University of Chicago students Connor Blake, Prithi Srinivasan, Melody Tang, and Leon Lee Zhou have been awarded the Barry Goldwater Scholarships for 2025. The scholarships are prestigious national awards established by Congress in 1986 to support undergraduates pursuing research careers in natural science, mathematics, and engineering.
The four recipients are among 441 winners selected from over 5,000 applicants nationwide. The scholarships aim to assist STEM students with their research during their final undergraduate years by covering costs such as tuition, fees, books, room, and board up to $7,500 annually.
Connor Blake is majoring in quantum molecular engineering. He recalls an undergraduate research panel at UChicago's Admitted Student Open House that confirmed his decision to attend the university. "I vividly remember sitting in on an undergraduate research panel during an admitted student event where four students seemingly could not talk fast enough about how much they loved working on their research projects," he said. His current work focuses on improving quantum error correction protocols in superconducting systems.
Prithi Srinivasan initially intended to major in economics and statistics but changed her path after taking a course titled "Molecular Biology of the Cell." She stated, "I immediately fell in love with molecular biology." Her research centers on nuclear import processes driven by factors called importins.
Melody Tang has always been intrigued by chemistry. At UChicago, she developed a focus on organic chemistry and aims to earn a Ph.D. Her research involves developing new methods for building complexity in molecules as part of Professor Guangbin Dong’s group.
Leon Lee Zhou views biology as a means to communicate and solve problems. He is interested in therapeutic targeting research that connects basic molecular mechanisms to broader biological networks. Zhou aims for a career as a physician-scientist.
Each recipient expressed gratitude for the scholarship's recognition and support from mentors who have guided them through their academic journeys.
The Office of National Fellowships at UChicago supports candidates through rigorous application processes for nationally competitive awards like the Goldwater Scholarship.