(Corvallis, OR January 23, 2025) Oregon State University’s National and Global Scholarships Advising office is pleased to announce that four students have been nominated to represent OSU and compete nationally for the 2025 Barry Goldwater Scholarship. Final selection of Goldwater scholarships will be confirmed in spring 2025.
Estifanos Berhe is a junior in the Colleges of Agricultural Sciences and Science, double majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Bioresource Research with minors in Chemistry and Computer Science. His majors pave a pathway forward for him to embark on a research career in autoimmune diseases, where he hopes to have a future finding a cure for diseases like Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Estifanos will earn a PhD in Biochemistry, conducting research in biomedical sciences.
Natalie Donato is an Honors junior in the College of Science, majoring in Marine Biology and Ecology with a minor in Biological Data Sciences. Natalie’s specialty in Marine Biology, her work in Chapple Big Fish Lab, and her passion for artwork have informed her pathway in science communication for marine animals and her interest in sensory biology. In the future, Natalie will earn a PhD in sensory biology and ecology of marine animals where she will continue to conduct research on the ocean’s marine species, leading conservation efforts, and teaching the next generation of marine biologists through her research and artwork.
Madelyn Sadler is a junior in the College of Engineering with a major in Applied Computer Science and minor in User Experience Research. Her current research centers on Underwater Vehicle Manipulator Systems (UVMS) - underwater robots equipped with arms including sensors that provide tactile feedback for the operator. This experience leads naturally into Madelyn’s plans to earn a PhD in Artificial Intelligence, where she will conduct research on how to improve prosthetics by refining movement, control, and autonomy with machine learning.
Andrew Tran is a junior in the College of Engineering majoring Chemical Engineering with a minor in Chemistry. Andrew’s current research is in chemical recycling solutions for plastic waste. Andrew’s next step is to pursue a PhD in Environmental Engineering, where he will conduct research on sustainable technologies for resource optimization. He will focus on waste management solutions and environmental impact reduction.
The OSU Goldwater nomination committee includes faculty from the Colleges of Science and Engineering: Skip Rochefort from Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering; Louis Wojcinski from Chemistry; Heidi Schellman from Physics; Kari Van Zee and Juan Vanegas from Biochemistry and Biophysics; and David Hendrix from Biochemistry and Biophysics and Computer Science. Student advising and nominations were coordinated by LeAnn Adam and Becca Otto in the OSU Office of National and Global Scholarships Advising.
Established by Congress in 1986, the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation operates an educational scholarship program designed to provide opportunities for outstanding U.S. students with excellent academic records and demonstrated interest in, and potential for, research careers in mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering. The Goldwater Scholarship serves as a living memorial to honor the lifetime work of Senator Barry Goldwater, who served his country for 56 years as a soldier and statesman, including 30 years in the U.S. Senate. For more information about the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, visit https://goldwater.scholarsapply.org/
The Goldwater Scholarship is administered at Oregon State University through the National and Global Scholarships Advising Office. For more information about applying for the Goldwater Scholarship or other national and international scholarships, please contact [email protected] and visit: http://topscholars.oregonstate.edu