Pranavi Kolouju Awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
We are thrilled to congratulate Ph.D. student Pranavi Kolouju on receiving a 2026 National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) award — one of the most competitive and prestigious fellowships in STEM.
About the Fellowship
The NSF GRFP recognizes outstanding graduate students who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement and the potential to make significant contributions to research and society. Each fellowship provides three years of support, including an annual stipend and funding for tuition and research-related expenses, along with national recognition and access to a broad network of scholars and professional opportunities.
Pranavi’s Research
Kolouju will use her fellowship to continue her work in Professor Abby Stylianou’s computer science lab on TraffickCam, a mobile application that enables users to help combat child sex abuse and human trafficking by uploading photos of hotel rooms when they travel.
Her research sits at the intersection of computer vision and Multimodal AI, and she is actively working toward publications that advance the field.
This award gives me stability as I continue my education and start thinking about a future career in academia. It also gives me the space to explore new research directions and approach my work with even more curiosity and creativity.
Pranavi Kolouju
From Undergraduate to Ph.D. Researcher
Kolouju came to SLU as an undergraduate to study computer science, drawn by the 4+1 program that allows students to complete both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. Although she originally planned to enter industry, her work on TraffickCam changed her trajectory.
TraffickCam made me really consider the possibilities of research. It felt meaningful to know that my work was tied to a social cause, and I wanted to build on this work.
Pranavi Kolouju
She first applied for the NSF GRFP as a senior in 2025, and used that experience to sharpen her proposal before earning the award this year.
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Mark Rimar
A Reflection on the Department
Kolouju credits the collaborative culture of the SLU CS department as central to her growth as a researcher.
"There is a closeness in the department that you can feel in every faculty member and student… The mentorship that I have received while at SLU has made all the difference."
Professor Stylianou echoed that sentiment:
"She’s the kind of student who makes our lab and our department better, and this recognition is very well deserved."
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