Illinois Students Win Top Research Award

By Andi Anderson

Four juniors from the University of Illinois have been named recipients of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, a prestigious national award recognizing undergraduate students with strong potential in research within the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering.

The scholarships were awarded through a collaboration between UWorld and the U.S. Department of Defense National Defense Education Programs. For the 2025–26 academic year, 441 students across the country were chosen from a competitive pool of 1,350 nominees representing 445 institutions.

This year’s Illinois recipients include David Balut, Alyssa Shih, Dmitriy Shvydkoy, and Annie Zeng. Their selection highlights the university's continued excellence in supporting undergraduate research and scholarship. Illinois is recognized as a top producer of Goldwater Scholars, joining ranks with prestigious institutions like Columbia and Stanford.

David Balut, who plans to pursue a Ph.D. in physics, is engaged in research related to condensed matter physics and is particularly interested in how the physics of black holes may be reflected in certain materials. He has contributed to significant studies involving inelastic scattering and magnetic properties at national labs.

Alyssa Shih aims to obtain a doctorate in atmospheric sciences, with her work focusing on storm systems and their impact on weather forecasting. Her past experiences include internships with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Science Foundation.

Dmitriy Shvydkoy is passionate about number theory and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in mathematics. His work includes studying complex mathematical structures and participating in research programs at both Rutgers University and Argonne National Laboratory.

Annie Zeng is exploring advanced studies in either mathematics or computer science. Her interests lie in combinatorics and theoretical computer science, with research experience under professors at the University of Illinois and through programs at Rutgers University.

The Goldwater Scholarship remains one of the highest honours for undergraduate researchers in STEM fields, aiming to support and encourage future leaders in scientific discovery and innovation.

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