped his time at Notre Dame, a personal milestone he celebrated on campus is the memory he will never forget. "The most significant was my wedding. I was lucky enough to marry the woman of my dreams on campus at the Basilica, surrounded by our family and friends."
Tracey Porter, who earned her doctorate in biological sciences, will begin a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Washington School of Medicine. The move brings her back to Seattle—a place she calls home—where she looks forward to being close to family and spending time outdoors.
She is especially excited to work under the mentorship of Dr. Jenifer Kanter as she continues research focused on understanding how diabetic kidney damage develops. Her goal is to contribute to work that could help prevent long-term kidney failure or advance efforts in tissue regeneration.
Looking back, Porter says one of the most important lessons she learned is how to think like a researcher. "At the start of a doctorate, we all have imposter syndrome—no one can really avoid it," she says. "But as I progressed, I realized a Ph.D. is more about how you think and the questions you ask than the project itself."
That perspective shapes the advice she would give herself on her first day at Notre Dame: be patient and trust the process. "Take your time," she says. "Pursuing a doctoral degree or research, in general, isn't fast. The real value is in what you learn along the way—not just the result. With the right mentors and support, you can accomplish anything."
As she prepares to leave Notre Dame, Porter says she will miss the collaborative spirit that defines the University. "I'm especially grateful for how Notre Dame brings together Catholic social teaching, service, and research," she says. "You don't find that kind of mentorship and environment everywhere—and I'll miss it."
Isaac Kimmel, who earned his doctorate in sociology in summer 2025, returned to Notre Dame for commencement after beginning his career as a grant writer and researcher for the Catholic Education Foundation of Los Angeles.
"What excites me most about life post-graduation is using my training to make a difference," Kimmel says. "I'm spreading understanding, building bridges, and strengthening my community, and it's a great feeling."
Some of Kimmel’s favorite Notre Dame memories center around family. He met his wife, Julia, during graduate orientation in 2017 while she was pursuing her Master of Theological Studies degree. “I spotted the tall brunette on the other side of the street and thought, ‘Ooh, I’m going to go talk to her,’” he says. The couple later married in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart during the pandemic and now have a little boy with bright blond hair whom Kimmel affectionately calls “Golden Dome Boy.”
Then life became far more complicated.
In 2022, Kimmel suffered a hemorrhagic stroke requiring two emergency brain surgeries and months of recovery. Less than two years later, his wife, Julia, was diagnosed with leukemia at age 29. By then, the family was in Texas, where Kimmel managed a research center while finishing his doctorate. During Julia’s treatment, she and their son moved to Los Angeles to stay with her parents for additional support, leading to a difficult 19-month separation.
"I prayed for the grace to get it done," he says. "I think the way that God answered that prayer was, instead of making it easier, he put me in a position where there was no clear alternative. My family and my future career were depending on me to finish."
Throughout it all, Kimmel says mentors, friends, and family helped him carry on, especially his adviser, sociology professor Lyn Spillman, and Tom Meyers, then a Graduate Career Consultant for the College of Arts & Letters.
As he neared the finish line, a chapter or two away from finishing his dissertation, Kimmel found inspiration from Notre Dame football's semifinal victory over Penn State during the College Football Playoff. "I watched Jeremiyah Love's two-yard run where he broke like five tackles and barely made it across the goal line almost every day," Kimmel says. "I remember thinking, 'I am this close to the goal line.’”
Today, with Julia responding well to treatment and nearing the end, returning to Notre Dame for commencement carries special meaning. "To be there with my wife and son, and my brother and his family, and my parents, to get that recognition and put a bow on it," he says, "It will be a triumph."
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Mary Cunningham Boyce delivered the keynote address Saturday during the Graduate School’s annual Commencement Ceremony, encouraging students in this moment of profound change, from rapid advances in science and technology to the increasing threat of global climate disaster, to “set aside any sense of there being a well-worn path to ‘success.’
“Even in the face of urgency, you need to be thoughtful, to have guiding principles, and embrace change, recognize opportunity, and do so with integrity,” said Boyce, provost emerita and professor of mechanical engineering at Columbia University.
Boyce, a renowned engineer and scholar, recalled her own winding path to success, marked by false starts, setbacks and pivots but also self-discovery.
“In high school, I loved mathematics and physics, and so I was advised to study engineering in college even though, frankly, I had no idea what engineering was,” she said, adding, “Apparently, physics was just too impractical a choice for this Irish-American girl from a large family”
Counseled by her advisor at Virginia Tech to pursue industrial engineering “because that's what girls do,” she later switched to mechanical engineering after taking a required course in mechanics and learning from the instructor “that I could actually major ... in this field.”
After graduation, she landed a job in the aerospace industry. But realizing she wanted to be on the cutting edge of her field, she decided to go back to school, earning a master’s and then a doctorate in mechanical engineering from MIT. She later joined the faculty there, rising to head of the Department of Engineering before leaving for Columbia, where she has been a champion of interdisciplinary scholarship to confront global challenges through basic research and real-world implementation.
Over the course of a long and illustrious career, Boyce has distinguished herself as a leading researcher of polymeric materials and soft composites, contributing to groundbreaking new modeling methods for commercial products, transportation vehicles and biomedical devices.
Notably, she led an interdisciplinary team of experts tasked by the governor of New York with devising a practical repair strategy for the 14th Street Tunnel under the East River in New York City, which was badly damaged and faced prolonged closure in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.
“We toured those gimy subway tunnels at midnight ... to understand their structure and alternate possibilities,” she said, recounting the experience. “It was intense and it was amazing, and I’m happy to say we did find another way. The tunnel was not shut down, and it was repaired in a much more modern way, impacting so many (fewer) lives and businesses."
“Not so bad for this ordinary girl from New Jersey who once didn't know what engineering was.”
The lesson: “Follow your instincts, take the time to find your fit and pursue what you enjoy.”
Introducing Boyce, John T. McGreevy, the Charles and Jill Fischer Provost of Notre Dame, observed that no matter the discipline, “scholarly discovery begins the same way: someone is curious enough to ask a difficult question and determined enough to pursue it — despite the inevitable challenges.
“That same curiosity and determination are reflected throughout Dr. Mary Cunningham Boyce’s remarkable career — as a scholar, teacher, mentor and academic leader,” McGreevy said.
