Ardmore West Point Cadet Earns National Science Foundation Fellowship

ARDMORE, PA — An Ardmore native who is a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point has earned a spot in the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

According to West Point officials, Cadet Ryan Kreiser is among six cadets to pursue degrees following graduation in May

The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based graduate degrees at accredited United States institutions.

Kreiser is a chemistry major and since 2019, he has worked under Dr. Ryan Limbocker, studying molecular countermeasures against protein misfolding diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Kreiser has published six times with the group and has assisted with training the next generation of cadet scientists as a leader in the lab.

For his work, Kreiser is a recipient of the Stamps Scholarship, Goldwater Scholarship, and Purdue Military Research Institute fellowship.

Outside of research, Kreiser is a platoon leader in Company G-2, the executive officer of the U.S. Military Academy’s Scoutmasters’ Council, and the cadet in charge of the Protestant Cadet Chapel Choir.

Upon graduation, he will pursue a Master of Science in biological sciences at Purdue University, studying the molecular structure of misfolded tau protein using cryogenic electron microscopy to develop treatments for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a disease affecting many Army veterans, before serving in the Medical Service Corps.

"Congratulations to our newest NSF Fellows - these scholars join a long line of leaders dedicated to applied research for the Army and Nation.," said U.S. Military Academy Dean of the Academic Board Brig. Gen. Shane Reeves." This tremendous accomplishment is the culmination of years of hard work, and we couldn’t be prouder of our scholars, their research programs, and mentors."

The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program, the oldest graduate fellowship of its kind, has a long history of selecting recipients who achieve high levels of success in their future academic and professional careers.

The reputation of the GRFP follows recipients and helps them become life-long leaders that contribute significantly to both scientific innovation and teaching.