Three UA Students Selected as 2005 Barry Goldwater Scholars

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Three University of Arkansas students were named recipients of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship for 2005. This is the seventh consecutive year UA students have claimed the prestigious scholarship, bringing the university’s total to 30 Goldwater scholars since the program was established in 1988.

The three UA students named to this year’s list are Joshua Liu, a Chancellor’s Scholar from Fayetteville majoring in chemistry; Rohitha Sriramaratnan, an Honors College Fellow from New Zealand majoring in biochemistry; and Justin Vines, an Honors College Fellow from Little Rock majoring in physics. All students are juniors within the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences and participants in the Honors College.

The Goldwater Scholars were selected on the basis of academic merit from a field of 1,091 mathematics, science and engineering students who were nominated by the faculties of their respective colleges and universities.

“I am proud to see Rohitha, Joshua and Justin carry on the tradition of success that University of Arkansas students have maintained for more than a decade as Goldwater Scholars,” said Chancellor John A. White. “It is not surprising to see them succeed, since we knew they were exceptional when we awarded them scholarships to attend the university. These three nationally competitive students, like so many at the University of Arkansas, are engaged in research with the support of faculty mentors who help them frame and answer tough, important questions. The results benefit the university, the state and the world.”

The first Goldwater Scholarship awarded to a UA student occurred in 1990. Since that time, the university has produced 30 Goldwater Scholars in 14 years. Previous UA Goldwater Scholars included a Rhodes Scholar, a Marshall Scholar, five National Science Graduate Fellows, a Fulbright Scholar and a Udall Scholar. They have pursued doctoral work at prestigious programs including the University of Virginia, University of Michigan, University of California-Berkeley, Cambridge, Cornell, St. Andrews (Scotland), Oxford, Stanford and Washington universities.

“These three students add luster to their departments, to their mentors, and to the university. Thirty Barry Goldwater Scholars is a remarkable record for any institution. In just 14 years, we have gone from no record to one that is competitive with any institution in the country and even tops schools like Rice, Stanford, and MIT,” said Don Bobbitt, dean of the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. “Joshua Liu, Rohitha Sriramaratnam, and Justin Vines represent the best of what we as a college hope to accomplish, as do their mentors, chemistry professors Neil Allison and Matthias McIntosh and physics professor Reeta Vyas.”

Goldwater Scholars receive $7,500 per year for tuition, books and room and board — a gift that enables them to devote other funds to individual research projects in their areas of interest. In the 17-year history of the program, 4,562 scholarships, worth approximately $45 million, have been awarded.

Though the prize money is relatively small compared to many national scholarships, the Goldwater Scholarship remains one of the most prestigious and competitive awards available to undergraduates. To qualify, applicants typically hold a grade-point average of 3.9 or higher and must be entering their junior or senior years in college.

The scholarship committee also looks for prior involvement in research or experience working in a lab environment. Students who meet these qualifications must then submit a research proposal, outlining a project that not only fits the applicant's field of interest but also bears significance for the scientific community as a whole.

Rohitha Sriramaratnam is interested in cancer research. “Cancer kills over 500,000 Americans every year. These are shocking yet sobering statistics, which reflect the reality of the disease’s current situation,” reported Sriramaratnam. “One promising means of curing cancer is to inhibit cell division through the development of anticancer agents. I am working with the research group of Dr. Matthias McIntosh toward the development of libraries of compounds which have potential anticancer activity.” Sriramaratnam plans to pursue a Ph.D. in chemistry and will eventually make research her career.

Joshua Liu is also interested in cancer research and is currently working with chemistry professor Neil Allison. “My research involves pyrones, which are found in medicines used to combat cancer and HIV. There is a need for novel and improved treatments for these diseases.  Synthetic organic chemistry offers reasonable prospects.”

Justin Vines is completing research in physics with professor Reeta Vyas. “Semiconductor quantum dots have come to the forefront of the quest for nanotechnology,” Vines said. “Achievements in this field over the past decade have been astounding. Physicists have succeeded in creating ever smaller and ever more efficient semiconductor microcavity lasers and these devices will undoubtedly be crucial components of the ultra-fast nanocomputers of tomorrow. My project will be the culmination of a year and a half of intense study and practice.”