Saturday’s ceremony took place inside the Compton Family Ice Arena, with 548 students receiving their master’s or doctoral degrees. Another 462 students received their master’s degrees at the Mendoza College of Business ceremony, and 203 at the Law School ceremony.
“Graduates, we congratulate you, we celebrate you, and we wish you every success,” he said. “We look forward to hearing how you improve the world with what you have learned at Notre Dame.”
Following Boyce’s remarks, University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., oversaw the conferral of degrees and, afterward, delivered the charge to the class.
“From personal experience, I know that the journey of a graduate student can be filled with ups and downs, triumphs and tribulations, periods of clarity and periods of self-doubt. And, as well, moments of insight, but also of murkiness,” Father Dowd said. “You're here though, now. Your persistence and hard work have brought you to this moment.”
Father Dowd thanked the graduates for their contributions to Notre Dame, noting, “In your time with us, you have contributed to important breakthroughs, enriched our campus community and, in many cases, built bridges across disciplines, embodying the unity of truth and knowledge in how you live and work together."
“Graduates, we celebrate you, we wish you every success,” he said. “We look forward to hearing how you improve the world with what you have learned at Notre Dame.”
Saturday’s ceremony also featured Michael Hildreth, associate provost, vice president for graduate studies and dean of the Graduate School, and Xiaobo Sharon Hu, the Leo E. and Patti Ruth Linbeck Professor of Engineering in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Notre Dame. Hildreth opened the convocation, welcoming students, faculty, staff and visitors and introducing the platform party. Hu, one of two winners of this year’s Rev. James A. Burns, C.S.C., Award, delivered the invocation.
Father Dowd delivered the benediction.
Commencement activities conclude Sunday (May 17) with the undergraduate Commencement Ceremony, where Boyce will be recognized as one of seven honorary degree recipients. For more information, visit commencement.nd.edu.
Originally published by at news.nd.edu on May 16, 2026.
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One of the Graduate School’s own, Jamila Lee Johnson, Ph.D., will be inducted into the 2026 Michiana Forty Under 40 class.
Lee-Johnson, the Graduate School’s inaugural assistant dean for inclusive excellence, is being recognized for her leadership in advancing equity, inclusion, and leadership practices in higher education and the local community. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mass media from Clark Atlanta University, a master’s degree in student affairs administration from Michigan State University, and a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Locally, Jamila serves as co-program manager of the Michiana Diversity Leadership Initiative (MDLI), a program sponsored by the 100 Black Men of South Bend that prepares individuals for board service; vice president of the Jaden Sebastian Blake Foundation; and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
“I am truly honored to be recognized alongside such an inspiring group of leaders who are making a difference in our region,” Johnson said.
Lee-Johnson and this year’s class will be honored at a luncheon on Friday, May 29, at the Lerner Theatre’s Crystal Ballroom in Elkhart.
The Michiana Forty Under 40 program recognizes 40 young professionals each year for their leadership, career achievements, and commitment to strengthening the region through service and innovation. The 2026 cohort marks the program’s 20th class. The program reflects what organizers describe as “the vibrant spirit of the Michiana community and its commitment to fostering excellence.”
Read more about the honor: https://www.sbrchamber.com/pages/forty-under-forty-home/.
]]>The ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. inside Notre Dame Stadium. University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., will confer the master’s and doctoral degrees and deliver the charge to the graduates, in addition to the benediction.
“We are honored to have such an outstanding scholar and academic leader to help us send our graduates out into the world to do good,” said Michael Hildreth, dean of the Graduate School and vice president and associate provost of graduate studies. “Her rich and diverse experience will provide a distinct source of advice for them as they seek to flourish in their future careers.”
A champion of interdisciplinary scholarship to confront global challenges through basic research and real-world implementation, Boyce is provost emerita and professor of mechanical engineering at Columbia University. She joined the faculty at Columbia in 2013, serving as dean of the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science. She was appointed provost in 2021 and oversaw the return to campus following the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to her tenure at Columbia, Boyce was a faculty member at MIT for 25 years.
A leading researcher of polymeric materials and soft composites, her groundbreaking contributions include creating new modeling methods for use in commercial products, transportation vehicles and biomedical devices, among others. Boyce’s contributions to the field led to her election as a fellow of the American Academy of Mechanics, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and her election to the National Academy of Engineering. She is the recipient of numerous honors, including the 2024 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Mechanical Engineering, the 2020 Timoshenko Medal and the 2015 Engineering Science Medal.
“These students have elected to deepen and broaden their knowledge during a time of rapid advancement and change. I hope that sharing some of my own journey will help students embrace opportunities along their own paths to bring their talents to benefit society.”
In addition to delivering the Graduate School commencement address, Boyce will receive an honorary doctor of engineering degree during the 181st University Commencement Ceremony on May 17.
“I am honored to receive this recognition from Notre Dame and for the opportunity to address the graduates at the Graduate School Commencement Ceremony as they cross this important milestone,” Boyce said. “These students have elected to deepen and broaden their knowledge during a time of rapid advancement and change. I hope that sharing some of my own journey will help students embrace opportunities along their own paths to bring their talents to benefit society.”
The following alumni, faculty and student award winners will also be recognized during the Graduate School ceremony:
Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award: Marlene L. Daut (’09 Ph.D.), professor of French and Black studies at Yale University.
Rev. James A. Burns, C.S.C., Award: Xiaobo Sharon Hu, the Leo E. and Patti Ruth Linbeck Professor of Engineering in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Notre Dame.
Rev. James A. Burns, C.S.C., Award: Patrick Wensing, the Wanzek Family Foundation Collegiate Professor of Engineering in the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at Notre Dame.
Dick and Peggy Notebaert Award: Jason C. Hicks, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and associate dean for graduate and postdoctoral affairs in the College of Engineering at Notre Dame.
Eli J. and Helen Shaheen Award in Engineering: Hannah Rose Spero, doctoral candidate in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences.
Eli J. and Helen Shaheen Award in Humanities: Benjamin J. Young, doctoral candidate in the Department of History.
Eli J. and Helen Shaheen Award in Science: Dailin Gan, doctoral candidate in the Department of Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics.
Eli J. and Helen Shaheen Award in Social Sciences: Hannah Early Bagdanov, doctoral candidate in the Department of Political Science.
Social Justice Award: Emma M. Thrift-Cahall, doctoral candidate in the Department of Biological Sciences.
Contact: Erin Blasko, associate director of media relations, 574-631-4127, eblasko@nd.edu
Originally published by at news.nd.edu on April 24, 2026.
