Published: April 21, 2021 By


Grant Bauman
Grant Bauman

Grant Bauman, a second-year graduate student advised by Gallogly Professor Tim White, recently received the 2021 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Award (NDSEG). The fellowship recognizes graduate students who have demonstrated academic excellence in science and technology fields of interest to the Department of Defense.

Bauman’s research is focused on the use of 3D printing technology to produce responsive, lightweight materials.

“The Army Research Office has an interest in developing new methods of control, and my materials have the potential to function as lightweight control elements in a variety of systems,” Bauman said. “These materials could be incorporated into a number of places in the Army, from large-scale manufacturing to portable, on-demand 3D printing operations.”

The fellowship program provides full tuition and fees coverage for up to 36 months, a monthly stipend of $3,200, additional funds for health care and up to $5,000 for travel expenses that support the professional development and education of fellowship winners.

“The fellowship will allow me access to several resources that will prove beneficial to me as a graduate student, including the network of NDSEG Fellows that I will be connected with through conferences and a Department of Defense research mentor,” Bauman said. “The connections I can make and the research skills I can develop through NDSEG will help me graduate with my PhD and find the right career.”

Bauman credits White with inspiring him to apply for the fellowship and for providing invaluable feedback when he was drafting the application. Bauman also thanked his fellow graduate students, who inspired him to develop a strong application.

Long-term, Bauman hopes to one day work in a federally funded laboratory. During his time as an undergraduate at the University of Tennessee, he worked as an intern at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory through the Higher Education Research Experiences program.

“The exciting research, industry collaborations and government initiatives that take place at national labs make them an appealing place for me to find a career,” he said.