North Carolina State University student Ryan Michael Field of Concord has been awarded a $10,000 scholarship from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) for the 2006-07 academic year.

Field is a senior with a dual major in electrical engineering and physics. He received the scholarship for his development of microelectrode arrays that are implanted in biological tissue. These arrays may be able to help people regain capabilities lost through accident or injury.

Field is one of 18 students nationwide to receive this scholarship. The Astronaut Scholarships are awarded annually to students who show exceptional performance in the science or engineering fields.

Scholarship candidates are nominated by faculty members and reviewed by a board of 18 cooperating educational institutions. The ASF was established in 1984 with the goal of aiding the United States in retaining its world leadership in science and technology. Since its inception, ASF has awarded $2.3 million to 211 students nationwide.