by
Emilie Rusch

Two Mines students named Koerner Family Foundation Fellows

Ian Jehn and Michelle Nolen are first Mines students to receive prestigious award
Ian and Michelle headshots

Two PhD candidates at Colorado School of Mines have been awarded fellowships from the Koerner Family Foundation (KFF), the first time Mines students have been chosen for the prestigious award.

KFF Fellows each receive $12,000 in unrestricted funding to support their pursuit of careers in research.

The fellows at Mines are:

  • Ian Jehn, PhD Candidate in Space Resources 
    • Research focus: Civil engineering on the lunar surface
    • Advisor: Chris Dreyer, Professor of Practice in Mechanical Engineering
  • Michelle Nolen, PhD Candidate in Chemical Engineering
    • Research focus: Catalyst design strategies to optimize CO2 conversion
    • Advisor: Stephanie Kwon, Assistant Professor of Chemical & Biological Engineering

Launched in 2001, the Koerner Family Foundation works to inspire future generations of research-oriented engineers by encouraging students to earn their doctoral degrees in engineering and then begin their careers in the United States.

To be eligible, students must be U.S. citizens, have successfully passed their PhD candidacy exams and express an interest in a research career within academia, industry or government in the U.S.

Emilie Rusch

Emilie Rusch

Director of Communications
303-273-3361
About Mines
Colorado School of Mines is a public R1 research university focused on applied science and engineering, producing the talent, knowledge and innovations to serve industry and benefit society – all to create a more prosperous future.