For the first time in Southwestern University’s distinguished history, a student has received the Barry Goldwater Scholarship. Brian Armijo ’25, a junior biochemistry and mathematics double major, has been awarded a distinguished, nationally competitive prize for students pursuing research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering.
“When I saw all the doors that this scholarship could open, I immediately thought it was something I have to apply for,” Armijo said. “I was familiar that it wasn’t something that a lot of people here at Southwestern apply for, so I thought I absolutely should go for it.”
The award, established by the United States Congress in 1986 to honor Senator Barry Goldwater, helps ensuring that the country produces enough highly qualified workers in important STEM subjects.
Armijo is now pursuing undergraduate research with Dr. Maha Zewail-Foote at Southwestern and Dr. Devleena Samanta at the University of Texas, whom he met through a National Science Foundation-funded internship in 2022. Last summer, he also collaborated with Dr. Julian West of Rice University in Houston.
“The scholarship is really the signifier that Brian has great potential for a future career in research, which is fantastic.” – Alexandra Anderson, Senior Associate Director of the Center for Career & Professional Development
“The Goldwater Scholarship committee expects the winners to have one or more published experiences,” Senior Associate Director of the Center for Career & Professional Development (CCPD) Alexandra Anderson stated. “That is the true winner here. Yes, there is money involved, but the scholarship truly demonstrates Brian’s potential for a future career in research, which is amazing.”
Armijo, the first Southwestern student to receive a Goldwater Scholarship, knows the significance of this honor for the university’s future.
“It makes me very excited for new researchers that are coming up through Southwestern because I can act as a source of advice and guidance for them,” he went on to say. “It’s really exciting to have a framework set up for not just our chemistry program, but all of our different STEM departments, because the application process can be overwhelming at first glance.”
Armijo spent several months working with Anderson and the CCPD to write and build his application, beginning with the first step of selecting overarching themes and ending with the final changes.
“[The CCPD] was really influential in getting my application tied together in as nice of a way as it was,” Armijo said. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it without corresponding with Alexandra.”
“Southwestern has allowed me to get to a point where I’m confident in what I am going to do moving forward post undergraduate.” – Brian Armijo ’25
