STEPS 2024-2025 Director’s Fellows
By: Rachel Kitt, STEPS Communication Intern
STEPS is thrilled to announce three recipients of our Director’s Fellowship for 2024-2025. The fellowship, now in its second year, demonstrates STEPS is committed to supporting the next generation of researchers working towards phosphorus sustainability.
The STEPS Center Director’s Fellowship Awards provides a prestigious bridge of support for stipends, fringe benefits, and tuition for the engagement of high-performing graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.The scholars will continue their work toward advancing our 25-in-25 mission.
This year’s STEPS Director’s Fellowship recipients are:
Dr. Kimberley Bourne, postdoctoral researcher, Appalachian State
Josephine Geraghty, Master’s student, NC State
Lily Kile, PhD student, NC State
We spoke with two of our three recipients to learn what this fellowship means to them.
Dr. Kim Bourne is a Postdoctoral Research Scholar with the Appalachian State University Research Institute for Environment, Energy, and Economics. Her research focuses on formally integrating stakeholder and expert knowledge into environmental models.
Through the STEPS Director’s Fellowship, Dr. Bourne is excited about continuing her work exploring how examining disciplinary-specific language can shed light on philosophical and practical differences between disciplines.
Dr. Bourne and her team have developed a web application called Interdisciplinary Language Integration Opportunity or interLINGO, to examine and reflect upon language within STEPS to develop a shared language among STEPS members.
Bourne says of her time in STEPS:
“I have enjoyed working in STEPS because of the diversity of people and disciplines represented in the center. I have learned so much about phosphorus sustainability as a wicked problem and the different ways in which researchers approach it. It’s incredible to watch social scientists, engineers, natural scientists, and more come together to integrate their knowledge and solve a common problem.”
Josephine Geraghty is another Director’s Fellowship recipient, and as a Masters scholar is completing her research in the areas of natural resources and science communication.
Geraghty’s favorite part of her research is getting results. She states, “I have done extensive background research on my topics and am excited to apply concepts and theories to my research.”
In addition to her research, Geraghty has greatly enjoyed working in STEPS this past year, operating and growing the center’s social media presence. Geraghty shares, “I see social media as a great space for science communication, and the STEPS Communications team has been able to grow our presence and highlight the amazing work and people in the center.”
Both scholars have contributed greatly to the overall success of the STEPS Center through their research efforts and continue to be valuable team members.
We look forward to seeing where their research will lead them!
To learn more about the STEPS Director’s Fellowship Awards and where to apply to become one of next year’s fellowship recipients, click on the Opportunities section of our website.
