Veena Chauhan, a doctoral research assistant has been selected for the DOE National Nuclear Security Administration Laboratory Residency Graduate Fellowship.

Veena Chauhan, a doctoral research assistant in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering at Texas Tech University, has been selected for the Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration Laboratory Residency Graduate Fellowship (DOE NNSA LRGF). The highly competitive program selects only 10 to 20 students nationwide each year. 
Chauhan, who is part of the Computational Catalysis Research Lab under the direction of Joseph Gauthier, will join five other Ph.D. students in the fellowship’s eighth cohort beginning in fall 2025. The program supports graduate students whose research contributes to the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile. 

“I am honored to receive the DOE NNSA LRGF,” Chauhan said. “Beyond the generous support for my studies at Texas Tech, I’m especially thrilled about the opportunity to participate in the three-month residencies, where I’ll work with Joel Varley at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.” 

Chauhan, who transitioned from an undergraduate background in biology to pursue graduate studies in chemical engineering, said the switch has been life changing. “Transitioning has been the best decision I’ve ever made. I truly feel at home in this field,” she said. “I’m excited to continue my research on modeling the growth of ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors and to contribute to advancements in experimentally growing these crucial semiconductors. I’m incredibly grateful to my advisor, Joseph Gauthier, for always supporting me, and to my teachers and friends at Texas Tech who have guided and encouraged me along the way.” 

As part of the fellowship, Chauhan will complete two 12-week residencies at DOE NNSA-approved sites, including Lawrence Livermore, Los Alamos, and Sandia National Laboratories, and the Nevada National Security Site. Fellows receive a $45,000 annual stipend, full tuition and fees, and a yearly academic allowance. The DOE NNSA LRGF emphasizes collaboration between national laboratories and academia in fields such as engineering, physics and materials science. 

Other students selected for the 2025–26 cohort are Kaylee Cunningham (University of Florida), Audrey DeVault (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Isaac Huegel (University of Michigan), Rohith Karur (University of California, Berkeley), and Landon Tafoya (University of Michigan). 

For more information, visit the DOE NNSA LRGF website.