Giovanni Orlandi wins selective national Phi Kappa Phi fellowship

Giovanni Orlandi graduated from Clemson University this spring with several awards recognizing his academic achievements and innovative research, including competitive Goldwater and Churchill scholarships.

Now the Charleston resident is one of 62 students nationwide to be recognized by the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi with an $8,500 fellowship.

Orlandi received the fellowship to support his graduate studies at the University of Cambridge, where he will be working with Bartomeu Monserrat, a materials physics professor, to find a room-temperature superconductor — a discovery that could revolutionize scientific fields ranging from energy to computing to medicine. 

“I am deeply humbled by the incredible support I have received at Clemson,” said Orlandi. “This award has further strengthened my conviction to give back through my research and service. I am super excited for the opportunities that lie ahead at Cambridge and beyond.”

Orlandi says his Honors College involvement led him to Clemson mechanical engineering faculty member Fadi Abdeljawad, his first research advisor on campus. That connection quickly developed into Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) and creative inquiry projects. Abdeljawad is now at Lehigh University.

While Abdeljawad was at Clemson, his work with Orlandi resulted in three co-authored articles in academic journals, as well as presentations at conferences across the country and internationally.

Orlandi said those experiences also allowed him to pursue a research internship at Sandia National Laboratories, which was extended throughout his senior year. He completed that internship while also working with faculty member Enrique Martinez Saez on an Honors thesis that explored how to improve solid-state lithium batteries.

Martinez Saez, an associate professor in mechanical engineering and materials science and engineering, said that Orlandi was among his brightest and most creative students.

“He is a very smart student, a hard worker, and an outstanding researcher and talented teacher,” said Martinez Saez. “He has demonstrated an uncanny ability to master complex simulation tools, and I anticipate he will go on to be one of the premier researchers in his field.”

Office of Major Fellowships Director Robyn Curtis said that Orlandi’s impressive research was matched by a focus on helping other engineering students succeed, regardless of their financial circumstances. He worked as a tutor for several STEM courses with high failure rates, volunteered at STEM outreach events with Title 1 elementary and middle school students, and was one of a handful of Clemson students selected to travel to the South Carolina state capital to advocate for increased need-based grants for college students.

“Giovanni’s immaculate academic record and record of service and leadership make him an ideal candidate for this recognition,” said Curtis. “I am looking forward to seeing him continue to build on his research at Cambridge, while also continuing to develop his advocacy for students of modest financial means seeking the highest levels of STEM excellence.”

About Phi Kappa Phi Fellowships

The Fellowship Program is one of Phi Kappa Phi’s most visible and financially well-supported endeavors. This year’s program awarded two awards at $35,000 each, the 1897 Fellowship and the Sherrill Carlson Fellowship; six $20,000 Marcus L. Urann Fellowships, named for the Society’s founder; and 54 fellowships of $8,500 each.

Students interested in the Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship or other nationally competitive programs should contact the Office of Major Fellowships at 864-656-9704 or fellowships@clemson.edu.