Michigan Alum Receives National Science Foundation Fellowship
University of Michigan alum Crystal Sanchez is a recent recipient of a prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) award, a five-year fellowship that provides three years of financial support for graduate education in STEM or STEM education. In addition to financial support, Crystal will have access to a wide range of professional development opportunities over the course of her graduate career.
As a biomedical engineering major and highly engaged leader on campus, Crystal assisted in undergraduate research for the University of Michigan College of Engineering and held officer positions for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and the Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority Beta Chapter.
Crystal’s passion for STEM started at a young age when she watched science demonstrations at her elementary school.
“I remember asking lots of questions and being curious. I eventually realized that I enjoy problem solving and trying to answer questions that have been unanswered,” she says.
"Posse's support during the past several years has been instrumental to my success.”
After volunteering with SHPE to introduce local Detroit youth to coding and electronics, Crystal recognized the importance of access to resources and experiences in STEM and developed a passion for increasing diverse representation in STEM.
“As a first-generation, Latina in STEM, it has always been difficult to believe I belong,” says Crystal. “But Posse is an organization that has made me feel secure and supported every step of the way. Posse’s support encourages me to mentor and support underrepresented groups in STEM and give back to my own Chicago Southside community in the future.”
This fall, Crystal will attend the Northwestern McCormick School of Engineering for her PhD in biomedical engineering. She has plans to explore the pharmaceutical industry and aspires to a career in elementary and secondary education, policy, and/or research, incorporating mentorship and other efforts to broaden representation and participation in STEM, particularly for communities of color.
“I look forward to beginning my next journey in graduate school,” she says. “It occasionally felt impossible over the past couple of years, but I am thrilled to finally be a University of Michigan graduate and NSF Fellowship recipient. Posse’s support during the past several years has been instrumental to my success.”