]]>Twenty-two Notre Dame students, including 18 undergraduate students and four graduate students, were awarded Fulbright Scholarships for the 2025-26 academic year, ranking 12th among U.S. doctoral institutions. Slightly more than 30 percent of the Notre Dame students who applied to the program were accepted, exceeding the respective rates for the 11 schools ahead of Notre Dame in the rankings.
Notre Dame has been a top producer of Fulbright students 13 times since the 2009-10 academic year. Full results are available online at the Chronicle of Higher Education.
“Last year's Fulbright process was unusually challenging due to shifting federal funding priorities. Many countries lessened the amount of awards they offered halfway through the process,” said Elise Rudt-Moorthy, associate director of national fellowships with Notre Dame’s Flatley Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement. “However, our students worked incredibly hard to earn their placements and then displayed great patience amid uncertainty. It was a pleasure and honor to serve them alongside my colleagues Mathilda Nassar, Emily Hunt, Michael Skalski and Veronica Vos.”
Mary Ann McDowell, a professor of biology and associate dean for professional development at the Graduate School, offered similar praise.
“Fulbright awards are highly competitive and recognize academic excellence, leadership potential and a strong commitment to global engagement and public service,” McDowell said. “The continued success of Notre Dame students earning Fulbright awards reflects their remarkable talent, dedication and drive to make a meaningful difference in the world. I am sincerely thankful to the exceptional teams in the Graduate School’s Office of Grants and Fellowships and the Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement, whose guidance and expertise are instrumental in supporting students throughout the Fulbright application process.”
Established in 1964, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the U.S. government’s flagship educational and cultural exchange program, offering students the opportunity to study, teach or pursue research or other projects abroad.
For more information on this and other scholarship opportunities, visit cuse.nd.edu (undergraduate students) or graduateschool.nd.edu/graduate-training/research-communication/the-office-of-grants-and-fellowships/ (graduate students).
Originally published by at news.nd.edu on February 04, 2026.
]]>The Notre Dame Scientific Artificial Intelligence (SAI) Initiative offers a semester-long fall fellowship program for 8-10 Ph.D. students seeking to newly integrate or deepen the connection between AI and domain research.
Fellows work with campus mentors and a peer network to advance their research at the intersection of scientific research and AI. Cohorts are comprised of a mix of experimental and computational researchers at varying levels of experience working with AI in the context of their research projects.
Applications for the Fall 2026 semester are currently open.
Fellows will develop concrete deliverables such as trained models, custom datasets, automated workflows, or other domain-specific AI integrations aligned with their dissertation research. The program includes structured weekly activities combining individual project work, technical training, and community engagement.
Questions? Contact: bsavoie2@nd.edu
Originally published at sai.nd.edu.
Originally published by at crc.nd.edu on April 08, 2026.
]]>One of Notre Dame’s Society of Science Fellows, Wedel was awarded the fellowship under the “Understanding the Rules of Life: Emerging Networks” funding opportunity, a competitive category for scientists whose work bridges the different scales of biology, describing the interactions among organismal, environmental, social, and human-engineered systems.
Wedel is interested in the individual-level physiology of plants and how that might scale up to drive changes in what species live in an ecosystem. She’s also interested in the larger-scale changes in carbon storage and water cycling. One type of ecosystem she studies is African savannas, which are ever-changing. Wedel focuses on how herbivores—animals like giraffes and elephants—affect savanna plants. She also factors in rainfall and tree cover.
“We’re looking at the trees on the individual level, and then also at a community level, by comparing trees out in the open versus trees inside of exclosures (fenced-off areas where herbivores cannot graze), where they have been excluded for nearly twenty years,” Wedel said. “That helps us see how savannas have changed over time without large mammals.”
The research award from the NSF allows her to extend her time at Notre Dame as a postdoctoral fellow and continue her work at MPala Research Centre in Kenya, a field station that hosts a large network of scientists from institutions worldwide.
“It gives me a little security for the next several years to pursue the research I am most excited about, and especially with international work, it takes a lot of resources to do it successfully,” she said. “When applying for jobs, I can show that I am an independent researcher who has ownership over my ideas.”
She has shared the educational impact of her work at Notre Dame during her mentorship of two undergraduate honors biology majors, juniors Joseph Draganowski and Noah Hanisch, who spent 10 weeks in Kenya last summer and plan to return for the summer of 2026.
Wedel credits her role as a Society of Science Fellow as well as her collaboration with Assistant Professor Tyler Coverdale, who shares many of her research interests and was foundational in helping her craft a funding proposal.
“I’m not convinced I would have gotten this NSF fellowship without them,” she said.
Originally published by at science.nd.edu on April 09, 2026.
]]>The appointment is the first time that the highly competitive fellowship will be hosted on campus. The NASA Hubble Fellowship is among the most competitive in the field of astrophysics, with only 24 fellows selected from a pool of over 650 applicants this year.
"I was ecstatic. I absolutely did not see it coming,” said Gerasimov. “The Hubble is one of those things that everybody applies for, but nobody's really expecting to get it, and I wasn't expecting to get it at all."
His research focuses on the chemical evolution of our galaxy and neighboring galaxies. He will use the `Ōnohi`ula Prime Focus Spectrograph (PFS) on the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii to lead the international collaboration’s measurements of stellar compositions. He plans to take the spectra—charts and graphs that show the intensity of light being emitted over different wavelengths—of more than 100,000 stars outside of our galaxy to map their chemical compositions.
One goal of this survey is to identify rare stars that provide clues about the early universe and help determine how elements in the periodic table were created.
"In a much simpler environment, such as a dwarf galaxy, there is hope of finding stars that have been so-called mono-enriched, so they bear signatures of just one stellar explosion that produced the elements that are within those stars," Gerasimov said.
In addition to the chemical survey, Gerasimov will use the Hubble, James Webb and Euclid space telescopes to extend star surveys to the lowest-mass stars and brown dwarfs. Because of their unique properties, these faint-to-the-eye objects may provide important clues about the galaxy’s history.
Evan Kirby, an associate professor of physics and astronomy at Notre Dame, is a former Hubble Fellow who is also Gerasimov’s mentor. He described that Gerasimov’s technical skills, essential to processing data from the telescope, allowed him to extract the most information out of the data as possible.
Gerasimov, who was chosen as a Society of Science Fellow in 2023 and won the International Astronomical Union's PhD Prize for his research in stellar physics in 2024, has become a core member of the department beyond his research duties, Kirby said.
