Narayanan nominated for Barry M . Goldwater Scholarship
COSAM junior Natasha Narayanan has been chosen as a 2016 Barry M . Goldwater Scholar , an honor bestowed to only 252 students nationwide this year . The scholarship is widely considered the most prestigious award in the United States for undergraduates in science , technology , engineering , and mathematics .
Narayanan is an Auburn University Honors College student who is double majoring in biochemistry and Spanish ( College of Liberal Arts ). She has conducted two undergraduate research projects , both under the direction of Bradley Merner , assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry . As part of the first project , she worked to incorporate a chemical modification into antisense therapeutics drugs , which may lead to better treatments for genetic diseases . Her second research project relates to medicinal chemistry , which she hopes to apply to the synthesis of a natural product known as haouamine A , a product that has shown selective anticancer activity in human colon carcinoma cells .
“ Natasha is an exceptionally talented researcher ,” said Merner . “ She has an uncanny ability to retain information and a desire to make experiments work that cannot be taught . A truly gifted student , Natasha embodies all of the qualities that make for a future leader in science .”
Two other Auburn University students were also named Goldwater Scholars , Sara Head and Jennifer Kaczmarek . Both Head and Kaczmarek are chemical engineering majors in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering .
“ We are proud of these extraordinary women , all members of the Honors College , who have each combined academic excellence in the classroom with ingenuity in their research programs ,” said Melissa Baumann , director of the Auburn University Honors College and assistant provost for Undergraduate Studies . “ We look forward to great things from Natasha , Jennifer , and Sara and also recognize the pivotal role played by their faculty mentors in their success .”
The Barry M . Goldwater Scholarship Program was established to provide scholarships to outstanding students who intend to pursue careers in mathematics , the natural sciences , and engineering . Each scholarship covers eligible expenses up to a maximum of $ 7,500 annually for undergraduate tuition , fees , books , and housing . In awarding scholarships , the foundation of trustees considers the nominee ’ s field of study and career objectives , along with the extent to which that individual has the commitment and potential to make a significant contribution to the field of science or engineering .
The National Prestigious Scholarship office at Auburn University , located in the Honors College , works closely with students to identify and help them pursue prestigious scholarship national and international awards through information sessions and one-on-one support during the application process .
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