Twenty doctoral students have been named recipients of the 2026 Provost Pathbreaking Discovery Award, a prestigious Graduate School honor recognizing exceptional academic achievement and scholarly impact.
The award celebrates doctoral students who demonstrate excellence through publications, national and international awards, patents and other significant contributions to their fields. This year's recipients exemplify the depth and breadth of Vanderbilt's research community, advancing knowledge across disciplines while maintaining a strong commitment to mentorship, service and collaboration.
Awardees have distinguished themselves as peer reviewers for leading academic journals, published authors, and presenters at major national and international conferences. As a part of their scholarly accomplishments, each student has engaged in innovative inquiry and powerful research collaborations.
"The Provost Pathbreaking Discovery Award reflects the extraordinary caliber of our doctoral students," said C. André Christie-Mizell, vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Graduate School. "Through rigorous scholarship, deep collaboration with faculty and peers, and a commitment to advancing knowledge, these students exemplify the academic excellence and societal impact that defines Vanderbilt's next generation of scholars and leaders."
Winners include:
• Mariah Bezold, Biomedical Engineering
• Gwenyth Joseph, Cancer Biology
• Bhabika Joshi, Special Education
• Grace LaFrentz, English
• Noah Lian, Sociology
• Mackenzie Lighterink, Hearing and Speech Sciences
• Shannon Martello, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
• Emily Rappolt, Nursing Science
• Anas Reda, Biomedical Engineering
• Charles Rhea, Epidemiology
• Olivia Riedling, Biological Sciences
• Robert Skinner, Health Policy
• Hannah Slater, Biomedical Informatics
• Madeline Spetz, Biomedical Engineering
• Oem Trivedi, Physics and Astronomy
• Alyssa Tudor, Philosophy
• Matthew Vasuta, Interdisciplinary Materials Science
• Jamie Vescio, Teaching and Learning
• Rebekah Votral, Religion
• Xinyu Zhang, Biostatistics
The achievements of these students not only reflect their dedication to their fields but also inspire future generations of scholars. Congratulations to these exceptional individuals for their outstanding contributions and well-deserved recognition.
