Michigan State University has nominated five undergraduate students, including psychology student Arnalda Zhao, for the nationally competitive Goldwater Scholarship. Zhao is a second-year student majoring in psychology in the College of Social Science, and physiology and neuroscience in the College of Natural Science.
Zhao is a member of the Honors College, as well as a member of the Social Science Scholars Program. As a research assistant in the Leinninger Lab, Zhao investigates the impact of neurons and neuropeptides on physiology. She serves as a university research ambassador as well as the treasurer for the MSU chapter of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology.
"I am beyond grateful to Michigan State University for the support and nomination for this award,” said Zhao. "I would like to thank Dr. Gina Leinninger, Beenhwa Grace Lee, Priscilla Coriano, Dr. Jariel Ramírez-Virella, and the entire Leinninger Lab for being incredible mentors and colleagues. I also want to thank Dr. Kaston Anderson Jr., Dr. Jenifer Saldanha, and Dr. John Waller for their amazing support throughout this application process. I am excited to continue pursuing a research career and thankful for the endless opportunities at MSU.”
The Goldwater Foundation seeks sophomores and juniors committed to a research career in STEM fields with the potential for significant future contributions in their chosen field. The award provides $7,500 per year in funding for approximately 51 students nationally for undergraduate tuition and living expenses.
“Arnalda is a superbly well-rounded student. Her Goldwater nomination is a fitting recognition of her excellence as a lab scientist: she has already published an article in a science journal and presented research at a conference in San Diego. But Arnalda’s also enthusiastically embraced many of the opportunities offered by MSU,” said John Waller, director of the Social Science Scholars Program. “In short, Arnalda is a model student and a very worthy Goldwater nominee.”
In addition to her research experience, Zhao also works as an undergraduate learning assistant in the Department of Biology and volunteers at Haven House, a Lansing center that provides temporary shelter for homeless families and offers assistance in finding stable housing.
They other MSU nominees include:
Kevin Eisenberg, a third-year student majoring in physics in the College of Natural Science.
Lauren Jin, a third-year student majoring in physics in the College of Natural Science.
Aswath Karai, a third-year student majoring in chemistry in the College of Natural Science.
Erin Visser, a third-year student majoring in advanced mathematics, computational and applied mathematics, and physics in Lyman Briggs College.
All five MSU nominees are members of the Honors College and have had multiple research experiences across campus.
The original version of this story was published by the MSU Distinguished Student Awards Office.