Arts & Science is proud to share that three College of Arts & Science students have been recognized as 2022 Goldwater Scholars. Established in 1986, the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation awards outstanding undergraduate students who intend to pursue research careers in the fields of the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics.
NYU nominated four students — the maximum amount allowed — and is one of only 19 institutions to receive four Goldwater Scholars this year: Ari Davydov (CAS '24), Alexa Tartaglini (CAS '23), Sammy Tavassoli (Gallatin '23), and Andreas Tsantilas (CAS '23).
Ari Davydov is a Biology and Philosophy double major, recognized for their research in cell motility and biomechanics. They joined NYU's Bhabha/Ekiert Lab while still a junior in High School, in a summer volunteer position: "It was fairly small and just starting out, so I worked very closely with my mentor and collected a wide range of wet lab skills, and got a lot of practice presenting my work which I'm grateful for." Their advice to students interested in research is to show interest and knowledge when reaching out to labs: "I would read their most recent publications and send specific questions to grad students and PIs," they explain. Ari credits Professors Gira Bhabha and Damian Ekiert, as well as administrator Kurt Davies at NYU's Office of Global Awards, as key resources through their research journey and the Goldwater Scholarship application process. Ari will expand their research experience through an upcoming Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship at Rockefeller University, and plans to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. in the future.
Alexa Tartaglini is a Computer Science and Mathematics double major, recognized for her research into developing and improving computer-vision capabilities. "I came into NYU looking for research opportunities at the intersection of psychology and AI despite having limited experience with either," she says. "My time at the Human & Machine Learning Lab has not only allowed me to explore and discover my interests, but it has also allowed me to develop confidence as a researcher." Alexa praises NYU's research community at large as "incredibly dynamic and welcoming," adding that she "found the numerous colloquia, symposia, and lectures hosted nearly constantly on campus to be highly inspiring and worthwhile." She hopes to begin her Ph.D. in the next fall, continuing her work in neural networks, and urges incoming students to not be intimidated by research. "Everyone has to start somewhere, and potential mentors will understand this. … What’s more important is to be persistent — continuing to email professors for research opportunities, even if the first few don’t respond — and to be passionate about the work."
Andreas Tsantilas is a Physics and Mathematics double major, recognized for his astrophysics research into dark matter and quantum computing. He cited the Undergraduate Research Fair, held annually by the Physics Department, as "a wonderful opportunity to learn about the research of other professors and chat with them one-on-one," and expressed gratitude for CAS's DURF grants, "which enabled me to present my results at national conferences." In advising students, Andreas says "Don’t be afraid to reach out to your professors! Oftentimes, they are happy to help out undergrads any way they can." He adds that STEM professors often seek students with coding experience, "so it could be useful to have a language like Python under your belt." Andreas also hopes to continue his studies on dark matter in pursuit of a doctorate — "Of course, I’ll keep an open mind as I continue to engage with new ideas!"