Emily Kwapis, a Nuclear Engineering Ph.D. student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), has been awarded a fellowship from the Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship-for-Service Program.

Emily graduated summa cum laude from the University of Michigan with a B.S.E. in Nuclear Engineering with a minor in Electrical Engineering. She joined the research group of Kyle C. Hartig, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Nuclear Engineering Program in MSE, in fall of 2019 researching remote sensing of actinides using optical spectroscopy with laser ablation. This summer, she plans to use ultrafast lasers to study plutonium plasma chemistry at Savannah River National Laboratory. She is also a member of the Consortium for Monitoring, Technology, and Verification, led by the University of Michigan.

“I’ve been given an amazing opportunity with the Department of Defense, and I can’t wait to start my career with them. I would especially like to thank everyone who has supported me along the way,” Kwapis said. “Honestly, it’s a dream come true.”

The SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program is an opportunity for students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines to receive a full scholarship and guaranteed civilian employment with the Department of Defense upon degree completion.