Alumna Receives Competitive National Research Fellowship
April 29, 2026
Psychology alumna Natalie Byrd ’25 has received a Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). She is among the 2,500 awardees in this year’s cohort, comprised of graduate students across the United States who are pursuing research-based degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Natalie Byrd
Following her graduation from ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ, Byrd began pursuing a dual-title Ph.D. in developmental psychology and social data analytics at The Pennsylvania State University. Now, she is one of 16 developmental psychology fellows selected nationally out of approximately 14,000 applicants for her research looking at how loneliness is intergenerationally transmitted between parents and children through both genes and environment, and how parent-child relationships during major transitions, like starting school or college, can be sources of adversity and/or resilience.
“As a first-generation student, I've seen firsthand how family experiences shape the opportunities and challenges people carry with them,” she said. “If we can understand more clearly why people become lonely in this epidemic, we can start building better support for families and children. It still feels surreal to have federal support for this work.”
The purpose of the NSF GRFP is to help ensure the quality, vitality, and strength of the country’s scientific and engineering workforce. The 2026-2027 NSF GRFP cohort was selected for their intellectual merit and broader impacts, including their potential to contribute to scientific innovation. They represent a wide range of disciplines, including engineering; computer and information science and engineering; mathematical and physical sciences; geosciences; biological sciences; social, behavioral, and economic sciences; and STEM education and learning research.
During her time at Fisher, Byrd worked closely with Dr. Jessica Robinson, Dr. Tim Franz, and Dr. Kimberly McClure Brenchley. They helped her develop as both a researcher and a leader through research, honors projects, and independent work. She shared that being seen as an independent researcher, and not just a student made her transition to graduate school feel natural.
“Fisher gave me a strong foundation in writing, critical thinking about research, and statistics, which are skills I use every day in my Ph.D. program. I also learned how to work independently and be resilient to setbacks, which is exactly what a fellowship like this asks you to do,” she said.
To current students interested in research, Byrd encourages them to seek out research opportunities early, even if they don’t feel ready.
2025 Trustees Ranking Scholar Award recipient Natalie Byrd.
“The confidence comes from learning (and making mistakes) while you do the work, not waiting until you feel qualified. I approached Dr. Robinson during my first semester at Fisher to get involved in research with her, and four years later, we’re still collaborating,” she added.
Byrd graduated from Fisher Summa Cum Laude in May 2025 with a B.S. in psychology through the Honors Program. She received four prestigious University awards upon graduating, including the Trustees’ Ranking Scholar Award, Provost’s Award for Best Paper, Award for Scholarly Activity in Psychology, and Award for Academic Achievement in Psychology.
Alumna Receives Competitive National Research Fellowship2026-04-29T13:24:00-04:00Psychology alumna Natalie Byrd ’25 has received a Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). She is among the 2,500 awardees in this year’s cohort, comprised of graduate students across the United States who are pursuing research-based degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Natalie Byrd
Following her graduation from ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ, Byrd began pursuing a dual-title Ph.D. in developmental psychology and social data analytics at The Pennsylvania State University. Now, she is one of 16 developmental psychology fellows selected nationally out of approximately 14,000 applicants for her research looking at how loneliness is intergenerationally transmitted between parents and children through both genes and environment, and how parent-child relationships during major transitions, like starting school or college, can be sources of adversity and/or resilience.
“As a first-generation student, I've seen firsthand how family experiences shape the opportunities and challenges people carry with them,” she said. “If we can understand more clearly why people become lonely in this epidemic, we can start building better support for families and children. It still feels surreal to have federal support for this work.”
The purpose of the NSF GRFP is to help ensure the quality, vitality, and strength of the country’s scientific and engineering workforce. The 2026-2027 NSF GRFP cohort was selected for their intellectual merit and broader impacts, including their potential to contribute to scientific innovation. They represent a wide range of disciplines, including engineering; computer and information science and engineering; mathematical and physical sciences; geosciences; biological sciences; social, behavioral, and economic sciences; and STEM education and learning research.
During her time at Fisher, Byrd worked closely with Dr. Jessica Robinson, Dr. Tim Franz, and Dr. Kimberly McClure Brenchley. They helped her develop as both a researcher and a leader through research, , and independent work. She shared that being seen as an independent researcher, and not just a student made her transition to graduate school feel natural.
“Fisher gave me a strong foundation in writing, critical thinking about research, and statistics, which are skills I use every day in my Ph.D. program. I also learned how to work independently and be resilient to setbacks, which is exactly what a fellowship like this asks you to do,” she said.
To current students interested in research, Byrd encourages them to seek out early, even if they don’t feel ready.
2025 Trustees Ranking Scholar Award recipient Natalie Byrd.
“The confidence comes from learning (and making mistakes) while you do the work, not waiting until you feel qualified. I approached Dr. Robinson during my first semester at Fisher to get involved in research with her, and four years later, we’re still collaborating,” she added.
Byrd graduated from Fisher Summa Cum Laude in May 2025 with a through the Honors Program. She received four prestigious University awards upon graduating, including the Trustees’ Ranking Scholar Award, Provost’s Award for Best Paper, Award for Scholarly Activity in Psychology, and Award for Academic Achievement in Psychology.