"He's not (just) a postdoc, he's a peer, and … you know, just to ‘nerd out’ with Roman is amazing," he said.
Gerasimov has mentored undergraduate students through the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program at Notre Dame, where students from other colleges and universities spend time at Notre Dame to learn from professors on campus, as well as gain access to equipment they might not have elsewhere. He has also shared his work with the public, winning awards for his science communication skills. Gerasimov taught physics classes and will also teach this summer.
As a Society of Science Fellow, Gerasimov had the freedom to publish several papers as a postdoctoral researcher, and though the Hubble Fellowship is primarily intended to support research activity, his teaching experience was likely viewed favorably by the Hubble committee, Kirby said.
“Being a Society of Science Fellow here at Notre Dame, and being mentored by Evan over the past three years, I can make an educated guess that participating in the research with the (`Ōnohi`ula spectrograph) and preparing the survey … being part of PFS … was (also) one of the reasons the committee thought my proposal was promising,” Gerasimov said.
Gerasimov became interested in astronomy at age 13 in Cyprus after his parents bought him a small amateur telescope.
"Eventually I figured, wow, I'm enjoying doing this so much … that maybe I should do it as a job,” he said.
Erika Holmbeck ’20 Ph.D. was awarded the Hubble fellowship in 2021, but she completed her tenure at the Carnegie Observatories, making Gerasimov the first to bring the residency to Notre Dame.
Gerasimov was visiting PFS colleagues at Princeton University when he found out he received the fellowship. The email from NASA included a nondescript subject line, but when Gerasimov opened it, he immediately saw the word “Congratulations.”
He texted Kirby the good news after Kirby sent a check-in text about the Princeton visit. Had he not received the Hubble fellowship, Gerasimov would have left for another postdoctoral opportunity later this year, because his three-year Society of Science Fellowship is about to end.
“I think you’ll be stuck with me next year,” he texted, dryly.
Kirby immediately caught on, and his return texts were filled with congratulations and several exclamation points.
“This fellowship would be impossible without the fellowship at Notre Dame, without Evan being a fantastic mentor who always prioritized my professional development, without all of the collaborators during grad school; without all of the collaborators in Italy who help collect all of that data and do a lot of lower-level analysis which allows me to use that data to make all sorts of scientific discoveries that contributed to me being able to write a good proposal and apply for the Hubble,” Gerasimov said.
“It’s all about collaborations that help move yourself forward in your career,” he said. “That’s how science should work, and that’s how it seems to be working.”
Originally published by at science.nd.edu on April 13, 2026.
]]>Lauren Henderson is the recipient of the Stavropoulos Prize for the Best Graduate Student Oral Presentation. Her talk was titled "The r-process in the Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy." Henderson is advised by Evan Kirby, Mia de los Reyes, and Rebecca Surman .
Marie Tagliavia is the recipient of the Stavropoulos Prize for the Best Graduate Student Poster. Her poster was titled "What's the (RV) Point? A 3.5x Enhancement in Long-Period Super-Jupiters from a Critical Observation." Tagliavia's advisor is Lauren Weiss.
Chloe Jones is the recipient of the Stavropoulos Center Director’s Special Prize for Graduate Student Poster Presentation. Her poster was titled "First Measurement of (p,n) Reactions in HECTOR." Jones is advised by Anna Simon-Robertson.
Originally published by at physics.nd.edu on April 21, 2026.
]]>Established in 1952, the Graduate Research Fellowship Program provides financial and other support to students in NSF-backed STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) disciplines to participate in research-based master’s and doctoral degree programs at accredited institutions in the U.S.
Applicants work closely with their advisers to create compelling personal statements and research plans. Notre Dame students can also consult with experts from the Flatley Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement (CUSE) or its counterpart, the Office of Grants and Fellowships, in the Graduate School.
Jeffrey Thibert is the Paul and Maureen Stefanick Director of CUSE.
“Being recognized by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program is in part a marker of past achievement and in part a predictor of the applicant’s capacity to contribute to STEM fields in a way that both demonstrates intellectual merit and produces positive broader impacts,” Thibert said. “It’s wonderful to see another strong showing from Notre Dame, and the CUSE team encourages any undergraduates and recent alumni considering graduate school in a STEM field to reach out to us to discuss the NSF GRFP and other fellowship programs.”
In addition to congratulating the winning students, Thibert thanked the faculty mentors and advisers who assisted them throughout the application process — particularly Emily Buika Hunt, the CUSE assistant director of scholarly development, who works with undergraduate and alumni applicants.
Michael Skalski is the associate program director in the Graduate School’s Office of Grants and Fellowships.
“Navigating the NSF application process is a rigorous intellectual exercise that requires students to envision the long-term impact of their work,” Skalski said. “We are thrilled to see so many of our applicants recognized for their hard work, and we look forward to the contributions they will make to the global STEM landscape.”
Undergraduate
• Jonathan Lewis (engineering)
• Dongwhi Kim (computer science)
Undergraduate alumni
• Thomas Barbera (physics and astronomy)
• Levi Cherek (chemistry)
• Caitlin Cunningham (psychology)
• Matthew Doty (physics and astronomy)
• Caroline Hoy (engineering)
• Carmelina Komyatte (life sciences)
• Matthew LaCapra (engineering)
• Isabella Weiner (engineering)
• Victor Williams (engineering)
Graduate
• Akash Narayanan (mathematical sciences)
• Sarah Shibuya (life sciences)
• Zachary Toth (engineering)
Undergraduate
• Adriana Baniecki (physics and astronomy)
• Charles Desnoyers (chemistry)
• Thomas Reimer (chemistry)
Undergraduate Alumni
• James Galante (life sciences)
• Giorgi Kharchilava (chemistry)
• Molly Quan (life sciences)
Graduate
• Jacob DiBiase (geosciences)
• Emma Page (psychology)
• Allison Portaro (chemistry)
• Ilya Sniff (engineering)
• Maggie Stephens (engineering)
• Andrew Yeomans-Stephenson (physics and astronomy)
Originally published by at news.nd.edu on April 20, 2026.
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The Graduate School is pleased to announce its annual award winners for the 2025–2026 academic year. These awards include: the Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award; the Rev. James A. Burns, C.S.C., Awards; the Dick and Peggy Notebaert Award; the Eli J. and Helen Shaheen Graduate School Awards; and the Social Justice Award. The award winners will be formally recognized for their achievements at the Graduate School Commencement Ceremony to be held at Notre Dame Stadium on May 16.
