Manasquan Woman Shines, Wins Top Science Fellowships

Chances are, Rutgers physics major and Manasquan resident Jennifer Coulter could tell you anything you want to know about applied physics.

Jennifer is the recipient of not one, not two, but three prestigious fellowships in her field. She won some of America's top science fellowships to study in graduate school at Harvard, according to the Rutgers News Service.

They are a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, a National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship and a Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship.

Coulter, a senior honored with a prestigious Goldwater scholarship last year, selected the Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship.

She will begin her studies in the applied physics program at Harvard University this fall and wants to pursue a doctorate in physics.

“It would be very, very cool if I could someday become a physics professor at a university,” said Coulter. “That’s very hard to achieve, so I’m going to give it everything I’ve got. If I can perform well enough to keep doing research, that would make me happiest.”

Arthur D. Casciato, director of Rutgers’ Office of Distinguished Fellowships, said Coulter stands out among her peers.

“Considering her Goldwater scholarship last year, Jenny is probably one of the most nationally recognized students in Rutgers’ history,” he said.

A Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship provides many benefits. They include:

• a $36,000 a year stipend and full tuition and fees for up to four years at an accredited U.S. university
• a $5,000 academic allowance in the first year and $1,000 in each of the following three years to purchase a computer workstation or to cover research and professional development expenses
• 12 weeks at one of 21 Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories or sites, including access to DOE supercomputers
• a rigorous program of study in a scientific or engineering discipline as well as computer science and applied mathematics
• a program review in the Washington, D.C., area each summer

“In terms of networking and additional support, this fellowship can’t be beat,” Coulter said. She will take classes and do some research during the first two years of graduate school and focus on research during the last three or four years."

Image: Denis Paiste