Three FAMU FSU engineering students selected for inaugural Dean’s Engineering Fellows Program

Dean Murray Gibson, Eugenia Stanisauskis, David Perez, Shannon Helsper, Dr. Farrukh Alvi

(L to R): Dean Murray Gibson, Eugenia Stanisauskis, David Perez, Shannon Helsper, Dr. Farrukh Alvi

Recently, engineering dean J. Murray Gibson initiated the Dean’s Engineering Fellows Program, a new graduate funding program from the Dean of Engineering facilitated through the Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies. The aim of the initiative is to enhance the quality and number of engineering Ph.D. students at the college.

Eugenia Stanisauskis, David Perez and Shannon Helsper are the first recipients of the fellowships. Stanisauskis is pursuing materials science engineering, Perez is pursuing civil and environmental engineering and Helsper is pursuing biomedical engineering.

Farrukh Alvi is Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at the college and is the administrator for the program. The Dean’s Engineering Fellows Program provides a total fellowship, including assistantships, fellowships and tuition waiver of a minimum of $34,000 per year for the duration of the fellowship. 

“We are delighted with the inaugural class of Dean’s Fellows,” Alvi says. “This Fellowship is a recognition of their commitment to graduate studies and we look forward to attracting more highly motivated graduate students to engineering.”

Stanisauskis, who plans to work for the Department of Defense as a materials science engineer is thankful for the award. 

“This fellowship has given me the opportunity to focus solidly on my research and studies,”she says. “It has really alleviated some of the financial worries that come with pursuing graduate school.”

This is the first group of students to be awarded this fellowship. In the future, the college hopes to provide funding for many more students through this program.

Fellows began their Ph.D. at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering in Fall 2018.


We are pleased to officially announce the opening of nominations for the 2019-2020 FAMU-FSU Dean's Engineering Fellows Program. The fellows program is designed to enhance the quality and the number of PhD students at the College of Engineering.

The nomination window will begin December 1 and close January 30. Nominations must be submitted electronically FAMU-FSU Dean's Engineering Fellows Nomination Form. Completed nominations will be reviewed by the FAMU-FSU Fellows Program Selection Committee on a rolling basis in order for awards to be included in offer packages.

Please note that only NEW doctoral students beginning summer or fall 2019 are eligible (those transitioning from a MS program are eligible). Please find more information on the criteria and procedures attached. This is a nomination process, NOT and application process; prospective students should not submit this information directly through the nomination form themselves. Faculty interested in nominating a student should facilitate the process in conjunction with their departments. Materials submitted by the prospective students in the admissions process are acceptable for use in the nomination and can be obtained from the department’s graduate application processor.