A Manhattan man was selected as the recipient of a graduate research grant from the honor society Phi Kappa Phi on Thursday.
Roselle Barretto was chosen as one of 20 recipients of the award, and will receive up to $1,500 to support his research. Barretto, a Ph.D. student in biological and agricultural engineering at Kansas State University, will use funds from the award to complete all experimental work and data analyses of his hempseed bio-based adhesive research in preparation for publication.
Barretto’s project demonstrates that hempseed proteins, when properly extracted and chemically modified, can match the adhesion properties of commercial bio-based adhesives while eliminating toxic chemicals like formaldehyde. His work opens new possibilities for sustainable adhesive manufacturing, adds value for farmers and strengthens the circular bio-based economy.
Phi Kappa Phi is a selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines and the oldest academic society in the nation. The grants of up to $1,500 are designed to support graduate students who are active society members seeking funding for research in support of career development opportunities.
This is not Barretto’s first time receiving a grant from the society. In June 2025 he was awarded a Phi Kappa Phi literacy grant to launch a STEM literacy initiative for Indigenous youth in the Philippines. Barretto’s project, “Science in the Mountains: STEM Literacy for Indigenous Youth” was designed to bring culturally responsive, hands-on STEM learning to children ages six to 15 years from the Manide Indigenous Tribe in Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte, Philippines.