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Winners of the prestigious national honor pursue research careers in science, mathematics, and engineering.

Four University of Rochester students—Maria Ahmed ’26, Wimeth Dissanayake ’26, Aashay Mardikar ’26, and Marvin Wu ’26—have been selected as 2025 Barry Goldwater Scholars. This year’s class marks the second time that Rochester has had a record four recipients in a single year.

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program honors exceptional undergraduate students across the United States interested in pursuing research careers in the sciences, engineering, and mathematics.

“Even after 25 years, Rochester’s Goldwater Scholars never fail to impress me with their relentless commitment to excellence in all their pursuits, their passion for inquiry and discovery, and their determination to achieve something great for the benefit of humanity through their scientific endeavors,” says Belinda Redden, director of fellowships at Rochester.

“It gives me tremendous satisfaction to play a small part in their journeys and celebrate their successes—and also to witness their joy in each other’s success. They are truly inspiring young people and the best kind of motivation to keep doing this work.”

The road to the national scholarship is not easy.

Students competing for Rochester nomination slots must complete multiple drafts of the scholarship application and have three recommendation letters submitted for review by an interdisciplinary committee of STEM faculty.

“Becoming a Goldwater Scholar is a huge accomplishment,” says committee member Kathryn Knowles ’08, an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry, who received a Goldwater Scholarship when she was a student at Rochester. “For scholars who aspire to pursue a research career in academia, where your success depends on your ability to compete at a national level to secure federal funding to support your research, such early recognition offers a huge boost in a scholar’s confidence that they do indeed have what it takes to succeed in such a rigorous and demanding space.”

Maria Ahmed ’26

Maria Ahmed ’26 is a biochemistry major who plans to pursue an MD/PhD on the way to becoming a physician-scientist specializing in neurodegenerative disorders. A transfer student, she has conducted research in Sina Ghaemmaghami’s biology lab since the summer of 2023 through an NSF-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Chemistry and Medicine and the 2024 Schwartz Discover Grant.

Among her activities, the Rochester native is president and founder of the new Rochester chapter of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and a participant in the Medallion Leadership Program.

“I was surprised and overjoyed to hear that I was named a Goldwater Scholar,” says Ahmed. “Winning this honor was very important to me as it helped me see that my effort and dedication to research was finally recognized. Doing research and being in the lab has been a passion of mine since my first year of college.”

Wimeth Dissanayake ’26

Wimeth Dissanayake ’26 is a molecular genetics major whose career goal is to become a physician-scientist with a focus on hematology. The Rochester resident and editor-in-chief of the University’s Journal of Undergraduate Research is a teaching assistant and a member of the American Society of Bone and Mineral Research cohort program.

Eager to dive into research as early as possible, Dissanayake sought a place in Shu-Chi Yeh’s lab at the Medical Center even before matriculating as a student and has been working in this group since fall 2022. This summer, he plans to return to his internship at Yale University where he will continue studying neutrophil granule development.

“Throughout my university career I have looked up to Goldwater Scholars, and to be able to achieve the same honor as them was both a relief and a great joy,” says Dissanayake. “Having the affirmation that my work is of some value is always a good feeling and being among a cadre of brilliant Rochester undergraduates makes it all the more enjoyable.”

Aashay Mardikar ’26

Aashay Mardikar ’26 is a biochemistry major who aspires to become a physician-scientist conducting cutting-edge research on the molecular mechanisms of disease while training the next generation of clinicians and researchers. Having begun his research career in his first semester at Rochester in Paul Dunman’s lab at the Medical Center, Mardikar has also been conducting research in the lab of biology professor Dragony Fu through the Beckman Scholars Program since summer 2024. He is a tutor at the Learning Center and first violinist in the chamber orchestra.

This summer, the Brookfield, Wisconsin, resident will continue research in the Fu Lab, studying enzyme-catalyzed tRNA modifications in the context of neurodevelopmental disorders.

“I feel honored to have been named a Goldwater Scholar,” says Mardikar. “This recognition reflects not only my passion for science and research, but also the unwavering support of mentors who have shaped my academic journey. The Goldwater affirms that I am on the right path and inspires me to champion the next generation of scientists, just as my mentors have done for me.”

Marvin Wu ’26

Marvin Wu ’26 is a chemistry and clinical and translational sciences double major who aspires to become a synthetic organic chemist in the pharmaceutical industry. Among his activities, Wu has been a workshop leader for organic chemistry and a teaching assistant for biological chemistry. The Cupertino, California, resident has also worked with the campus Medical Emergency Response Team as the assistant director of operations and a volunteer EMT.

Wu is conducting research in Benjamin Partridge’s lab, where he began working in summer 2023 with support from a Schwartz Discover Grant. After spending last summer conducting research at the biotechnology company Genentech, this summer Wu will conduct synthetic organic chemistry research as an intern at Merck & Co.

“Applying for the Goldwater Scholarship forced me to reflect on and navigate my uncertainties about my career goals and postgraduate plans,” says Wu. “Being named a Goldwater Scholar motivates me to work harder and reaffirms my commitment to a career in science. I am humbled to receive this award and grateful for all the support and training from my mentors throughout my undergraduate research experiences.”