Four Franklin students named 2019 Goldwater Scholars

The highest undergraduate award of its type for the fields of the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering, the Barry Goldwater Scholars program encourages outstanding students to pursue careers in these fields. This year, UGA has four Goldwater Scholars: 

Monte Fischer, an Honors student and Foundation Fellow, plans to pursue a doctorate in mathematics to investigate questions of stochastic processes, probability and computation.

MacKenzie Joy, an Honors student and Foundation Fellow, plans to earn a doctorate in theoretical cosmology or particle physics, teach at the university level and support young women in physics. She intends to research the pre-inflationary universe, large-scale cosmic structure and missing pieces of the Standard Model to help build a more complete picture of the universe.

Katie Luedecke, an Honors student and Foundation Fellow, plans to pursue a doctorate in chemistry, specializing in inorganic chemistry with a focus on carbene chemistry, and teach at a research university. She plans to develop mentorship and outreach opportunities for females in STEM at the sub-collegiate level.

Sarah Saddoris intends to pursue a doctorate in plant genetics. She is interested in the mechanisms and functions of the various pathways in plants responsible for controlling gene expression during development and in response to biotic and abiotic stresses such as pathogens and drought.

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“The Goldwater Scholarship is a major accomplishment for these students as they build a distinguished body of work as undergraduates,” said Alan T. Dorsey, dean of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. “This prestigious affirmation of their abilities is a testament to our instructional capabilities across the STEM disciplines at UGA, where our faculty create a platform for young scholars to thrive.”

Fantastic news. Congratulations to faculty and staff colleagues in chemistry, genetics, physics and astronomy, and mathematics on this important honor for our students and academic departments, the Franklin College and the University of Georgia.