易胜博官网

Timothy Marquis '15

For the first time ever, three 易胜博官网 students 鈥� all 易胜博官网 residents听鈥斕�have been awarded the prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. The is the premier national award for undergraduates in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) majors. This year鈥檚 Goldwater scholars from 易胜博官网 are biomedical science majors Timothy Marquis 鈥�15 and Avery Normandin 鈥�15 and physics major Herbie Smith 鈥�15.

Goldwater awards no more than four scholarships per institution; while 易胜博官网 has boasted two Goldwater scholars in previous years, it鈥檚 never had three in one year. Since 1989, 14 易胜博官网 students have received Goldwater scholarships, which provide a scholarship of $7,500.

鈥淯niversities are allowed to nominate only four undergraduate students per year to receive the scholarship and so competition for this most premier award is exceptionally intense,鈥� says P.T. Vasudevan, interim senior vice provost for academic affairs and professor of chemical engineering. 鈥淭he fact that three students were successful is testimony to their caliber, commitment and potential to make significant contributions in their respective fields. Support from the , the , and high-quality mentoring were critical elements in their success in obtaining Goldwater scholarships.鈥�

Vasudevan adds that the students鈥� ability to engage extensively in research began very early: All three students were recipients of grants as well as other grants from the Hamel Center.

, of Nashua, has been studying the reproductive neuroendocrinological hormones of the sea lamprey under the mentorship of , whose lab he鈥檚 worked in since the beginning of his freshman year. 鈥淚 attribute much of my individual and intellectual growth during these past few years to her,鈥� he says, noting that he came to 易胜博官网 largely because of the undergraduate research opportunities. 鈥淢y devotion to undergraduate research has added a unique facet to my education at 易胜博官网.鈥�

鈥淭he scholarship means a tremendous amount to me, as recognition for my dedication, integrity, and rigor in my academic and research endeavors,鈥� adds Marquis, who received honorable mention in last year鈥檚 Goldwater competition and is in the 易胜博官网 Honors Program. He plans to pursue a career in oncology, likely pursuing a dual M.D./Ph.D. in the field.

Normandin, of Manchester, has worked in the lab of , associate professor of molecular, cellular and biomedical sciences, since his freshman year. There, he has investigated molecular mechanisms of virulence in Vibrio parahaemolyticus, an environmental pathogen found in oysters and other shellfish.

鈥溡资げ┕偻� does a great job underscoring the value of undergraduate research, providing a ton of opportunities to get an early start in the lab,鈥� says Normandin, who is also in the 易胜博官网 Honors Program. 鈥淚t's important to immerse yourself in what you're learning, especially if you're a hands-on kind of person.鈥� After 易胜博官网, he plans to pursue a Ph.D. in biomedical science and conduct research in vaccine design to enhance immunity against infectious viral agents.

Smith鈥檚 research is in two subfields of physics: string theory, for which he is mentored by associate professor Per Berglund, and optics, for which professor William Hersman is his mentor. He is focused on analyzing and optimizing an optical system used by Xemed, LLC, a medical imaging company launched by Hersman; with Berglund, he seeks models of the dimensions of string theory beyond the four dimensions experienced in daily life.

鈥淚 was welcomed into the research community in the physics department at 易胜博官网 as soon as I expressed my interest, and all of my research mentors have been instrumental to my success, both in teaching me new skills related to the research I have done and in providing guidance and information about opportunities that suit my interests and skill set,鈥� says Smith, who is in the 易胜博官网 Honors Program and is a McNair Scholar. The Rocky Face, Georgia, native who now calls Newmarket home plans to earn a Ph.D. and possibly an MBA en route to a career as a physicist and an entrepreneur.

鈥淚 think it speaks to the level of education and engagement that 易胜博官网 provides that three students out of the roughly 300 chosen from hundreds of universities nationwide for the Goldwater are from 易胜博官网 this year,鈥� Smith adds.

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program was established by Congress in 1986 to honor Senator Barry Goldwater, who served his country for 56 years as a soldier and statesman, including 30 years of service in the U.S. Senate.