WASHINGTON — The Gulf Research Program (GRP) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine announced today its 2025-2027 cohort of Early-Career Research Fellows in the environmental protection and stewardship and education research tracks. 

“Our Early-Career Research Fellows are leading the way in applying science for the public good,” said Karena Mothershed, director of GRP’s Board on Gulf Education and Engagement. “Whether advancing nature-based solutions to strengthen ecosystems and community resilience or reimagining STEM education to foster a deeper sense of place, these fellows are applying their expertise to real-world challenges to create a bright future for the Gulf region.”

The eight fellows joining the environmental protection and stewardship track will be working toward advancing scientific knowledge in the design, implementation, and evaluation of nature-based solutions that enhance ecosystem health and community resilience to extreme weather in the Gulf region.

The five fellows joining the education research track will be working to advance STEM and environmental education in the Gulf region or Alaska by considering the impacts of establishing sense of place in formal or informal learning environments.

The Early-Career Research Fellowship helps researchers during the critical pre-tenure phase of their careers. Fellows receive a $76,000 financial award along with mentoring support to provide them with independence, flexibility, and a built-in support network as they take risks on untested research ideas, pursue unique collaborations, and build a network of colleagues.

The 2025 fellows for the environmental protection and stewardship track are:

• Keisha Bahr
  Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

• Anna E. Braswell
  University of Florida

•  Michelle Hummel
  University of Texas at Arlington

• Andrew Moodie
  Texas A&M University

• Jeffrey Plumlee
  Louisiana State University

• Jeannine Richards
  Florida Gulf Coast University

• Elizabeth Robinson
  Louisiana Sea Grant

• Zutao Yang
  Auburn University

The 2025 fellows joining the education research track are:

• Alyson (Aly) Busse
  Mote Marine Laboratory

• Emma Elliott
  University of Washington

• Yue Li
  University of Florida

• Yusuf Sermet
  Tulane University

• Vanessa van Heerden
  Louisiana Sea Grant

The National Academies’ Gulf Research Program is an independent, science-based program founded in 2013 as part of legal settlements with the companies involved in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. The GRP’s mission is to develop, translate, and apply science to enhance the safety of offshore energy, the environment, and the well-being of the people of the Gulf region for generations to come. It supports innovative science, guides data design and monitoring, and builds and sustains networks to generate long-term benefits for the Gulf region and the nation.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are private, nonprofit institutions that provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions related to science, engineering, and medicine. The National Academies operate under an 1863 congressional charter to the National Academy of Sciences, signed by President Lincoln.

Contact:
Pete Nelson, Director of Public Engagement and Communications
Gulf Research Program
email PNelson@nas.edu