Goldwater Scholarship

Goldwater Scholar Sofie Strompf is finding art in science

sholla4 — Wed, 06 May 2026 14:29:15 +0000

Goldwater Scholar Sofie Strompf is finding art in science sholla4 Wed, 05/06/2026 - 10:29

Left brained vs right brained, analytical vs creative: Art and science are often placed on opposite ends of the spectrum, two disciplines at war with one another. But for Sofie Strompf, Honors College student, neuroscience major, and recipient of a prestigious 2026 Goldwater Scholarship, the divide between the two is more a matter of perspective.

Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Strompf was a member of the Mason Nation long before beginning her undergraduate career. As a regular student, and then assistant administrator, at Acting for Young People through Mason Community Arts Academy, she developed a deep passion for theatre.

Strompf entered George Mason ready to take the stage. Initially a technical theater major, she was inspired by a literature review project in HNRS 110 Principles of Research and Inquiry to consider a different path.

“Because of my experiences with my dynamic disability [hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome], I was really interested in familial dysautonomia, a rare genetic condition that causes severe, degenerative dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, so I chose that as my topic,” she said. “I had never had a chance to research like this before. My literature review was way over the top for anything I needed to write, because I was so interested in the topic.”

Strompf reached out to Ali Andalibi, previous senior associate dean for research for the College of Science, for mentorship as she explored the possibilities in more research-focused pathways. During her second year at Mason, she completed research with Andalibi with the support of an Undergraduate Research Scholars Program (URSP) grant from George Mason’s Office of Student Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR) and interned at the Medical University of South Carolina. These experiences affirmed her love of science and research, and she transitioned to the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience.

“Research is just identifying a problem and coming up with a way to look at that problem from a bunch of different angles to understand it better and thinking outside the box to solve it. That in itself is a creative process,” she said. “So I think that having this background in creative arts and humanities has actually made me a better researcher from the start.”

With her love of research, Strompf’s academic career has developed as much in the lab as in the classroom. Under the guidance of Professor Lance Liotta and Postdoctoral Research Fellow Marissa Howard, she’s been supporting and developing research projects in the Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine (CAPMM) for the past four years. Last year, her work in the lab was supported by an National Institutes of Health Diversity Supplemental research grant. This grant bolstered her experiences in the lab, leading her to develop her own hypothesis regarding secretory mitophagy (a new process of cellular mitochondrial recycling discovered by CAPMM researchers) as it relates to neurodegenerative disease. She hopes to continue research related to this hypothesis as a PhD student after graduating in 2027.

Strompf delivering a presentation. Photo provided.

There’s another angle to Strompf’s work as well: advocacy and policy. “I’m trying to be part of this movement of young, early career scientists and researchers who really want to share all these cool new discoveries with the public and the world,” she said.

For her, that includes outreach work as part of the Nexus234 Innovation District, teaching local elementary, middle, and high school students about cells during Nanotechnology Day and other community events; serving as a mentor for the Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP); and mentoring other undergraduate students as an OSCAR Peer Leader.

She also actively advocates through her positions on the State Council for Higher Education for Virginia’s (SCHEV) Disabilities Access to Higher Education Advisory Committee, Council for Undergraduate Research (CUR), and the Scientist Network for Advancing Policy (SNAP).

“I’ve worked closely with a lot of SCHEV staff to talk about disability policy and draft policy recommendations, as well as lobbying and meeting state representatives to share why inclusion and accessibility matter,” she said.

Receiving a Goldwater Scholarship, which recognizes students with the potential to be the next generation of research leaders, is a true testament to her dedication and perseverance.

Megan Bruening, director of the Office of Fellowship, said, “it has been our pleasure to work with Sofie and watch her grow over the course of her undergraduate career at Mason. Her intellectual curiosity, impressive work ethic, and determination to serve others makes her stand out as a promising STEM researcher.”

“Often, there is hardly any representation in science for students with disabilities, and it can be hard not to feel alone or unwelcome,” Strompf said. “Receiving the Goldwater Scholarship is especially meaningful in this context, as I feel like it validates both my place in science and that of other students with disabilities. Despite the challenges I have faced, a team of accomplished, established scientists believes in me and my potential to contribute meaningfully to my field.”

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Bioengineering undergrad Medhini Sosale awarded prestigious Goldwater scholarship

Rena Malai — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 18:45:45 +0000

Bioengineering undergrad Medhini Sosale awarded prestigious Goldwater scholarship Rena Malai Tue, 04/12/2022 - 14:45

In This Story

Parag Chitnis, Ph.D.

When George Mason Bioengineering undergrad Medhini Sosale was a child, she loved trivia and had a curiosity about everything around her. This knack for questioning her world led her to pursue a career in STEM research, and more recently, win the Barry Goldwater scholarship.

The scholarship is one of the highest rewards in the U.S. for undergrad students interested in developing STEM research careers, with winners receiving up to $7,500 annually. Sosale sees her win as not only helping her towards her career goals, but financially freeing up her time to delve into research more fully.

“I don’t really personally know many people who have pursued PhDs,” says Sosale, an Honors College student. “This scholarship offers a big community network of recent scholars and I’m excited to draw from this network, for general career advice and advice about graduate school.”

She says being inquisitive probably played a part for her in going after the scholarship. The application process has several steps, and Sosale made sure to start early and find out every detail she could about what she needed to submit. Although the application required one research essay, Sosale wrote two. She then worked with Karen Lee, her scholarship mentor, and other members in the Mason Office of Fellowships to decide which essay would work best.

Her essay work on research project Modelling Cerebral Blood Flow to Optimize Ischemic Stroke Treatment was the winning choice. The project focuses on studying the effects of various factors on ischemic stroke treatment. She also previously worked on a project with Parag Chitnis, assistant professor in Bioengineering, to develop a 3-D cell model that examines the barrier between the brain and the blood stream.

