Each year, universities may nominate up to four sophomores or juniors to compete in the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship Competition.  For more information about UConn’s nomination process and the scholarship itself, click HERE.  This year’s nominees include one sophomore and three juniors from a variety of STEM disciplines.  Each satisfied the Goldwater’s criteria of academic excellence, demonstrate research experience and potential, and the desire to earn a PhD in their field.  Also vital is the strong support of their faculty mentors. Nominees will have until January 28, 2014 to complete the national application.  Results will be posted at or around April 1, 2014.

Michael Cantara (ENGR: Engineering Physics ’16) is an honors student from Barrington, RI.  He is a recipient of the Universities Space Research Association Education Scholarship and a Learning Mentorship Scholarship through the School of Engineering. With a passion for understanding the universe, Michael is currently conducting research in particle physics with Dr. Peter Schweitzer (Physics), calculating “Q-balls, with a focus on their d1 term.”  He is also working on a project with Dr. William Stwalley (Physics) and his team in the ultracold molecules laboratory. Though early in his research career, Michael has already participated in a summer research experience at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport, RI and because of this experience now has a department of defense (DoD) security clearance. With countless hours of community service, Michael is also an active member of the Society of Physics Students and UConn’s Physics Club.  A musician, Michael plays both the electric and acoustic guitar and has even taught others how to play. In his spare time, he enjoys tennis, golf, basketball, cycling and skiing.

Peter J. Larson, Jr. (AGNR: Pathobiology ’15), an honors student from New Canaan, CT, aspires to earn an MD/PhD and become “an innovator in the world of virology, viral vectors, or gene therapy.”  He is currently working in the lab of Dr. Paulo Verardi (Pathobiology) studying methods to produce recombinant vaccinia viruses.   He has presented two posters on his research and is collecting more data for publication.  He has also been a Research Associate for the Tobacco Cessation Program at St. Vincent’s hospital and conducted field research on water quality in local rivers while in still in high school.  When he’s home, he is an active Firefighter and EMT for the Vista Fire Department in Lewisboro, NY (which is adjacent to New Canaan), having been named Rookies of the Year in 2011. On campus, he is also busy outside of the lab, as a member of the UConn Ballroom Dance Team and within the Honors Program, as a student worker and PATH Mentor, among other activities.  He has received numerous awards, including: the James Dewitt Scholarship, the William H. Allen Scholarship, and an Academic Excellence Scholarship.  In 2012, he was named President of the Year by the UConn Residence Hall Association for his work on the Buckley-Shippee-Sylvie Area Council.

Patrick J. Lenehan (CLAS: MCB ’15), an honors student from Cheshire, CT, is currently conducting research with Dr. Barbara Mellone (MCB) on proteins and the formation of centromeres and kinetochores in Dosophilia.  He has also worked in the lab of Dr. Rajeswari Kasi (Chemistry) investigating the use of high-molecular weight poly-acrylic acid (PAA) to stabilize enzymes and is contributing to a publication with Dr. Melanie Collins, whom he shadowed in the Pulmonary Department at Central Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, on the treatment of pediatric patients with Cystic Fibrosis.  Before this, he was a research assistant for Dr. Alireza Shamshirsaz in the Department of Maternal and Fetal Medicine at the UConn Health Center, where he contributed to several publications on obstetrics.  Ultimately, Patrick plans to earn an MD/PhD, become a research oncologist and advance treatments of the disease.  At UConn, his stellar academic record has earned him recognition as a Babbidge Scholar.  He is also the recipient of the Presidential Scholars Award Scholarship and the United Technologies Corporation Academic Scholarship.  In addition to his demanding course load and research schedule, Patrick is a member of UConn’s NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Team.

Rebecca J. Wiles (CLAS: Chemistry ’15) from Londonderry, NH, is an honors student focusing her studies in the area of organic chemistry, particularly “green chemistry.” Consistently on the Dean’s list, Becky has also won the Office of Undergraduate Research Supply Award, a book award for Excellence in General Chemistry and the UConn Award. Actively involved in research, she is currently a member of the New Synthetic Methods Group (NSMG) headed by Dr. Nicholas Leadbeater (Chemistry), has contributed to one publication and continues to collect promising data. She has also had research experiences through her participation in the Undergraduate Research Apprentice program and spent a summer at Stonehill College continuing to hone her skills in green chemistry oxidation. Following graduation she aspires to earn a PhD in chemistry with a concentration in organic synthesis and ultimately pursue a career as an industrial scientist. When not in the lab, Rebecca enjoys baking, but also dedicates her time to the UConn Marching Band as a piccolo player.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Honors student from Manchester, CT, a political science major with a second, individualized major in international relations, Carl aspires to a career in foreign policy. The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship, named in honor of one of the most distinguished American diplomats of the latter half of the 20^th century, is funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. This prestigious competition selects 20 fellows from a pool of more than 600 applicants. The 2013 fellowship award provides support of up to $40,000 annually toward tuition, room, board, and mandatory fees during the senior year of college and the first year of graduate study. The program develops a source of trained men and women from academic disciplines representing the skill needs of the Department, who are dedicated to representing America’s interests abroad.

On campus, Carl has been a Director of the Model United Nations’ Environmental Programme, serves on the Environmental Committee for Honors Council and has served as a Student Ambassador for Human Rights. Off campus, he works for Mansfield’s Town Manager’s Office, which included computing greenhouse gas emissions for twelve town buildings. In the summer of 2011, he was a Research and Development Intern for Soluciones Comunitarias in Antigua, Guatemala where he worked to develop a text messaging system to support microconsignment efforts in remote mountain villages. Carl is dedicated to the study of foreign languages, including Spanish, Arabic and Japanese. He also enjoys singing and Taekwondo and is an active member of Beta Theta Pi. He was part of the 2012 cohort for the Leadership Legacy Experience and is the 2012 recipient of the Department of Literatures, Cultures and Languages: Excellence in Arabic Language Award as well as the Philip E. Austin Scholarship. Most recently, he was selected to participate in the 2013 Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Junior Summer Institute at Princeton University.