Marlene L. Daut ‘09 Ph.D., is the winner of the Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award, given each year to a graduate alumnus or alumna of the University who has contributed significantly to scholarship, research, or society. After completing her doctoral studies in English at Notre Dame in 2009, Dr. Daut held faculty positions at the University of Virginia, Claremont Graduate University, and the University of Miami. She is now a professor of French and Black Studies at Yale University, where she has cemented her reputation as a leading literary and intellectual historian of Haiti and the Haitian Revolution (1791–1804). She is the author of four monographs and three edited collections, along with numerous articles and digital projects, and her award-winning work has been extremely influential in elevating the historical importance of the Haitian Revolution among scholars of the Age of Revolutions.
Xiaobo Sharon Hu, Ph.D., is the winner of the Rev. James A. Burns, C.S.C., Award in recognition of her outstanding work as a sustained mentor of graduate students over the course of her career. Dr. Hu is a professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering with an exceptional reputation—both among colleagues, as well as current and former students—for “transformative” mentorship. Since joining Notre Dame in 1996, Dr. Hu has supervised or co-supervised 26 doctoral students, many of whom have gone on to leadership roles across academia, industry, and government laboratories, including positions at IBM, Intel, Google, Meta, Amazon, Apple, and major research universities.
Patrick Wensing, Ph.D., is the winner of the Rev. James A. Burns, C.S.C., Award in recognition of his outstanding work as a mentor of graduate students at the midpoint of his career. An associate professor in the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Wensing is a leading robotics researcher with an already robust legacy of mentorship. He has graduated eight doctoral students and is currently advising three more. His former students have landed high-impact roles in academia—including tenure-track positions at Florida State University and The Ohio State University—as well as at top-tier humanoid robotics firms.
Jason C. Hicks, Ph.D., is the winner of the Dick and Peggy Notebaert Award, which honors a faculty member or administrator who has had a significant impact on graduate studies at Notre Dame. A world-class researcher focused on innovations to produce cleaner, more efficient energy, Dr. Hicks was hand-selected by his colleagues to serve as the inaugural associate dean for graduate and postdoctoral affairs in 2022, a newly created leadership role in the College of Engineering. In this position, he has worked tirelessly to strengthen the college’s engagement at every stage of the graduate student lifecycle—from recruitment and admissions to student support and career preparation beyond Notre Dame.
Hannah Rose Spero, Ph.D. candidate from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, is the recipient of the Eli J. and Helen Shaheen Award in Engineering.
Doctoral candidate Hannah Rose Spero’s research sits at the intersection of earth science, fluid dynamics, and environmental engineering. She has developed novel field-based methods to study extreme wave events and coastal hazards, drawing on extensive fieldwork in Ireland, including 11 field visits. Her long-term goal is to reconstruct past severe storm and tsunami events to improve coastal risk assessment. A recipient of the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, Spero has published in leading international journals and presented her findings at conferences across Europe and Asia.
Benjamin J. Young, Ph.D. candidate from the Department of History, is the recipient of the Eli J. and Helen Shaheen Award in Humanities.
Doctoral candidate Benjamin (Jack) Young is an emerging scholar of modern American religious and urban history whose research reexamines the rise of the postwar Sunbelt South and its role in shaping evangelicalism. His dissertation, ”Suburbs of Zion: The Rise of the Metropolitan South and the Making of Modern American Evangelicalism,” was based on work conducted at 36 archives across the United States and was supported by a national dissertation fellowship from the Jefferson Scholars Foundation at the University of Virginia. In addition, Young has published several major articles in top-tier journals, including Modern American History and Cold War History.
Dailin Gan, Ph.D. candidate from the Department of Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics, is the recipient of the Eli J. and Helen Shaheen Award in Science.
Doctoral candidate Dailin Gan is a statistician working to integrate statistics, machine learning, and computational biology to extract deep insights from complex biological data. His research is already helping scientists better understand and analyze high-dimensional genomic data. Gan has an exceptionally strong publication record, authoring or co-authoring 12 peer-reviewed articles in major journals, including Genome Biology, Bioinformatics, Cancer Research, Cell Metabolism, and Nature Communications. He is also the recipient of a prestigious international biosecurity fellowship.
Hannah Early Bagdanov, Ph.D. candidate from the Department of Political Science, is the recipient of the Eli J. and Helen Shaheen Award in Social Sciences.
Doctoral candidate Hannah Early Bagdanov is a political scientist and an emerging leader in the study of conflict, political violence, and state and non-state governance. For her dissertation, Bagdanov designed an ambitious mixed-methods study grounded in 14 months of extensive fieldwork in East Jerusalem, examining how Palestinian residents in the city navigate everyday interactions with the Israeli state. Before defending her dissertation, she published one of its chapters as a stand-alone solo article in the American Political Science Review, the field’s flagship journal. Bagdanov was also awarded more than $50,000 in funding for her dissertation, including the American Political Science Association’s Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant.
Emma M. Thrift-Cahall, Ph.D. candidate from the Department of Biological Sciences, is the winner of the Social Justice Award, given annually to a graduate student in the Notre Dame community who has tackled complex societal issues through their scholarship, teaching, and service. Thrift-Cahall is a freshwater ecologist whose research addresses antimicrobial resistance and the little-understood impacts of its movement through agricultural watersheds. A National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, Thrift-Cahall has been extraordinarily focused on communicating scientific findings and influencing policy decisions by engaging directly with farming and rural communities. In addition, she has served as co-president of the Notre Dame Science Policy Initiative, designing and leading programs to help scientists engage effectively with public and policy audiences. Thrift-Cahall has also been heavily involved in the local South Bend community, mentoring children and working to make science come alive.
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Recognizing those who animate a university’s commitment to teaching involves more than looking to the efforts of its faculty.
It also means honoring individuals who, at the beginning of their teaching careers, already stand out for the impact they’re having as classroom instructors.
Sponsored by Notre Dame Learning’s Kaneb Center for Teaching Excellence and the Graduate School at Notre Dame, the annual Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Awards celebrate Notre Dame graduate student instructors and teaching assistants (TAs) who demonstrate excellence in the classroom or teaching laboratory. Awards are granted based on departments who offer their advanced degree programs through the Graduate School nominating up to five percent of their graduate instructors or TAs in a given year.
