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Stephanie Radu, sophomore
CAS student receives an honorable mention from the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship[04.06.2015]
TAMPA, Fla. -- Stephanie Radu of the University of South Florida College of Arts and Sciences received an honorable mention for her application to the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, the most prestigious undergraduate award for science research. Applicants must write a rigorous research proposal as part of their application. The award can be used for educational expenses including research support.
Radu is an Honors College sophomore majoring in biology. Since fall 2013, Radu has been a research assistant in Marcia Gordon’s lab at the USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute. As a member of the lab, Radu aids in research focused on developing neuroprotective experimental therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease based on the role of glial cells and neuroinflamattion.
Radu is very passionate about serving her community. She founded and is the president of Hope for the Homeless at USF. The club aims to volunteer, fundraise and distribute care packages locally throughout the Tampa Bay area to those in need. Radu is an active volunteer at two free health care clinics, the SPCA, Surfers for Autism, and in her free time, she trains rescued and off-the-track horses at a local horse rescue. Since her freshman year, Radu has enjoyed competing for USF’s Surf Team and Equestrian Team.
Radu plans on pursuing an M.D./Ph.D. degree in neuroscience and a career focused on molecular therapeutics aimed at neurological disease in-utero. As the procedure-based prenatal field is still emerging, she plans to utilize her current research exploring gene therapeutics and future research to build the field, develop successful and safe drug therapeutics aimed at preventing initial disease progression and neurological damage, and sequentially to standardize the methods needed to modernize less invasive in-utero procedures. Radu aspires to teach at a university level and to act as a mentor who inspires students to explore research in the neuroscience field.
The Office of National Scholarships identifies, recruits and mentors high-achieving students to apply for national merit scholarships across all disciplines. The scholarships and fellowships are for creative, motivated and academically strong students who are leaders in and out of the classroom.
The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program was established by Congress in 1986 to honor Sen. Barry M. Goldwater, who served his country for 56 years as a soldier and statesman, including 30 years of service in the U.S. Senate. The purpose of the Foundation is to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians and engineers by awarding scholarships to college students who intend to pursue careers in these fields.
Filed under:Arts and Sciences Student Success Integrative Biology CreditsAuthor:Lauren Chambers, MPH Contact:lschumac@honors.usf.edu