Forest Biomaterials Graduate Fellowship Awards

Through the generous contributions of former faculty and donors the Department of Forest Biomaterials is offering for the second consecutive year a series of Graduate Fellowship awards to outstanding graduate students. These awards recognize high quality research, a proven track record of publications and presentations, professional contributions that the student has made to society, as well as and their work in making the Department and College a safer and healthier place to work.

Every year these Endowments provide funds for deserving graduate students. The specific focus of the award is defined by the donor, and the amount of the award varies with the size of the Endowment. Currently, all of these awards are merit based.

A student may only hold one award at a time, but may reapply for the Fellowships each year. The Fellows funds are intended to supplement the graduate student’s base salary and, in some cases, provide support for professional development activities.

For the 2022 – 2023 academic year, the Forest Biomaterials Graduate Fellowship Awards being offered are:

William R. Poole Endowment – William R. Poole lived and farmed in Wake County, and also served as a Wake County Commissioner. Mr. Poole died in 1889. The Endowment was established in 2004 by Frances Wynne, his great grandniece. Part of a larger gift that supports a number of students in the College of Natural Resources, this Forest Biomaterials Fellowship is focuses on Paper Science and Engineering. This Fellowship currently provides a $6,000 award to the student and also includes $3,000 for professional development activities.

Ronald B. and Cynthia Estridge Graduate Fellowship – The Estridge Fellowship was established in 2003 to recognize the significant contributions to the business community and to educational programs by Ron and Cynthia Estridge, and their support of the professional and personal accomplishments of NC State University graduate students. With the donors’ interest in creating opportunity for NC State students, the recipient(s) must 1) be working on some aspect of paper science and engineering, 2) have earned a PSE or Chemical Engineering degree from NC State, and 3) have participated in a professional organization such as TAPPI or AIChE. These awards will be in the amount of $4,000 per year, for up to 3 years for a Ph.D. student, and 2 years for an MSc student.

Irving S. and Helen Haft Goldstein Graduate Fellowship – The Irving S. and Helen Haft Goldstein Graduate Fellowship was established in 1995 to recognize Professor Goldstein’s high impact teaching and research, and his administrative leadership (1971-1976). The Fellowship is to support a student working on some aspect of wood chemistry including, such aspects as wood composition, chemical modification, hydrolysis, pulping, recycling and bleaching. The amount of the award $3,000 for one year, however the recipient may reapply.

Josef S. Gratzl Graduate Fellowship – The Gratzl Fellowship was established at NC State in 1999 by students, colleagues, friends, and family of Professor Gratzl and recognizes Professor Gratzl’s 30-year career at NC State. The fellowship endowment is intended to recognize and support Dr. Gratzl work in wood chemistry, chemistry and chemical technology of pulping, bleaching and pulping byproducts (lignin). This fellowship awards $3,000 for one year, however the recipient may reapply.

Richard H. Holley Graduate Fellowship in Paper Science and Technology – Dr. Richard Holley, class of 1965, established the Richard H. Holley Graduate Fellowship in 2002 to recognize Dr. Holley’s contributions to business and educational programs. The fellowship is meant to support a graduate student enrolled in the Paper Science Curriculum. This award will be in the amount of $3,000 for one year, however the recipient may reapply.

John E. Masaschi Graduate Fellowship – The John E. Masaschi Graduate Fellowship was established in 2016 to support a graduate student focused on Sustainable Materials and Technology. John Masaschi graduated with a Masters degree in Wood Products in 1957. This fellowship provides an award of $3,000 for one year, and several awards may be made each year. The recipient may reapply.

Applications will be accepted until midnight on October 31, 2022. Full-time masters and PhD graduate students in the Department of Forest Biomaterials who have successfully passed the qualifying exams (PhD students: QE1&2, MS students: QE1) and demonstrate good academic standing (GPA>3.0) are encouraged to apply. In order to be considered for a Forest Biomaterials Graduate Fellowship, please submit your application and materials at FB Graduate Fellowships Application.