Two OSU students named Goldwater Scholars
Friday, April 3, 2020
Two Oklahoma State University students have won Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships, the preeminent undergraduate award for outstanding students who seek research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering.
Junior Josh Anadu is majoring in environmental science with a concentration in water resources and minors in chemistry and geology. The native of Katy, Texas, is in the OSU Honors College and a member of OSU’s track team. He has participated in multiple projects in the Soil Microbiology Lab, the Fish Toxicology Lab and the Invertebrate Paleontology Lab. Broadening his experiences beyond the OSU campus, Anadu also served as a research intern on mosquito research in Houston and participated in a National Science Foundation project at the University of Texas focused on the potential impact of climate change on fire ants in the summer of 2019. He has also presented his research and served as president of the OSU Environmental Science Club. Anadu plans to pursue a doctorate in astrobiology or geobiology and work in nutrient-limited geobiology, biomarkers and the origins of life.
“I know a lot of very capable and hardworking students applied, so I am definitely humbled by the fact that I was chosen,” Anadu said. “It's definitely not something I expected or even dreamed about occurring before I came to college. I have had such amazing support here at OSU. So many people have urged me to try and achieve big things. I will most definitely leave OSU with a greater belief in my abilities than I came here with.”
Blake Bartlett is a chemical engineering sophomore from Greenwood, Arkansas. He has been both a CEAT Scholar and a Freshman Research Scholar, and he won a Wentz Research Scholarship for his work in OSU’s Systems Biomedicine and Pharmaceutics Lab. Bartlett’s current research focuses on modeling the mucus that coats the lungs and experimental lung drug delivery. He has presentation experience on the OSU campus and at the national poster competition at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Annual Student Conference in the fall of 2019. Bartlett is also in the Honors College. He plans to earn a doctorate in chemical engineering and pursue a career in pharmaceutical research and development.
“This scholarship means a lot to me because I’ve always wanted to do scientific research as a career,” Bartlett said. “Goldwater is a big step towards achieving that dream, as it says my current research has merit and paves the way for me to continue it in the future.”
Anadu and Bartlett are OSU’s 25th and 26th Goldwater Scholars. They were selected from a pool of 1,343 applicants from 461 institutions across the country. The one-and two-year Goldwater Scholarships are valued at up to $7,500 per year.
The Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation was established by Congress in 1986 to serve as a memorial to honor Sen. Barry Goldwater of Arizona. Today, Goldwater alumni conduct research that helps defend the nation, find cures for catastrophic diseases and teach future generations of scientists, mathematicians and engineers.
The Henry Bellmon Office of Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research at OSU has long been a national leader and innovator in scholar development, assisting students in seeking national/international scholarships and fellowships. The office also encourages student-faculty mentoring, undergraduate research and international travel experience. For more information, contact office director Jessica Sullins at jessica.sullins@okstate.edu or 405-744-7313.