Caitlyn Castellion is a sophomore in Chemistry with a minor in Biomedical Engineering. In the future, Caitlyn plans to pursue a PhD in Chemistry focused on biomaterials and to work in academia conducting research on gene therapeutics for autoimmune disorders. In addition to Goldwater, Caitlyn has earned multiple competitive research grants, including an NIH grant and Mines’ First-Year Innovation and Scholar Training (FIRST) fellowship. Dr. Ramya Kumar, Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, is Caitlyn’s primary research mentor.
Marco Salgado is a junior in Chemical Engineering. In the future, Marco plans to pursue a PhD in Chemical Engineering and work in academia researching electrochemical systems, particularly fuel cells for energy storage. Marco has participated in the MURF, SURF, and FIRST programs, as well as serving as an Undergraduate Research Ambassador. In the Herring Lab, Marco leads a vertically integrated project (VIP) team of nine undergraduate students. Dr. Andrew Herring, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Vice Provost for Strategic Initiatives, is Marco’s primary research mentor.
Caitlyn and Marco are among the 441 Goldwater scholars from across the United States selected for the 2025-2026 academic year. From an estimated pool of over 5,000 college sophomores and juniors, 1,350 science, engineering, and mathematics students were nominated by 445 academic institutions to compete for the 2025 Goldwater scholarships.
Student advising and national Goldwater nominations were coordinated by Ashley Weibel in Mines’ Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships. The Mines 2025 Goldwater Nomination Committee includes faculty members Joy Gockel from Mechanical Engineering, Brian Trewyn from Chemistry, Tom Williams from Computer Science, Ramya Kumar from Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Lakshmi Krishna from University Honors and Scholars. Biochemistry and Biophysics and Computer Science.
Established by Congress in 1986, the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation operates an educational scholarship program designed to provide opportunities for outstanding U.S. students with excellent academic records and demonstrated interest in, and potential for, research careers in mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering. The Goldwater Scholarship serves as a living memorial to honor the lifetime work of Senator Barry Goldwater, who served his country for 56 years as a soldier and statesman, including 30 years in the U.S. Senate. For more information about the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, visit https://goldwater.scholarsapply.org/(Link is external)
The Goldwater Scholarship is administered at Colorado School of Mines through the Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships. For more information about applying for the Goldwater Scholarship or other national and international scholarships, please contact ashley.weibel@mines.edu.