The University of Kansas has nominated four juniors for a prestigious scholarship that recognizes their academic excellence and undergraduate research in STEM, or science, technology, engineering and math.
According to a KU news release, this year’s candidates for the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship include:
• Alexa Magstadt: Magstadt, from Shawnee, is majoring in molecular, cellular and developmental biology and minoring in Spanish. She plans to pursue dual M.D. and Ph.D. degrees in cancer biology and practice as a physician-scientist and medical oncologist.
Her current research is “related to the impact of metabolic syndrome on the progression and metastasis of colorectal cancer with Jennifer Davis at KU Medical Center in the Department of Cancer Biology,” according to the release.
• Elizabeth Miller: Miller, from Emporia, is majoring in interdisciplinary computing with a concentration in chemistry. She plans to pursue a doctorate in computational biology, with a direct focus on biomedical research.
She’s currently focused on “the structural determination of the major outer membrane protein in Chlamydia trachomatis and developing a dataset of human metalloenzymes” in her research, according to the release.
• Kai Smith, from Pretty Prairie, is majoring in biochemistry and minoring in astrobiology. Post-graduation, he plans to pursue a doctoral degree in biochemistry to have a career in academia.
He’s currently studying prebiotic molecules that form in interstellar media, and outside his research, he hopes to engage underserved schools with STEM.
• Lily Tackett, from Davenport, Iowa, is majoring in chemistry and minoring in mathematics. After undergraduate, she plans to pursue a doctorate in physical chemistry, aspiring to continue conducting research in surface science while teaching at the university level.
Her current research is about “using atomic force microscopy to study self-assembled monolayers, with an emphasis on understanding molecular organization and surface interactions at the nanoscale,” according to the release.
The Goldwater Scholarship is open to sophomore- and junior-level students. Nominees submit applications with essays about their career aspirations and research along with three faculty recommendations.
Winners — around 450 every year — will be announced by the Goldwater Foundation trustees in late March, according to the release. Scholarship awards cover eligible expenses for undergraduate tuition, fees, books, and room and board, up to $7,500 annually. KU has had 79 students receive Goldwater scholarships since they were first awarded in 1989, according to the release.
Read more about each nominee on the KU News website, news.ku.edu.
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