GLASGOW, Ky. — A recent graduate of Western Kentucky University has earned one of the nation’s most competitive honors for young researchers.

Emma Bunch, a December 2025 graduate from Glasgow, has been awarded a Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation.

The fellowship provides a $37,000 annual stipend for three years, along with a $16,000 education allowance to the recipient’s graduate institution, according to a news release from WKU.

The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program supports outstanding students pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Established in 1952, the program aims to strengthen the nation’s scientific workforce. This year, 2,599 fellowships were awarded, with an additional 1,470 applicants receiving honorable mention.

Bunch, the daughter of Joy and Steve Bunch, earned her degree in mathematics and plans to pursue a doctorate in biomedical engineering at the University of Kentucky. Her research will focus on advancing immunotherapy systems for cancer treatment.

“This fellowship is a dream come true, as I have wanted to conduct cancer therapeutics research since I was nine years old,” Bunch said. “I am so thankful not only for the financial security that comes with the fellowship but also to be able to pursue the exact work I am called to in my home state.”

Before enrolling at WKU, Bunch began her undergraduate studies at Harvard University, later transferring closer to home.

At WKU, she became involved in research and entrepreneurship, founding Curelytics, an app that uses artificial intelligence and quantum computing to help patients navigate clinical trials.

The app was created with support from CREATE, the Central Region Ecosystem for Arts, Technology and Entrepreneurship at the university’s Innovation Campus.

On campus, Bunch conducted research alongside faculty members on topics including Möbius transformations and hyperbolic geometry, exploring potential connections to quantum computation. Her honors thesis earned top recognition from WKU’s Mahurin Honors College.

Bunch said her experience growing up in rural Kentucky has shaped both her academic path and future goals.

“Growing up in rural Kentucky has been a huge blessing,” she said. “Its tradition, heritage, and people have made me who I am, and I hope to develop life-changing therapeutics for cancers and give back to rural communities like my hometown of Glasgow.”

University officials say students interested in applying for the NSF fellowship or similar opportunities can contact the Office of Scholar Development for guidance on national scholarships and research funding.