Two 海角社区 Engineering Students Receive Clayton Assistantship Awards
September 16, 2025
Hobbs McAllister
海角社区 Biological Engineering PhD student Hobbs McAllister and 海角社区 Chemical Engineering PhD student Gabriela Theis Marchan were chosen to receive the 2025-26 Donald W. Clayton Assistantship Awards for their success in and out of the classroom.
McAllister received the Donald W. Clayton Graduate Assistantship Award, which entails a stipend of $28,000 for the first year, then $31,000-$35,000 each year for the next three years. He is currently working on research regarding bone remodeling/regeneration and the mechanics of that process. He is also doing research on analyzing the quality of soybeans.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited about the award and I feel extremely grateful to have received it,鈥� McAllister said.
Theis Marchan received the Donald W. Clayton PhD Graduate Assistantship Award, which entails a stipend of $40,000 for the first year, then $46,500-$50,000 each year for the next three years. She is working on research that focuses on developing computational frameworks for the study and application of surfactants. She hopes to complete her PhD and pursue a career that integrates machine learning and chemical engineering to develop innovative solutions in energy and materials science, particularly in industry.
Gabriela Theis Marchan
鈥淭his award is both an honor and a motivation,鈥� Theis Marchan said. 鈥淚t recognizes my academic accomplishments and provides critical support that allows me to focus on my research. It also inspires me to continue striving for excellence and to contribute to the engineering community through research and outreach.鈥�
The Donald W. Clayton Assistantship Awards are granted each year to an outstanding undergraduate student(s) and graduate student(s) who exhibit extraordinary character, scholastic achievement and evident leadership in the College of Engineering. Faculty, students and staff nominate commendable students.
Donald W. Clayton (BS PETE, 1959) was inducted into the College of Engineering Hall of Distinction in 1993. He and Gloria Pichon Clayton founded the awards in 2004 with a generous donation.
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