(Corvallis, OR March 28, 2025) Oregon State University’s National and Global Scholarships Advising office is pleased to announce that two students have been selected for the prestigious 2025 Barry Goldwater Scholarship.
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.
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.
Natalie and Andrew are among the 441 Goldwater scholars from across the United States selected for the 2025-2026 academic year. From an estimated pool of over 5,000 college sophomores and juniors, 1,350 science, engineering, and mathematics students were nominated by 445 academic institutions to compete for the 2025 Goldwater scholarships.
Student advising and national Goldwater nominations were coordinated by LeAnn Adam and Becca Otto in the OSU Office of National and Global Scholarships Advising. 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.
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