“I am very grateful to now be a Goldwater scholar,” says Sosale. “It definitely wasn’t a one - person process. There were a lot of people behind the scenes that helped me get here and I want to thank each and every one of them.”

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 Sen. Barry Goldwater. The Goldwater Scholarship Program identifies and supports college sophomores and juniors who show exceptional promise of becoming the next research leaders in the fields of engineering, mathematics, and natural science.

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Medhini Sosale Earns Prestigious Goldwater Scholarship

Wasiq Muhammad Muhammad Ali — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 01:52:08 +0000

Medhini Sosale Earns Prestigious Goldwater Scholarship Wasiq Muhammad… Mon, 04/11/2022 - 21:52

In This Story

Juan Cebral

Medhini Sosale, a junior studying bioengineering, was selected as a recipient of the Goldwater Scholarship. The award, established by Congress in 1986 in honor of U.S. Sen. Barry M. Goldwater, fosters and encourages outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering.

Since her freshman year at Mason, Sosale has worked rigorously on multiple neurological research endeavors. In her first year of her undergraduate study, Sosale began working with bioengineering professor Juan Cebral, who introduced her to new areas of bioengineering and computational research.

In Fall 2021, Sosale worked with bioengineering associate professor Parag Chitnis who is experimenting with ultrasound technology to deliver drugs. In his lab, Sosale studied the blood-brain barrier of rat brains, which in both humans and in rats, is a protective boundary that keeps bacteria, fungi, parasites, and other organisms from penetrating the brain.

Dr. Jan Allbeck, the Associate Dean of the Honors College, who helped Sosale prepare her application for the Goldwater Scholarship says of Sosale, “Medhini is both a learner and a doer. Outside of the classroom, she's been done research in multiple labs on campus and participated in several environmental justice organizations that have helped shape her research interests.”

Students like Sosale encapsulate Mason’s spirit of innovative and engaging undergraduate scholarship. Next year, the Goldwater Scholarship, which provides up to $7,500 as a stipend to its recipients will allow Sosale to continue her research, and help propel her academic career forward. Aspiring to pursue a PhD in conservation biology or a related field, Sosale is in good company amongst other Goldwater recipients, many of whom, like Jackie Luu, Karen Therrien, Rebecca Beuschel, also hail from Mason’s Honors College.

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Jackie Luu’s academic excellence, conservation research led to Goldwater Scholarship

John Hollis — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 18:52:52 +0000

Jackie Luu’s academic excellence, conservation research led to Goldwater Scholarship John Hollis Mon, 04/05/2021 - 14:52

Mason junior Jackie Luu was named a recipient of the Goldwater Scholarship. Photo provided

Jackie Luu, a junior Environmental Science and Policy major from Glen Allen, Virginia, is 91��’s first-ever Barry M. Goldwater Scholar from the Department of Environmental Science and Policy within the College of Science.

Luu, a member of Mason’s Honors College, was among the 410 students chosen nationally as 2021 scholars and will receive a $7,500 stipend that will help her cover tuition and room and board next year.

“My immediate reaction was just shock,” Luu said. “I’m honored and I think it will help open a lot of doors for me as a scholar.”

The Goldwater Scholarship, established by Congress in 1986 in honor of U.S. Sen. Barry M. Goldwater, fosters and encourages outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering. It is considered the premier undergraduate award of its type in these fields.

The Goldwater Scholars were chosen on the basis of academic merit from a pool of 1,256 natural science, engineering and mathematics students nominated by the institutional representatives of 438 colleges and universities nationwide. Nearly all of the scholars intend to obtain a doctoral degree.

“It’s a great honor to be chosen,” she said.

LaNitra M. Berger, who is Mason’s senior director of fellowships in the Office of Undergraduate Education, called Luu a dedicated researcher and a pleasure with whom to work.

“I am thrilled that she won the Goldwater, and that she represents Mason and its commitment to academic excellence so well,” Berger said.

Luu, 21, who credited Mason faculty among her mentors for their critical help in her application process, is no stranger to academic success. An excellent high school student, she was recruited to Mason as a Smithsonian-Mason Scholar and spent the Fall 2020 semester at the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation in Front Royal, Virginia.

“Jackie is an avid and talented young conservationist who has been one of the most active students with SMSC,” said Robert Barrett, the school’s assistant director of recruitment and outreach.

Luu enjoyed her time doing research in Front Royal. "It was great and showed me there are lots of different opportunities in the field and helped fuel my passion for doing research,” she said.

She worked with her mentor, Karen T. Lee, and a committee of advisors in preparing her Goldwater application. A Mason faculty committee selected the university’s nominees for the national competition.

Luu’s research essay centered on work she’s currently doing with Lee on color variations within female green crabs. The two will soon co-author a paper with their findings.

Lee, assistant director for Mason’s Office of Student Scholarship, Creative Activities, and Research (OSCAR) and a member of the university’s Goldwater Committee, said Luu’s selection has made her “proud and excited.”

“This is something that can really be a huge boost to a student’s career,” said Lee, an affiliate faculty member in Mason’s Departments of Biology and Environmental Science and Policy. “This is a big deal.”

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation has awarded 9,457 scholarships since 1989.

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Mason junior Lara Kamal, aspiring astrophysicist, awarded prestigious Goldwater Scholarship

ckearney — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 15:35:24 +0000

Mason junior Lara Kamal, aspiring astrophysicist, awarded prestigious Goldwater Scholarship ckearney Wed, 04/08/2020 - 11:35

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Goldwater Scholar Sofie Strompf is finding art in science

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Bioengineering undergrad Medhini Sosale awarded prestigious Goldwater scholarship

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