Elizabethtown College Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major Tristan Mabee ’24 was recently named a 2023 Barry Goldwater Scholar. This marks the third consecutive year that an Etown student has earned the prestigious honor.
“Elizabethtown College has provided me with a community of intelligent, hardworking, and friendly scientists that I am proud to call my colleagues and mentors,” Mabee said. “In addition to exceptional coursework that has included unique research projects in biology and chemistry, I have been able to be an active member of a research group since my first year. This unique opportunity has resulted in me receiving this honor, and as I continue to learn and grow at Etown, I am confident that this Scholarship will aid my goal of earning a Ph.D. in chemical synthesis.”
(L-R): Mabee and A. C. Baugher Professor of Chemistry, James MacKay conducting SCARP research.
Considered to be the country’s preeminent undergraduate scholarship award in natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering, the Goldwater Scholarship was designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue research careers in these fields.
From an estimated applicant pool of over 5,000 sophomores and juniors that were nominated by 427 institutions, Mabee was among a select group of only 413 students to receive the Scholarship.
During his time at the Etown, Mabee has been an active member of the campus community as an Honors and Momentum student, as well as a Co-Captain of Momentum’s Kinesis Peer Academic Advising Team. He has received numerous research grants, including a TriBeta Biological Honor Society grant and Etown’s Summer Enrichment Grant.
He has also spent the previous two summers on campus conducting research as part of the Summer Creative Arts and Research Program (SCARP). Mabee’s research has primarily focused on synthesizing tools to improve molecular recognition of ribonucleic acid (RNA) using a neutral nucleic acid analogue, called PNA.
About the Goldwater Scholars Program
The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation was established by Congress in 1986 to serve as a living memorial to honor the lifetime work of Senator Barry Goldwater. The program is in partnership with the Department of Defense National Defense Education Programs (NDEP) to help support scientific talent essential to maintaining the Nation’s competitive advantage.
Goldwater Scholars have gone on to win an impressive array of prestigious post-graduate fellowships, have published their research in leading professional journals, and have presented their work at professional society conferences.