Senior Jake Cuzick, a chemistry major from Baker, Oregon, has become the first Mount St. Mary’s University undergraduate student to be named an awardee of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF-GRFP). The five-year fellowship includes three years of funding for graduate school as well as an annual stipend.
Cuzick joins several Mount alumni in receiving this highly competitive award, with previous fellowship recipients including Nicholas Starvaggi, C’21, Dylan Holden, C’18, and Sarah Bonson Krueger, C’17, who received the award as graduate students at Texas A&M University, Purdue University and University of Illinois, respectively. The program’s applicant pool includes first- and second-year graduate students in addition to undergraduates. This year the competition was even stiffer than usual because the number of winners was cut in half, from 2,000 or more in recent years to 1,000 in 2025.
The NSF fellowship recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported STEM disciplines pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited U.S. institutions. Cuzick joins a group whose members include Nobel laureates and more than 450 members of the National Academy of Sciences.
Cuzick will attend the University of Pennsylvania in the fall, where he plans to conduct total synthesis research under Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor of Chemistry and Pharmacology Dirk Trauner, Ph.D.
“My objective in this position will be to synthesize intricate molecular architectures that demonstrate promise in photopharmacology applications,” Cuzick explained. After being admitted to Penn’s doctoral program in February, Cuzick’s offer was later rescinded due to federal funding cuts. However, Penn kept him on a waitlist in case funding emerged. With the NSF-GRFP, he is now able to attend Penn.
“Joining the program at Penn has been a dream of mine, and I nearly thought the opportunity had passed, which makes it all the more special to see it come together due to the GRFP,” Cuzick said.
During his four years at the Mount, Cuzick has received numerous accolades and awards. In addition to conducting research in the labs of Associate Professor of Chemistry Isaac Mills, Ph.D., and Assistant Professor of Chemistry Sarah Krueger, Ph.D., and serving as a student instructor in organic chemistry classes, he was awarded competitive summer internships at Boise State University and University of Illinois, was granted a Goldwater Scholarship in 2024, and was named a Knight-Hennessy semifinalist earlier this year.
Cuzick acknowledged the support he received in pursuing his passion for synthetic chemistry and competitive scholarships and fellowships. “I am incredibly grateful for the guidance and support I have received from the Mount faculty over the past four years – I would not be where I am today without it,” he said.
This support was exemplified by Krueger (a Mount undergraduate honorable mention and graduate NSF-GRFP winner), who submitted Cuzick’s letter of recommendation in the car on the way to deliver her first baby. While the due date for both the baby and the letter was three weeks away at that time, the baby arrived early, and Krueger wanted to ensure that the letter was submitted.
“I am so proud of Jake for not only this excellent accomplishment, but all that he has achieved throughout his time at the Mount,” said Krueger. “This award represents the culmination of years of Jake’s hard work, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work with him. My group will not be the same without Jake, but I look forward to celebrating Jake’s continued accomplishments as he moves on to graduate school and a career in STEM. Jake will continue to have a positive impact in the sciences, representing Mount St. Mary’s University as a well-rounded scholar and ethical leader devoted to serving others through his work.”
Cuzick’s application was supported by the Office of Competitive Fellowships. Students interested in learning more about the Office of Competitive Fellowships can visit the program’s webpage.