Barry Goldwater Scholarship
Barry Goldwater Scholarship recipients include Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ undergraduates planning research careers in science, math, and engineering.
Named after the former senator and presidential candidate, the is a highly competitive national award for high-achieving undergraduate science students who are US citizens.
The scholarships are awarded by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, established by Congress in 1986 and endowed with federal funds to encourage the nation’s most outstanding college students to pursue research careers in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering.
Students are nominated by their college or university. Applicants typically rank in the top quarter of their class while demonstrating outstanding research skills, potential for advanced study in their fields, and a strong commitment to the pursuit of research-oriented careers.
Each scholar receives funds to help cover tuition, room and board, books, and mandatory fees. Scholars who are chosen as sophomores will receive support for a maximum of two years, while juniors receive support for one year.
The Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ is committed to research in the STEM fields, which includes preparing and supporting future researchers. Learn more about the Goldwater Scholarship and other fellowship, scholarship, and award opportunities available to Rochester students.
Recent Goldwater Scholars
Congratulations to the most recent Goldwater Scholars from the Ä¢¹½´«Ã½!
Eva Ciuffetelli ’27
Area of study: Chemical engineering (BS)
Minor: Materials science
Eva Ciuffetelli is a chemical engineering major from Westgrove, Pennsylvania who will spend this summer as an intern working on chemical looping analysis at the in Golden, Colorado, as part of the . She has conducted research with Associate Professor since 2024 and as one of the inaugural Barbara J. Burger Chemical Sustainability Scholars, exploring how metal carbide catalysts can convert carbon dioxide into fuels. She transferred to Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ from University of Pittsburgh Honors College as a sophomore in fall 2024. She has been active on campus as president and project lead for the student club as well as a varsity track and field athlete, earning recognition as a First Team Academic All-American in 2025.
Ciuffetelli hopes to pursue a PhD in chemical engineering to develop and implement solutions for sustainable energy and materials.
“I love research because it provides a path for me to make a positive impact on the environment, which is the guiding star in my career,” says Ciuffetelli. “I chose the Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ for its ‘Meliora’ philosophy, which I believe set me up to be a Goldwater Scholarship recipient. I strive to be the best student, researcher, and person that I can be while improving my community and the environment.”
Zachary Paine ‘27
Area of study: Chemistry (BS)
Minors: Mathematics, music
Zachary Paine is a chemistry major who aspires to earn a PhD in chemistry and go on to a career in university teaching and research in organic chemistry.
“I love chemistry because it is an opportunity to explore the unknown, solve problems, and make advancements that better humanity,” says Paine, who is from Rochester, N.Y. “To me, the Goldwater Scholarship is a vote of confidence and support of this endeavor, and having the Goldwater Foundation in my corner will motivate me every day to do research and change the world.”
Since Fall 2024, Paine has conducted research in the ’s Kennedy Lab, working on mechanistic studies involving nickel catalysis in the context of modifying amides. Paine’s other campus activities include playing tenor saxophone in the Jazz Ensemble, serving as a STEM courses tutor in the Learning Center and active membership in the Undergraduate Chemistry Society and Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ Roundnet Club. He will spend this summer as an intern at Vividion Therapeutics in San Diego, CA.
Trevor Shooshan ’27
Area of study: Optical engineering (BS)
Trevor Shooshan is an optical engineering major from Fairport, New York who will work this summer as part of the optics team at BAE Systems’ space and mission systems division in Boulder, Colorado. He has researched optimization methods for gradient index design under the guidance of Professor Emeritus since 2024. Shooshan is a former president of Ä¢¹½´«Ã½’s chapter of and has served as a workshop leader and teaching assistant for multiple optics classes.
Shooshan plans to pursue a PhD in optical engineering to become an optical designer while researching methods to improve systems design, and eventually aims to become a university professor.
“Research is the place where I feel most creative,” says Shooshan. “It is a space for me to dissect a problem and discover what lies behind the answer, while leading to meaningful results. Winning the Goldwater is an honor, and I am grateful to be recognized along with so many amazing early career researchers.”
