Three U of A Students Selected as Goldwater Scholars

Abhinav Komanduri, Jared Noel and Ian Popp were each awarded the highly competitive Goldwater Scholarship and will receive $7,500 from the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship Foundation, an honor established by Congress in 1986 to support college students aiming for research careers in science, mathematics and engineering.  

“Research is a core enterprise at the University of Arkansas, and undergraduate research is a key component of that research,” said Charles Robinson, chancellor.  “It is an important aspect of our approach to teaching as well. The Goldwater Scholarship Foundation has recognized three outstanding student researchers in Abhinav, Jared and Ian. Congratulations to them, to their research mentors, their departments, and their colleges.” 

With these three new recipients, 67 U of A students have earned this prestigious recognition since its creation. 

ABHINAV KOMANDURI 

A junior honors electrical engineering major minoring in mathematics, Abhinav Komanduri intends to earn a Ph.D. focused on embedded systems and cybersecurity.  

“I’m incredibly grateful to have been named a Goldwater Scholar and for the support of my mentors, family and friends. This award strengthens my motivation to pursue my research goals, and I’m excited about what lies ahead.”  

Komanduri has worked primarily with his long-term mentor, Alexander Nelson, associate professor of electrical engineering, on ambient capacitive sensing and microprocessor-based cybersecurity, developing physically unclonable functions to enhance data security.  

He has also collaborated with Roy McCann, professor of electrical engineering, on shorter-term research aimed at optimizing power flow in renewable energy transmission lines. 

jared noel 

A junior honors chemical engineering and mathematics major, Jared Noel plans to pursue a Ph.D. in computational biology, focusing on developing mathematical models for personalized medicine.  

“I am honored to have received the Goldwater Scholarship and thankful for all those who have supported me so far. This award has emboldened me to continue pursuing my research goals, and I am excited for the opportunities it will provide in the future,” said Noel.  

Noel’s research experience includes advanced computational modeling and biomaterials, with significant projects in the labs of professors William Richardson and Jin-Woo Kim at the University of Arkansas, as well as Greg Schwartz at Northwestern University, exploring retinal neurobiology and cardiovascular cell scaffolding. 

ian popp 

A junior honors chemical engineering major with a dual degree in finance, Ian Popp plans to obtain a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering, with research focused on gene regulation and tissue engineering to treat degenerative diseases.  

“First, I would like to thank those who have made this award possible: my research mentor, Dr. Nelson, my advisor, Dr. Walker, my former research and REU mentor Dr. Almodovar, my postdoc Dr. Pinzon-Herrera, my REU mentor Dr. Lopez, and Associate Dean Bryan Hill who connected me to research. I am honored to be a Goldwater Scholar, and I am more motivated than ever to continue to engage in research,” said Popp.  

Past experiences include programs at the University of Mississippi and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Currently, advanced RNA-guided technologies are under development in collaboration with Christopher Nelson, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, to address muscular dystrophy and metabolic diseases. 

Office of Nationally Competitive Awards:  University of Arkansas students and recent alumni interested in applying for scholarships and fellowships and faculty wishing to identify competitive students should contact the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards at awards@uark.edu or 479-575-3771. More information is available at awards.uark.edu. 

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.