This year’s winners were recognized April 2 at a dinner in the Morris Inn’s Smith Ballroom emceed by Ashley Henry, program director for graduate student and postdoctoral development in the Kaneb Center. Each graduate student received a certificate from the Kaneb Center and Graduate School, a letter formally documenting the award, and a $100 honorarium.
The event featured remarks from Mitchell Olsen, the Richard J. Huether Associate Teaching Professor of Marketing in Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, where he also serves as the Department of Marketing’s director of undergraduate studies and assistant chair.
The recipient of several teaching awards at Notre Dame, Olsen shared three insights from his own teaching with the early career instructors in attendance:
With respect to the last, Olsen was referring to agape, the biblical sense of charitable and unconditional love, inviting teachers to treat the students in a class as whole, complex human beings while balancing their individual needs with the needs of the group.
“You belong here,” Olsen said to the honorees as he concluded his remarks. “There’s no better voice or style than your own. We have much to learn from our students. And let us have the courage to approach every new challenge with love.”
Following Olsen’s remarks, each of the 50 honorees was invited up to the stage, where Michael Hildreth, dean of the Graduate School and vice president and associate provost for graduate studies, presented them with their certificates.
Originally published by at learning.nd.edu on April 13, 2026.
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As a cornerstone of Notre Dame’s vision to become a preeminent global Catholic research university, the 2033 Strategic Framework identifies "investing in people" as central to the University's mission. A vital component of this investment is the expansion of our postdoctoral community—the "research engine" responsible for driving innovation and mentoring future scholars. To accelerate this growth, the University launched the Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program in the 2025/26 academic year. This prestigious, University-wide initiative supports exceptional early-career researchers who share Notre Dame’s commitment to being a "force for good."
This pilot program attracts elite scholars eager to conduct cutting-edge research within a mission-driven environment. Fellows are granted rare independence to pursue ambitious, long-term interdisciplinary research and the flexibility to collaborate with top-tier international institutions. Faculty mentors emphasize that these fellows are not merely trainees but "active catalysts" for institutional momentum. They often introduce entirely new research areas to their departments, provide vital mentorship to graduate and undergraduate students, and contribute to the teaching mission.
“He brings fresh perspectives and a high level of specialized expertise that accelerates our progress on these complex problems and elevates the work of our entire group,” says Prof. Peter Cholak (Mathematics) regarding Fellow David Gonzalez. “Programs of this caliber are not just stepping stones for emerging scholars; they are active catalysts for our own institutional research momentum.” Prof. Ahsan Kareem (Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences) echoes this sentiment regarding Fellow Joey Jiayao Wang, “Fellows contribute not only to ongoing projects, but also to the broader intellectual life of the lab by introducing different training backgrounds, new questions, and complementary areas of expertise. This helps keep the group dynamic, innovative, and forward-looking, while also strengthening its research productivity and long-term development.”
The pilot program funds up to 18 two-year postdoctoral scholar appointments annually—six each in the Colleges of Arts & Letters, Engineering, and Science. Fellowships are appointed at the college level and supported institutionally for 24 months, with a renewal at 12 months. They include a generous stipend and research allowance. The program has become a cornerstone of Notre Dame’s strategy to recruit elite global talent, particularly as federal funding for such positions remains tightened. Through an extremely competitive application process (2.24% selectivity rate for the 2025/26 cohort and 1.65% for the 2026/27 cohort), postdoctoral scholars have been placed across the three Colleges.
Representing the three primary divisions of the College of Arts & Letters (Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences), one scholar has been placed in 11 departments and institutes, each for a two-year tenure. Similarly, 12 scholars have been placed for two-year appointments across the College of Engineering. The College of Science offers three-year terms (an optional third year funded by the faculty mentor or department). It supports an additional fellow for each cohort, placing 14 scholars across the five departments of the College over the last two years.
Beyond research output, the initiative serves as an essential professional “accelerator” equipping fellows with the skills necessary to excel in a competitive faculty job market. The program distinguishes itself through a rigorous professional development curriculum—covering everything from grant writing to publishing to pedagogy to leadership—research visibility through frequent opportunities to present work and receive feedback, and a culture of one-on-one faculty mentorship designed to launch the next generation of academic leaders.
The testimonials from the fellows in the first cohort attest to the success of the program. Provost Postdoctoral Fellow in German, Peter Makhouf, exclaims, “I can confidently say that the Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship has radically transformed the trajectory of my academic career for the better.” Similarly, Tzvi Schoenbergy, a fellow in Medieval Studies, states, “The fellowship has provided me with the intellectual space and institutional support necessary to substantially advance my research as I transition toward a full academic career… Equally significant has been the professional training and resources offered through the program, which reflect a genuine institutional commitment to the development of scholars in the humanities.” Feng Xie, Provost Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, explains, “The Provost Postdoctoral Fellowship has provided a uniquely supportive and intellectually stimulating environment that is instrumental in preparing me for an independent research career. Beyond enabling high-impact research, the program offers critical resources, mentorship, and professional development opportunities that are rarely available simultaneously in traditional postdoctoral appointments.”
The Provost Postdoctoral Fellow initiative positions Notre Dame as a premier destination for the next generation of academic leaders. The program represents more than just a financial investment; it is a transformative bridge between elite doctoral training and future academic leadership. By blending research independence with a structured, rigorous professional development curriculum, Notre Dame has created a premier ecosystem where early-career scholars don't just participate in research—they redefine it. As these fellows infuse the University with fresh perspectives and interdisciplinary innovation, they solidify the University’s 2033 vision, proving that when a mission-driven institution empowers its "research engine," it doesn't just advance its own stature—it cultivates a powerful force for good within the global scholarly community.
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On any given morning in Vilnius, Lithuania, Notre Dame Ph.D. candidate Nicholas Herrud moves between the places where his research comes to life—walking to the Institute of Lithuanian History or Vilnius University, catching a bus to the National Library, or settling into a quiet café to read and write.
His days are shaped by archives, language classes, and the steady work of piecing together the past. It’s a rhythm that defines his time abroad as a Fulbright fellow.
