Ty Mitchell, a student in the College’s Comparative Medicine and Integrative Biology Program (CMIB), has earned a spot in the 2025 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) for his work as a PhD student researcher in the Mast Cell Nexus and Gastrointestinal Stress Biology Laboratory, led by Dr. Adam J. Moeser, Matilda Wilson Endowed Chair.

In 2025, only about 1,500 fellowships were awarded nationwide, which is significantly fewer than the approximately 2,000 in previous years due to reduced federal funding. Because the GRFP usually supports students pursuing research-based PhD or MD/PhD degrees, it is especially rare for PhD students at the College of Veterinary Medicine to receive this award. This highlights both Ty’s accomplishment and the increasing recognition of veterinary research in national science priorities.

“Ty’s achievement is historic for our college,” says Dr. Kimberly Dodd, Dean of the College. “It reflects not only his exceptional scientific talent and perseverance, but also the strength of Dr. Moeser’s leadership in advancing One Health science and training outstanding young investigators.”