Past Goldwater Scholars and Honorable Mentions
2025 Scholars
Maria Ahmed ’26
Area of study: Biochemistry (BS)
Wimeth Dissanayake ’26
Area of study: Molecular genetics (BS)
Aashay Mardikar ’26
Area of study: Biochemistry (BS)
Marvin Wu ’26
Areas of study: Chemistry (BA) and clinical & translational sciences (BS)
2023 Scholars
Derek Chien ’25
Areas of study: Chemistry (BA) and bioethics (BA)
Kathleen “Katie” Hall ’24
Area of study: Environment science (BS)
Margaret “Maggie” Scholer ’24
Areas of study: Chemistry (BS) and environmental science (BS)
Hope Silva ’24
Area of study: Chemistry (BS)
2022 Scholar
Ellen Irving ’23
Areas of study: Biochemistry (BS) and chemistry (BA)
2021 Scholars
Jocelyn Mathew ’23
Area of study: Molecular genetics (BS)
Kaelyn McFarlane-Connelly ’22
Area of study: Chemistry (BS)
Tyrone Nieves ’22
Areas of study: Psychology (BA) and biology (BA)
2020 Scholar
Ethan Fahnestock ’21
Areas of study: Physics and astronomy (BS) and interdepartmental engineering (BS)
2019 Scholars
Natalie H. Allen ’20
Areas of study: Physics and astronomy (BS)
Daniel Krajovic ’20
Area of study: Chemistry (BS)
Adina Ripin ’20
Areas of study: Physics (BS) and applied mathematics (BS)
2018 Scholars
Allen M. Chen ’19
Area of study: Neuroscience (BS)
Minor: Psychology
Audrey Goldfarb ’19
Area of study: Biology (BA)
Minor: Journalism
2018 Honorable Mention
Fiona G. Nichols-Fleming ’19
Area of study: Physics and astronomy (BS)
2017 Scholars
Hayden M. Carder ’18
Area of study: Chemistry (BS)
Ryan A. Rubenzahl ’18
Area of study: Physics and astronomy (BS)
Minor: Math
2017 Honorable Mention
Bethany H. Gardner ’18
Area of study: Brain and cognitive sciences (BS)
Minors: Linguistics, philosophy, and Spanish
2016 Scholars
Molly Finn ’17 (T5)
Area of study: Physics and astronomy (BS)
Md. Tanveer Karim ’17 (T5)
Area of study: Physics and astronomy (BS)
Minor: Math
2015 Scholars
Brian D. McDonald ’16
Area of study: Math (BA)
Steven B. Torrisi ’16
Areas of study: Physics (BS) and math (BA)
2015 Honorable Mentions
Jonathan B. Curtis ’16
Areas of study: Physics (BS) and applied math (BS)
Madeleine R. Laitz ’16
Area of study: Chemical engineering (BS)
2014 Honorable Mention
Brian D. McDonald ’16
Area of study: Math (BA)
2013 Scholar
Amanda Chen ’14
Area of study: Biomedical engineering (BS)
Minor: Chemical engineering
2013 Honorable Mention
Chantel R. Gaudet ’14
Areas of study: Chemical engineering (BS) and applied math (BS)
2012 Scholar
Vincent E. Yu ’14
Areas of study: Physics and astronomy (BS) and math (BA)
Minors: Philosophy of science and computer science
2011 Scholar
Scott A. Barenfeld ’12
Areas of study: Physics and astronomy (BS)
Minor: Math
2011 Honorable Mention
Mark D. Levin ’12
Area of study: Chemistry (BS)
Minor: Math
2010 Scholars
Gregory S. Bentsen ’11
Areas of study: Physics (BS) and math (BA)
Minor: Electrical engineering
Nicholas J. Huang ’12 (T5)
Areas of study: Biomedical engineering (BS) and music (BA)
2010 Honorable Mention
Alexander J. Federation ’11
Areas of study: Chemistry (BS) and cell and developmental biology (BS)
2009 Scholars
Patrick D. Sheehan ’11
Areas of study: Physics and astronomy (BS) and math (BA)
Sean M. Virgile ’10
Area of study: Biomedical engineering (BS)
Minor: Biology
2008 Scholars
John K. Golden ’10
Areas of study: Physics (BS) and math (BA honors)
Samuel T. Harrold ’09
Areas of study: Physics (BS) and math (BA)
2008 Honorable Mentions
Colleen A. Kellenberger ’09
Areas of study: Molecular genetics (BS) and chemistry (BS)
Aleksy J. Mankowski ’10
Area of study: Chemistry (BS)
2007 Scholars
Kristin M. Beck ’09
Areas of study: Physics (BS) and math (BA honors)
Minor: Music
Kathryn E. Knowles ’08
Areas of study: Chemistry (BS) and math (BA honors)
Andrew N. Niles ’08
Area of study: Math (BA honors)
Minor: Economics
2006 Honorable Mention
Ferhina S. Ali ’07
Area of study: Neuroscience (BS)
Minor: Legal studies
2006 Scholars
Elise B. Peterson ’07
Areas of study: Molecular genetics (BS) and history (BA)
Stephen M. Privitera ’07
Areas of study: Physics (BS) and math (BS)
2005 Scholar [Heading 4]
Robert F. Penna ’07
Areas of study: Physics (BS) and math (BA honors)
2004 Scholars
Joseph R. Galante ’05
Area of study: Math (BA honors)
Minor: Psychology
Zhuohan Liang ’06 (T5)
Areas of study: Physics (BS) and math (BS)
Minor: Philosophy
Christopher M. Supranowitz ’05
Area of study: Optics (BS)