Recent HU Graduate, Offered STARS Fellowship and Admission into Prominent Ph.D. Program

HAMPTON, Va. – Katiso Mabulu is a 2018 Hampton University Electrical Engineering graduate and has recently been offered a National Science Foundation (NSF) supported Strategic Advancement of Rising Scholars (STARS) Fellowship. This Fellowship is awarded based on outstanding academic achievement with admission into the Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. program at Northeastern University.

“We love to see these types of successes following recent graduates of Hampton

University,” said Dr. William R. Harvey. “Katiso utilized the fundamentals he has learned during his tenure at Hampton and he has strategically applied it to his future.”

Through the Northeastern University Ph.D. Network and their College of Engineering, Mabulu will receive two years of STARS Fellowship support. He will also receive an additional three years of funding from Northeastern’s Mechanical Engineering department through research, teaching assistantships or through additional graduate Fellowships obtained from internal or external sources.

“I’m just thankful I was given the opportunity to even apply to this Fellowship and for the education that I received at Hampton University to help prepare me for my future. Our faculty work hard to ensure that each student is prepared for the real world when they graduate, whether it be in higher education or work in the industry,” said Mabulu. “I am excited to be in a new area and learn as much as I can in the next five years. My research will focus on robotic exoskeletons and I look forward to representing Hampton University in the best way I know how.”

Effectively, Mabulu is guaranteed a five-year Ph.D. program level of support as part of an effort to build on the partnership with Hampton University, through the NSF Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Bridge to the Doctorate program and the NSF Scholarship for STEM (S-STEM) program.

“I served as Katiso’s academic advisor as well as instructor for multiple courses. One thing I remember the most about Katiso is the focus he had knowing what he wanted to do with his Engineering degree,” said Dr. Otsebele Nare, HU assistant professor of electrical engineering. “From the very first time I spoke with him and through the classes I’ve taught, he remained focused on the desire to develop robotic prosthetics technology to aid amputees with everyday life. He also prepared for this goal through three different summer research experiences.”

Mabulu’s parents are proud Alumni of Hampton University. They matriculated and graduated through Harvard University, and received their graduate degrees.