Undergraduate Research
Learn about Chemistry & Biochemistry students doing research and find out about their work.
Goldwater Award Recipients
The Goldwater Scholarship is a prestigious national award given to outstanding undergraduate students in the United States who are pursuing research careers in science, engineering, or mathematics. It was established by Congress in 1986 to honor Senator Barry Goldwater and to support the development of the next generation of top researchers. The scholarship provides financial support and national recognition to students who demonstrate strong academic performance, research experience, and a commitment to a Ph.D. and research career in a STEM field.
-
Alexandria "Ally" Watrous
Watrous worked in Dr. Ryan Fortenberry’s astrochemistry lab where she co-authored 9 peer-reviewed publications and wrote her honors thesis on Methods for Computing Rovibrational Spectral Data with Applications to Inorganic Oxides and Hydrocarbons. Her cohort of 3 Goldwater Scholars awarded to UM in 2022 was a rare event among universities; all 3 students were in our department! She graduated in 2024 with majors in Chemistry, Physics, and German as well as minors in French and Mathematics. Watrous is currently pursuing a chemistry graduate degree at the University of Utah.
JTC 24: From Goldwater to Graduate Ally's Honors Thesis LinkedIn -
Austin Wallace
Wallace conducted computational chemistry research at with Dr. Ryan Fortenberry, using quantum chemistry to study small organic molecule clusters and the molecular origins of life. He developed 0nset, a data analysis program published in the Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer, which enhances how molecular interactions with light are interpreted and was used in collaboration with Dr. Jared Delcamp’s solar cell research group. He also presented research on carbonic acid clusters, with a manuscript submitted to The Journal of Physical Chemistry A. After graduating he attended Georgia Tech Graduate School.
UM Students Win Coveted Goldwater Scholarships Austin's Honor Thesis LinkedIn -
Ethan Lambert
Lambert was a chemistry major with an emphasis in chemical physics and a minor in mathematics, earned numerous honors during his undergraduate career. He was named a 2022 Barry M. Goldwater Scholar, received the university’s 2023 Taylor Medal, was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi, and authored multiple research papers. A recipient of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and FSU’s Legacy Fellowship, Lambert is now pursuing a Ph.D. in chemistry at Florida State University, where he studies photochemical and photophysical processes for solar energy conversion.
Three UM Students Named Goldwater Scholars Ethan's Honors Thesis LinkedIn -
Jax Dallas
Dallas became involved in research during freshman year, when he worked in the Hammer lab to refurbish a time of flight mass spectrometer. He later joined the Fortenberry Lab in computational astrochemistry and had a research summer at the University of Southern California where he investigated the optical qualities of nanodiamonds. His honors thesis was: Computational Investigation of Stellar Cooling, Noble Gas Nucleation, and Organic Molecular Spectra. Since his 2021 graduation with degrees in Chemistry and Math, Dallas has been a graduate student at the Cal Tech.
UM Students Win Coveted Goldwater Scholarships Jax's Honors Thesis LinkedIn JaxDallas.com -
Lyle Tobin
Tobin, a Montgomery, Texas native, is pursuing three majors that combine science and the humanities, aiming to develop novel therapies for cancer and other diseases. He has conducted advanced research in the Sharp Lab, where he worked on protein structure characterization for therapeutic development, and also participated in summer research programs in biomedical engineering and microbial pathogenesis. Inspired by his service as an EMT, he plans to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. in immunology and oncology to help advance modern medicine.
Goldwater Scholars Set Sights on Biomedical Research -
Noah Garrett
Garrett, a junior majoring in chemistry and mathematics, found his passion for research through problem-solving and has conducted computational astrochemistry research in the Fortenberry Lab. His dedication earned him the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship, a milestone he views as a reflection of his years of hard work and commitment to science. After graduating, Garrett began graduate studies in theoretical chemistry at Georgia Tech, where he continues to pursue advanced computational research.
Three UM Students Win Goldwater Scholarships Noah's Honors Thesis -
Qing Ivy Li
Li conducted research in Dr. Delcamp’s lab at UM, focusing on light-induced charge separation for renewable energy and pharmaceutical applications. She co-authored a paper in ACS Omega, presented at multiple conferences, and contributed to the design and synthesis of organic dyes. After graduating, she began her Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Chicago, where she continued her work on organic molecules for renewable energy.
UM Students Win Coveted Goldwater Scholarships Qing's Honors Theisis -
Reinhard “Matt” Knerr
Knerr, a biochemistry major, Stamps Scholar and Barksdale Award recipient, recently was named a 2022 Goldwater Scholar. His collegiate experience has been defined by service to the campus and Oxford communities, mainly focused on Hill County Roots, UM Green Roofs and UM Environmental Coalition. Since his graduation in 2023, he has gone onto attend Havard Medical School.
Three UM Students Named Goldwater Scholars Matt's Honors Thesis Stamps Scholars #MedSchoolMonday Interview -
William Meador
William Meador conducted research in the Delcamp Lab at the University of Mississippi, where he focused on developing improved near-infrared dyes for biological imaging, aiming to surpass the limitations of FDA-approved dyes like indocyanine green. His work earned him the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship and led to several publications, including a cover feature in The Journal of Organic Chemistry. After earning his Ph.D. in chemistry from Ole Miss, Meador became a research scientist in polymer chemistry and hybrid materials at UES, a BlueHalo Company.
UM Students Win Coveted Goldwater Scholarships William's Honors Thesis The Journal of Organic Chemistry LinkedIn
2019–2002 Goldwater Award Recipients
The Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry has produced Golwater Award Winners dating back to 2002, reflecting a long-standing tradition of academic excellence, leadership development, and commitment to public service. Over the years, our students have consistently earned prestigious national awards, underscoring the department’s role as a hub for high-achieving scholars and researchers at the University of Mississippi.
| Year | Name and Degree(s) |
|---|---|
| 2019 | Addison Rousch – B.S. Chemistry |
| 2012 | Nikki Reinemann – B.S. Chemistry; B.S. Chemical Engineering |
| 2010 | Anna "Hailey" Rubinstein – B.A. Chinese; B.A. Chemistry; B.S. Chemical Engineering |
| 2007 | Russell Brandon – B.S. Chemistry |
| 2005 | Adel Elsohly – B.S. Chemistry; B.S. Pharmaceutical Science |
| 2002 | Ryan Tomlinson – B.S. Forensic Chemistry |
| 2002 | Robert Sindelar – B.S. Chemistry |