Two undergraduate students from the College of Natural Sciences have been awarded the 2021 Barry Goldwater Scholarship, a prestigious national scholarship given to students pursuing careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering fields. Teddy Hsieh and Briana Syed are among 410 college students from across the country to receive the scholarship for the 2021-22 academic year.
Scholars are selected for their commitment to research, effective display of intellectual intensity, and potential for a significant future contribution to research in their chosen field.
Teddy Hsieh, a senior electrical engineering and chemistry major, was selected for his research on the development of a novel additive manufacturing process to selectively deposit dielectric materials via laser-induced chemical vapor deposition. This pathway will enable selective dielectric deposition while minimizing oxidative damage of the substrate, a promising step towards the fabrication of 3D computational and nanophotonic devices.
Briana Syed, a senior neuroscience major, was selected for her research on the microscopic nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, an ideal alternative model for studying the neurological and muscular dysfunctions characteristic of Down syndrome in humans. She created strains of C. elegans overexpressing individual 21st chromosome (HSA21) genes, and investigated the effects of overexpression on motor function.
Hsieh and Syed will each receive up to $7,500 to help cover costs associated with tuition, mandatory fees, books, room and board.
Readers can go here to read more about the Goldwater Scholarship and how to apply.