Four students from the College of Arts and Sciences—three from the Undergraduate Neuroscience Program and one from the Undergraduate Immunology Program—have been nominated for the prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation.
Established in 1986 as a living memorial to honor the lifetime achievements of U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater, the scholarship is awarded to college sophomores and juniors pursuing research careers in natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering.
“Any university nominating students for Goldwater is limited to four spots. Given the high level of undergraduate STEM research at UAB, it should come as no surprise that earning UAB’s nomination for Goldwater is a fiercely competitive process,” said Michelle Cook, Ph.D., director of the UAB Office of National and International Fellowships and Scholarships.
“The students who pursue Goldwater are working independently in their labs, presenting (and often publishing) their research locally and nationally, and outlining a trajectory toward a career in research. For these students, research isn’t just an engaging co-curricular activity, it is their calling.”
Being nominated for the Goldwater Scholarship is an important validation. It means a student’s demonstrated aptitude for research and their potential for a successful career in STEM has been endorsed by mentors and other research scientists at their university and beyond.
Goldwater Scholarship nominees
Congratulations to the following nominees:
Harshita Challa is an undergraduate neuroscience student whose current research investigates Parkinson’s disease, specifically exploring the effects of protein accumulation on motor-specific neuronal synapses. Her work aims to deepen the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases and contribute to developing targeted therapies. This research aligns with her long-term goal of pursuing an M.D./Ph.D. to study clinical neurodegeneration and movement disorders, using innovative techniques like deep brain stimulation to advance treatment options.
Neysa Dechachutinan is an undergraduate neuroscience student with minors in chemistry and biology pursuing a master’s degree in biomedical science with a concentration in neuroscience. Her research interests in the Lucas Lab focus on investigating the effects of reproductive hormones and their regulation of threat memory. She is studying a specific neuronal population within the lateral septum that could be responsible for the difference in behavior seen between males and females in different hormone states. She hopes to continue studying neuroendocrinology and memory as a principal investigator one day.
Juliana Eberhardt is an undergraduate neuroscience student whose current research in the Herskowitz lab focuses on understanding pathologies and identifying therapeutic targets in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. She is also working on an independent research project investigating how changes in the tiny structures of brain cells (dendritic spines) are linked to the buildup of tau protein in older mice used to model Alzheimer’s disease. She hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in cognitive neuroscience and become a principal investigator and professor at a research-focused university, teaching and conducting research on sensory integration in autism.
Zoey Swalley is an undergraduate immunology student whose research interests focus on cancer and immunotherapy. Her current research in the Norian Lab studies how a supplement called exogenous ketone esters (eKET) combined with immunotherapy affects tumor growth and cancer spread in a mouse model of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). She wishes to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. in immunology and clinically specialize in oncology. Her current research aligns with her plans to use her in-depth knowledge of immunology to explain clinical results and work toward advancing cancer treatments.