Undergraduate Thomas Porter named a Goldwater, Astronaut Scholar
Thomas Porter, a junior chemical engineering major, has won two prestigious national scholarships. In addition to being named a 2019 Barry M. Goldwater Scholar, Thomas was also selected by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation to join the elite group of Astronaut Scholars for the 2019-20 academic school year.
The Goldwater Scholarship, the nation’s most prestigious award for undergraduate researchers in science, math and engineering, provides students with an award of up to $7,500 that helps cover the costs of tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Thomas Porter is one of 496 who received the honor out of the 1,223 nominated by colleges and universites from across the country. Along with this, Porter was one of only 74 engineering student recipients nationwide.
The Astronaut Scholars Program provides students with up to $10,000 and an expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for the Innovators Gala. At the Gala, an astronaut will present all Astronaut Scholars with the Neil Armstrong Award of Excellence onstage.
Other benefits provided by the Astronaut Scholars program include an opportunity to present and represent their institution at the Scholar Technical Conference; mentoring for one year by a scholar alumni, C-suite executive or astronaut; participation in the Professional Development Program; the opportunity to participate in Foundation events; and membership in the Astronaut Scholar Honor Society.
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During his time at Ohio State, Thomas has been researching methods to improve quantum dot nanoparticles for biomedical imaging in the lab of his advisor, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Professor Jessica Winter.
“He is a remarkable student who represents the best of what it is to be a Buckeye,” Winter said. “He has made tremendous progress on several aspects of the research that have been stymied for years.”
Professor Barbara Wyslouzil, Thomas' co-advisor, said "Thomas has been a real pleasure to work with and we are all pleased to have him recognized this way."
Porter's goals include pursuing a Ph.D. in chemical engineering to conduct research in bionanomaterials for cancer theranostics and to teach at the university level.
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The naming of Thomas Porter as a Barry Goldwater Scholar marks the seventh recipient for this award for students in the William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering since the award's inception in 1986. Lagnajit Pattanaik (Brunelli Group) won the award in 2016, and Joseph Gauthier (Koelling Group) was a recipent in 2013. Four other students prior to 2013 also won the scholarship.
Students interested in applying for the Goldwater Scholarship or other nationally competitive awards should contact fellowships@osu.edu.
