Andrew Seelhoff, a second-year PhD student in mechanical engineering, has been awarded a 2025 Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) from the National Science Foundation. Through these fellowships, NSF aims to aid in developing the scientific and engineering community in the United States by supporting early-career graduate students. The University of Michigan Department of Mechanical Engineering is one of the nation’s leaders in NSFs awarded to mechanical engineering graduate students.
The GRFP is a highly-competitive award, with approximately 2,000 students selected nationwide in a typical year. In 2025, only 1,000 students were selected to receive a GRF. The five-year fellowship provides three years of financial support to awardees.
“More than anything, it’s a bit of a relief, as funding in academia seems to be less certain than ever,” Seelhoff said about receiving a GRF. “Knowing I’ll be able to work on something I feel passionate about for the remainder of my PhD is quite reassuring.”
Seelhoff conducts research in the Locomotor Control Systems Lab, advised by Robert Gregg, associate professor of robotics. He primarily works with designing and implementing control systems for powered prosthetic legs in order to restore and enhance mobility for people with limb loss.
“As an above-knee amputee myself, it’s a very fitting and impactful field to work in,” he explained.