Herrud, a Ph.D. candidate in history, received the highly selective Fulbright Study/Research Award last year and is spending the year in Lithuania conducting archival research that explores a central question: How did Eastern Europe develop between the World Wars, particularly as borders shifted? “Oftentimes, when we think of Eastern Europe, we think of Hitler and Stalin,” Herrud said, “or we think of World War I and World War II. But a lot of people don’t pay attention to what’s happening between the World Wars.” His work is like putting together a puzzle, drawing on sources in multiple languages to reconstruct a fuller picture of the past. Herrud works across at least four languages, five including English, weaving together this historical perspective.
A first-generation college student from Franklin, Tennessee, Herrud developed an early interest in history. As a child, he was obsessed with dinosaurs and once imagined becoming a paleontologist. “Palentologists study the history of life,” he said. Ultimately, his path has led him to study the history of people, states, and places as a historian.
He began his college career at a community college, unsure of his direction. That changed when he received a scholarship to study in Poland during the pandemic. “I lived in Kraków for a year and learned Polish,” he said. “It wasn’t always easy—but it ended up shaping everything that came after.”
While earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee, Herrud received advice that would shape his academic path: the key to studying history beyond the United States is learning foreign languages. “So I started with German, then French, and then moved on to Polish and Russian,” he said. “I learned Ukrainian, and am now studying Lithuanian." He believes that this foundation played a role in his selection as a Fulbright fellow.
As one of the world’s most competitive international fellowships, the Fulbright is awarded to a select group of students each year, and for Herrud, the experience has been transformative. To complete his dissertation, Herrud needed to be in Lithuania to access the on-site archival resources. He had been prepared to wait—potentially another year—as funding opportunities were cut. Instead, the award allowed him to move forward.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the experience, Herrud said, is how deeply his work resonates with the people around him. "I just say, 'I study borders' and people in this part of the world understand why," he says. "I had a Dutch colleague ask me why borders are important. And I said, 'Well, the first person I would say who cares about borders today is Vladimir Putin.'"
He was surprised by Vilnius’s very strong multicultural environment, where multiple languages and perspectives intersect, and he values that. It also proves challenging at times. While Herrud is comfortable working in different languages, shifting between two, three, or even four in a single day is far more demanding than he expected.
The work itself can also be isolating at times. Although archives are often filled with researchers, few speak English, limiting day-to-day interaction. However, he has found meaningful connections during his time in Lithuania, including a family who invited him to spend Christmas with them.
“They live out in the country, and so I got to see a little bit of the country life, the rural life of Lithuanians. So that was really great. And it's nice to have those moments,” Herrud explained. “There's so much you can learn about a culture by going to someone's house for dinner, aspects you can't learn in the archive or see in the classroom.”
Presenting his research is another facet of Herrud’s Fulbright experience. Through his work with the U.S. Embassy, he was recently selected as one of 50 participants for a nomination-only policy seminar in Brussels, held at the U.S. Mission to the European Union for Young Leaders.
Herrud’s time in Lithuania will come to an end in June, when he returns to Notre Dame to finish his Ph.D., which he hopes to complete by 2028. But his experience there has already started to shape what comes next.
“I would like to teach if it's available, but I am going to look to apply for a postdoctoral position, and I'm also considering a different path—to become a policy advisor for the U.S. government, such as the State Department, or with NATO,” he said. “There’s a big need right now for people with knowledge of Eastern Europe and Russia.”
Until he returns, Herrud calls this next leg of the journey a marathon.
Fulbright Applications for 2027-2028 are now open. Start your career-defining journey: https://us.
The stately gallery in Bond Hall was alive with activity during Solarium26, an annual fine arts show and signature event hosted each year by the Graduate School. Visitors moved slowly from piece to piece—studying the artwork, reflecting on it, and reading the ekphrastic reflections displayed beside the works. Some paused to speak with the artists about their process and the stories behind their work, while others gathered in small groups—talking about the art, enjoying the food, and celebrating the creativity and community that filled the room.
Held on March 4, 2026, Solarium26 showcased the work of talented University of Notre Dame master of fine arts (MFA) students, whose visual pieces were paired with written responses by English MFA students.
As Graduate School Dean Mike Hildreth told the crowd, the show featured "art you can see paired with art you can read." That is exactly what an ekphrastic reflection is. "It's writing that is produced in reflection of art," he explained further. "It's a new creation based upon a creation. I think that's a really cool metaphor for it."
While the art on the walls took weeks or even months to plan and create, the writing exercise was done last minute by design. The writers had roughly 24 hours to reflect on it and craft their ekphrastic response. The creativity on display by both the artists and writers made the gallery experience all the more compelling.
"It was a joy to work with such talented artists and help them showcase their work in such a beautiful space," said Veronica Vos, advisor with the Office of Grants and Fellowships, who coordinated the selection and installation of the student artwork. "This event is special because it allows us to highlight graduate student work that isn't strictly research. Artists think differently about the world and help others see the world differently. Creativity is an important part of innovation, and these students help us highlight that truth."
Several students were recognized for their visual pieces, while others were honored for the ekphrastic reflections inspired by the artwork. Together, the works illustrated the creative dialogue between visual art and writing.
Alejandro Mejía Andrade was honored with the Best of Show Award for his striking wall-mounted sculptural piece titled "The Map Is Not the Territory."
At first glance, it appears as a crumpled piece of paper. But upon closer inspection, viewers notice a carefully arranged grid of small red triangles placed in precise geometric patterns. And that's where this artist says his inspiration began. "The idea began on a small sheet of paper with fold lines that allowed me to bend it in many different ways," Mejía Andrade explains. "After experimenting with several possibilities, I started thinking that this small sculptural gesture could become something very different if it involved the whole body and not just the hands, so I decided to make it large enough to explore how our sense of space and volume changes depending on our ability to inhabit it."
Unlike the quick spark of inspiration behind it, the piece took him about a month to fully develop. Mejía Andrade cut small triangles from wood veneer and carefully glued them to paper before building a wire-and-aluminum structure that allows the piece to bend and hold its shape.
What he enjoys most about the work, he says, is its flexibility. Each time it is installed, its form shifts slightly, making it dynamic and ever-changing. "I like that the piece can be seen almost like a landscape, creating a feeling of contemplation and inner travel," he says. "We are familiar with landscape, but encountering it through other materials or situations can reinforce the idea of an internal landscape—one that can be activated whenever there is a sufficiently evocative pretext."
For Mejía Andrade, receiving the Best of Show Award was both professionally validating and personally meaningful. "Winning this distinction gives me not only more confidence in my own work, but also the opportunity to keep developing new ideas. It also makes me feel that all the effort my family and I have made to live in another country is truly worthwhile."
