The University of Nevada, Reno has nominated five exceptional undergraduates for the prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarship, one of the nation’s most competitive awards for students pursuing research careers in science, mathematics and engineering. Through the Office of Undergraduate and Graduate Fellowships, Nevada’s nominees were selected through a rigorous internal review process designed to identify students with the strongest academic records, demonstrated research experience, intellectual independence and long-term commitment to research careers. Faculty reviewers evaluate research preparedness, letters of recommendation and clarity of future goals before selecting the students who will represent the University at the national level.

Established by Congress in 1986, the Goldwater Scholarship is widely considered the premier undergraduate award in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering. The scholarship supports students who intend to pursue a Ph.D. or research-focused careers and has become a hallmark of future scientific leaders. Goldwater Scholars frequently go on to earn other national fellowships and secure admission to top graduate programs across the country.

Yasmeen Quraishi – Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Yasmeen Quraishi, an Honors College student, was selected for her strong academic record, clearly articulated MD-Ph.D, trajectory and exceptional perseverance as a researcher in biochemistry and molecular biology. She earned her place in a highly competitive lab through persistence and initiative, continuing to contribute even when funding was unavailable by supporting herself through tutoring.

Beyond the lab, she serves as President of Phi Delta Epsilon and co-founded the Nevada Medical Research Consortium, while also volunteering in memory-care settings.

“Applying for the Barry Goldwater is one of the best ways to understand your research goals. It forced me to think about all the things I have done in my undergraduate career and use them to tell my story,” Quraishi said. “Too many students don't apply because they assume that they will not get the fellowship. Everyone has a story to tell.”

For Quraishi, the financial support would be transformative.

“Winning the Goldwater for my senior year would relieve my financial stressors without adding more loans, and it would allow me to continue my focus on my research and coursework,” she said.

Zephyr Wang – Molecular and Cellular Biology

Zephyr Wang, a second-year Honors College student pursuing an MD-Ph.D. pathway in neurodegenerative disease research, was nominated for his combination of technical skill and conceptual clarity. Despite being the most junior member of his lab, he independently troubleshoots complex experiments and situates his work within broader goals of disease and virus prevention.

His research experience includes molecular cloning, Gibson Assembly, PCR, plasmid design and proximity proteomics, along with multiple public research presentations. His clinical certifications as a CCMA and Community Health Worker strengthen his translational perspective.

Wang admitted he once underestimated himself.

“I always assumed that I was underqualified to apply… and was quickly encouraged to apply,” Wang said. “I would encourage anyone who wants to apply to go through with it, even if they believe that they aren't qualified.”

Winning, he notes, would provide critical support and distinction.

“The scholarship would also be a standout point on my resume as I apply to other fellowships and opportunities, and eventually graduate school,” he said.

Andrew Hsu – Computational Biology and Bioinformatics

Andrew Hsu, an Honors College student, was nominated for his exceptional academic record, self-designed interdisciplinary pathway and clear trajectory toward a Ph.D. in computational biology. A double major in statistics and computer science and engineering with minors in biology and big data, Hsu has been engaged in research since his first semester.

His projects include genome-wide association studies, stochastic modeling of tumor drug resistance, deep learning approaches to transcription start site prediction and gene duplication research.

“The process for applying to the Goldwater made me really reflect on why I wanted to pursue a Ph.D. and commit to research as a career,” Hsu said. “Having ample time to plan out your personal statement or research essay will greatly improve the quality of your writing.”

“Winning the Goldwater will give me confidence since I now know that my abilities as a researcher are worth funding,” he said.

Claira Johnson – Geology and Paleontology

Claira Johnson was selected for her outstanding academic record, interdisciplinary fluency and independence as an early-career researcher in geology and paleontology. An Honors College student, she has balanced advanced coursework with teaching and research assistantships.

Johnson’s research spans tropical insect biodiversity change in Ecuador, Late Miocene paleoecology in Nevada, Triassic–Jurassic extinction boundaries and geochemical analysis of Axial Seamount olivine – something she has written about for Nevada Today. She has presented at the Geological Society of America, the Geological Society of Nevada and Wolf Pack Discoveries. Her long-term goal is to pursue a Ph.D. in paleontology focused on ecological change across deep time.

Faisal Quraishi – Mathematics

Faisal Quraishi was nominated based on his exceptional depth in mathematics, early enrollment in graduate-level coursework and sustained research engagement from his first year. He has presented at the Joint Mathematics Meetings for two consecutive years, delivered a solo presentation, earned a competitive NSF REU and founded the National Set Championship, drawing more than 150 participants.

“Learning how to communicate mathematical ideas to a non-mathematical audience was the most useful lesson I took from the Goldwater application process,” Quraishi said.

He emphasized that writing the research essay is valuable preparation for an academic career.

For Quraishi, the award would be both symbolic and practical.

“On a personal level, winning the Goldwater would symbolize how far I have come in my academic journey. On the level of my career, it would allow me to focus more on my research and hopefully improve my Ph.D. application,” he said.

The University extends special thanks to the Office of Undergraduate Fellowships for its dedicated mentorship, support and guidance throughout the highly competitive application process.

On behalf of the University community, congratulations and best wishes to all five nominees as they compete nationally for one of the most prestigious undergraduate research awards in the United States.