Barry Goldwater Scholarship

Barry Goldwater Scholarship recipients include University of Rochester undergraduates planning research careers in science, math, and engineering.

Named after the former senator and presidential candidate, the Barry Goldwater Scholarship 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 University of Rochester 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 University of Rochester!

Four students were named Barry Goldwater Scholars in 2022–23, marking the first time Rochester has had four recipients in one year. Institutions are typically allowed to nominate only four students (a fifth is accepted when one is a transfer student).

Derek Chien ’25
Areas of study: Chemistry (BA) and bioethics (BA)

Chien is from Reno, Nevada, and aspires to be an academic physician, teaching the next generation of clinicians and conducting translational research to integrate findings into clinical settings.

Kathleen “Katie” Hall ’24
Area of study: Environment science (BS)

Hall, from Rhinebeck, New York, is interested in becoming a climate scientist with research focused on understanding the atmospheric methane budget and climate feedback mechanisms.

Margaret “Maggie” Scholer ’24
Areas of study: Chemistry (BS) and environmental science (BS)

Scholer is from Pittsford, a suburb of Rochester. She intends to study anthropogenic climate change and possible solutions and to earn a PhD in atmospheric chemistry.

Hope Silva ’24
Area of study: Chemistry (BS)

A resident of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, Silva plans to earn a PhD in chemistry and become a research scientist in industry working on environmental issues at the interface of chemistry and materials science.

Read more about this year’s Goldwater Scholars.

Past Goldwater Scholars and Honorable Mentions

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)