Michael Clemens has been selected to receive a 2019 National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF).

Clemens is studying how to use musical play to teach computer science to 5th through 8th graders who are vision or hearing impaired. He believes that music in certain forms can be implemented to teach basic concepts in computer science, such low frequencies or music used for yes-or-no feedback. Clemens, whose advisor is School of Computing assistant professor Rogelio Cardona-Rivera, graduated with a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from Valparaiso University in Indiana. He is working toward a doctorate in human-centered computing at the U.

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based Master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions.

As the oldest graduate fellowship of its kind, the GRFP has a long history of selecting recipients who achieve high levels of success in their future academic and professional careers.

This highly competitive fellowship provides the recipient with financial support for three years, over a five-year fellowship period.