NDSU cereal science doctoral candidate Elena De La Peña was selected to receive the Frank Bain Dissertation Fellowship for 2014-15. The award is presented by the NDSU College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources.

The fellowship recognizes an outstanding doctoral student who is close to completion of their research activities and whose major adviser is a faculty member in a department in the college. The award is to be used to expedite degree completion or publication of dissertation results.

The title of De La Peña’s research is "Manufacturing optimization of non-traditional pasta products." Her adviser is Frank Manthey, professor in durum and pasta quality and coordinator of the cereal science graduate program. 

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.