Two alumni from Columbia Electrical Engineering Department have been awarded the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF-GRFP), one of the nation’s most competitive and esteemed honors for emerging researchers in science and engineering.
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program supports graduate students pursuing full-time, research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in NSF-supported STEM fields. Fellows receive a $37,000 annual stipend and a $16,000 cost-of-education allowance for three years over a five-year period.
Each year, the NSF selects approximately 1,000 fellows from a pool of over 12,000 applicants. NSF Fellows are expected to become leading experts and contribute significantly to research, teaching, and innovation in science and engineering.
Abdul Latif Daniel Bamba (B.S.’23, Electrical Engineering)
Bamba was recognized for his groundbreaking work in solid-state devices and photonics. As a research assistant at Columbia EE from 2022 to 2024, he spearheaded the design and development of a Raman spectroscopy-enhanced localized surface plasmonic biosensor-on-chip. His project aimed at enabling simultaneous detection, imaging, and characterization of invasive molecular structures, with potential theranostic applications.
Operating as the sole researcher on the project, Bamba developed a broad skill set—conducting in-depth literature reviews, designing localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) chips, optimizing optical systems in Zemax to achieve 99% performance, and fabricating experimental setups with gold deposition and substrate preparation tools. His technical expertise also spans optical bench setups and spectroscopy, further cementing his reputation as a rising innovator in nanoscale sensing.
Patrick Minwan Puma (B.S.’24, Computer Engineering)
Puma earned the fellowship for his work in assistive robotics through the Robotics and Rehabilitation (RoAR) Lab at Columbia. As an undergraduate, he contributed to the Wheelchair Robot for Postural Support (WRAPS), a robotic system that assists trunk movement in individuals with impaired mobility.
Puma also developed a physical therapy VR game in Unity, designed to help users strengthen trunk control, and implemented an intuitive user-intent-based control system using EEG, EMG, and VR tracking paradigms. He is a second author on a related paper published at BioRob 2024, a leading conference in biomedical robotics.
