Nationwide — Victoria Little and Avery C. Love, two African American HBCU students from Greensboro, North Carolina, have been named 2026 Astronaut Scholars for their work in STEM. Both of them attend North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T) and are conducting research in areas ranging from cancer and brain science to chemistry and biology.
The national scholarship is given to college juniors and seniors who plan to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, including research. Little and Love are among 79 students selected this year from 54 universities across the United States, according to AfroTech. The award provides each scholar with up to $15,000 to help support their education and research goals.
Little is a senior pursuing dual degrees in biology and psychology. Her research brings the two fields together as she studies neuromodulatory signaling under the mentorship of Antoinette Maldonado-Devincci, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychology. Her laboratory work includes tissue processing and receptor analysis as she examines neurological signaling and tumor behavior. She is also researching tumor resistance through an internship at the University of Virginia School.
Love is studying chemistry with a minor in biology. Her research interests include brain metabolism and Alzheimer’s disease. She has also worked on projects involving the biochemical composition of marine organisms and bacterial gene expression. Together, the areas she studies show her interest in using chemistry and biology to better understand biological processes.
Both students are part of N.C. A&T’s College of Science and Technology honors program and have also received the Cheatham-White Scholarship. The university scholarship covers tuition, student fees, housing, meals, and textbooks, giving them financial support as they pursue their degrees. College of Science and Technology Dean Abdellah Ahmidouch said their Astronaut Scholar selections highlight the students’ research work and the support they have received from faculty mentors.
Their recognition also adds to their record as honors students at N.C. A&T. Honors College Dean Margaret I. Kanipes said Little and Love have used opportunities in research, leadership, and service to build their academic careers. The Astronaut Scholarship will give both students additional funding as they continue their STEM studies and prepare for future research and professional work.