4/9/2007 Bridget Maiellaro, ECE Illinois
ECE graduate student Dominic Siriani received a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) award on March 26. "I was surprised in the best sort of way, and that feeling carried me through the entire week," Siriani said. "Honestly, I'm still extremely excited, and I feel very privileged and honored to be in my position."
Written by Bridget Maiellaro, ECE Illinois
ECE graduate student Dominic Siriani will receive a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) award on April 26.
"I was surprised in the best sort of way, and that feeling carried me through the entire week," Siriani said. "Honestly, I'm still extremely excited, and I feel very privileged and honored to be in my position."
Siriani, who applied for the fellowship in November 2006, said he will use the award to support himself while pursuing his PhD.
"I haven't really thought too much beyond that, but we'll see what comes," he said.
The NSF is an independent federal agency that helps ensure the vitality of the human resource base of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in the UnitedStates. NSF offers about 1,000 Graduate Research Fellowships that provide three years of support for graduate study learning.
As an undergraduate, Siriani worked under ECE Professor Kent Choquette in the Photonic Device Research Group at the University from January 2005 until August 2006. The group’s research interests include the study of semiconductor photonic and optoelectronic device physics, fabrication technologies, and systems with a strong emphasis on vertical cavity surface emitting lasers, commonly known as VCSELs. Siriani, who received the Semiconductor Area Award for ECE Senior Design in fall 2005, said that the experience completed his undergraduate education.
"The members of the group are amazing people to whom I owe so much for their knowledge, support, advice, and friendship," he said. "In my obviously unbiased opinion, it is very easily one of the best research groups anyone could ever encounter."
As a graduate student, Siriani has continued to research under Choquette for his master’s thesis research and also has gained some teaching experience. Last semester, he was the laboratory instructor for Integrated Circuit Device Theory and Fabrication (ECE 444). This semester he is a laboratory instructor for Project and Lecture in Quantum Electronics (ECE 495) and a graduate teaching assistant for an undergraduate mentoring course (ENG 199M). Siriani hopes to obtain his Graduate Teaching Certificate through the Center for Teaching Excellence by the end of the semester.
"Teaching is probably one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life, and it's something that I hope to pursue throughout my career," Siriani said.
Over the years, Siriani has received other scholarships and recognitions for his achievements, including the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship in March 2007, the Jules D. Falzer Scholarship in 2005, and the H. & R. Perry Scholarship in 2004.
"I don't like taking anything for granted. Everything I've received has meant a lot to me and has been a great source of encouragement for me," Siriani said. "I owe a lot to so many people - my family, my friends, my advisors, my mentors, my teachers, my colleagues - and any award is a reminder to me of how lucky and fortunate I am to have such amazing people in my life. I wouldn't be where I am now without them."