Undergraduate Brian Wilson Named Goldwater Scholar
Senior Brian Wilson was recently awarded a Goldwater Scholarship, the premier undergraduate award of its type in mathematics, natural sciences and engineering.
The one- and two-year scholarships, awarded annually to outstanding second- and third-year college students, will cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.
Wilson’s research is focused on developing a new physical form of proteins that could drastically improve treatments for cancer and other diseases, as well as overcome some of the largest challenges in therapeutics: delivering drugs to patients safely, easily and more effectively.
Wilson is working with Professors Johnston, Truskett and Maynard to create a form of proteins that are packed into highly concentrated, nanometer-size clusters that can pass through a needle into a patient to treat disease — a development that could allow patients to self-administer drugs at home rather than be treated intravenously in a clinic or hospital.
“The Goldwater award is tremendous because it provides both financial support and recognition,” Wilson said. “This award affirms the value of research and course work I have done while financially supporting me so that I can focus more on those endeavors in the future.”
The 275 Goldwater Scholars were selected on the basis of academic merit from 1,095 mathematics, science and engineering students who were nominated by the faculties of colleges and universities nationwide. The Goldwater Foundation is a federally endowed agency established by Congress in 1986. The scholarship program honoring Sen. Barry M. Goldwater was designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering.
Tags: Brian Wilson, chemical engineering, engineering, Goldwater Scholarship, intravenous treatments, mathematics, scholarships, The University of Texas at Austin, treating cancer