Photographer Kiana Bates, who received the Best Artist Award, approached her work from a deeply personal place. Her exhibit "Cultivate" features a series of documentary-style portraits that honor her Japanese grandmother's "profound love, resilience, and quiet sacrifices as an immigrant."
Her work portrays Bates's grandmother, Baachan, as a cultivator—someone who lives her life by a Japanese phrase that means striving "to be of use." The portraits show her planting seeds, tending to her garden, and embracing her granddaughter.
"My grandmother is a woman who pours herself into other people and seeks to be useful," Bates says. "I have seen time and time again the way that she quietly serves others, particularly her family, and especially myself. This piece is in honor of her giving nature—she is a cultivator not only of her garden, but of everyone around her." And she hopes viewers of her work reflect on their own relationships with older generations and the wisdom they carry.
"I am shocked and honored to have won Best Artist at the Solarium Show," Bates shared. "Coming from a commercial photography background, it is sometimes hard to view the work that I make as 'art'. It is very validating and humbling to know that my work is seen and appreciated in the greater art world, especially at an esteemed university like Notre Dame."
Graduate School staff also had the opportunity to weigh in on their favorite work of the show, selecting Concepción Claude as the recipient of the People's Choice Award.
Claude, an MFA candidate specializing in liturgical design, presented an untitled installation from the series, The Grammar of Beauty. It featured intricately laser-cut sculptures that explore complex architectural forms and sacred spaces of the Sagrada Família.
She came to Notre Dame to research the history of sacred architecture—particularly Catholic churches—and the elements that make a space feel truly holy. "This piece was inspired by my search for a grammar of beauty; it is an exploration of how simple geometric forms can evoke a sense of transcendence and define the sacred quality of a space."
Claude says winning the People's Choice Award was an unexpected honor. "Winning this award was a beautiful surprise," she says. "It means so much to know that the public connected with my work, as it confirms that the language of beauty and harmony is something we all instinctively share."
She hopes viewers experience a sense of quiet reflection when encountering the pieces.
In a fitting pairing, the first-place ekphrastic reflection was inspired by the evening’s Best of Show artwork. Helen Quah, whose written piece was selected as the top ekphrastic reflection, was assigned Alejandro Mejía Andrade’s sculpture, “The Map Is Not the Territory.”
Quah said she really loved a line from Mejía Andrade's artist statement, and it was something that really resonated with her: "The smaller the divisions, the more forms became possible." And that idea sparked her imagination.
"I was thinking about how he made divisions/separations productive, and have value when looked at as a whole. I also liked peeking behind this earthy surface to see the mirror-like reflective surface on the back of the sculpture."
It made her reflect on her childhood. "I couldn't get away from thinking about the monumental landscape as similar to the memory of being close-up to my mother's face as a child," she says. "The familiarity of the contours, each one bringing depth. So I began writing there."
For Quah, the First Place recognition at Solarium was wonderful, but she also enjoyed engaging with fellow artists' work. "I think more than anything, the chance to engage with the work of the artists on campus was really special," she says. "It was a pleasure to meet Alejandro and find out more about his sculptures, installations, and ceramics."
First Runner-Up in the Ekphrastic Reflection category was Adalyne Perryman, whose poetry was inspired by Kiana Bates' photography exhibit, "Cultivate."
"I felt immediately connected to the artwork by Kiana Bates," she said. "Summer is my favorite season to experience and to write about. The wonderful greenery in her photography was instantly comforting and inspirational. I also greatly valued her view on ancestry and family. The poem came easily and naturally!"
Perryman said her poem reflects the idea of growing up with the land that raises you, suggesting that nature itself can mirror a coming-of-age story.
She also said she appreciated being surrounded by fellow writers and artists and the sense of community during the event.
"The food was really quite excellent, and the art was beyond amazing," Perryman said. "I could have looked at each piece for hours."
Second Runner-Up in the Ekphrastic Reflection category was awarded to Daryna Gladun, whose poem was inspired by Concepción Claude's "Untitled" from The Grammar of Beauty series.
"There's nothing more fragile than monumental architecture. I am thinking a lot about it in the context of the Russian war in Ukraine. When I saw the showpiece by Concepción Claude, I was instantly struck by the intricate dance of splendor and finitude embodied in [Claude's installation].”
Gladun structured her poem around Claude's interpretation of Barcelona's Sagrada Família. "I used Concepción's idea of reinventing the structure of Sagrada Família in five figures, and structured the poem accordingly," Gladun explained. "I usually tend to populate my writing with Ukrainian characters, but Sagrada Família is usually so crowded that I decided to embrace the architecture instead, and focus on verticality, hierarchy, symmetry, ornamentation, and color, in Concepción Claude's interpretation."
For Gladun, Solarium offered artists and writers a chance to encounter one another through their work and to celebrate creativity "in every shape and form."
"I met The Grammar of Beauty first, then I met the artist. Concepción first read my poem, then met me. There's something infinitely poetic—and infinitely artistic—in being introduced to one another in this manner."
Moments like these captured the spirit of Solarium26—an evening where art and writing shared the gallery and inspired conversations that continued long after the first viewing of each piece.
The student installations will be available for in-person viewing Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Solarium gallery at 117 Bond Hall until May 1. For those who can't make it in person, we present the pairings of art and inspired reflections below.
| Artist | Writer |
|---|---|
| Kiana Bates (Photography | Web): Cultivate | Adalyne Perryman: Seed, Ancestral |
| Concepción Claude (Visual Communication Design): Untitled from the series The Grammar of Beauty | Daryna Gladun: Sagrada Familia Reimagined |
| Sonya Eberhart (Painting and Drawing | IG): How Does This Look? | Jacob ZF: Re as sem ble Other Moments |
| Daniel Fajardo Gómez (Sculpture): Sometimes I cradle a river | Riane Bayne: The Ploymer : Of Me |
| Grace Gao (Studio Art | IG): Ritual of the Unforgotten | Adriana Toledano Kolteniuk: Untitled |
| Alejandro Mejía Andrade (Ceramics | IG): The Map Is Not the Territory | Helen Quah: Portrait of My Mother's Cheek as Rock Formation |
| Claire Murphy (Painting and Drawing): Stop and Smell the Mushrooms | Rina Shamilov: STOP & SMELL MY SKIN |
| Lucy Schultz (Industrial Design): And I Will Give You West | Miharu Yano: Rest |
