Two Rutgers Students Named Goldwater Scholars

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NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – Rutgers students Robert Comito of Midland Park, a chemistry major, and Jennifer van Saders of Asbury, an astrophysics major, have been named Barry M. Goldwater Scholars, an award that recognizes outstanding academic achievement in mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering.

The scholarship, which honors the late Sen. Barry M. Goldwater, has been awarded to about 300 undergraduates annually since 1986 to support and encourage students to pursue careers in these fields. Recipients receive up to $7,500 annually for the remainder of their undergraduate careers to cover tuition and other student expenses

Comito and van Saders, both juniors, are among 321 undergraduate sophomores and juniors nationwide awarded scholarships this year and among 11 from New Jersey to be honored.

Students must have impressive academic records and submit information on their undergraduate research activities to qualify for the award. Both Rutgers students have participated in research through the Aresty Research Center, which facilitates undergraduate research projects and mentoring relationships with faculty for students in all disciplines.

His research, conducted with Chemistry Professor Spencer A. Knapp, focuses on the synthesis of selenium biomimetics. Biomimetics are molecules that mimic small molecules in nature. He credits Knapp for encouraging his interest in chemistry and for helping him secure summer internships at two major pharmaceutical companies – Sanofi Aventis and Merck.

 “At this point, I would be nowhere if I had no experience with undergraduate research. It’s essential,” Comito said.

Knapp had high praise for his mentee. “[Rob's] class performance and the breadth of his training exceed that of any undergraduate chemistry major I have mentored in the past 31 years,” he said in his recommendation for Comito’s scholarship. “I can safely predict an outstanding scientific and professional future for him.”

Van Saders’ interest in astronomy began early. “I was into star-gazing as a kid. … I love science and I love math,” she said.

At Rutgers, she finds herself in classes where, at most, two to three students are females. As a female astrophysics major with a 3.97 GPA, she sees her minority status as an advantage. “People are looking for female astrophysicists,” she said.

Van Saders began her undergraduate research through the Aresty Research Center and is doing an honors research project with Charles Keeton, an assistant professor of  physics and astronomy, on galaxy morphology and gravitational lensing – looking at how the shape of galaxies affect the properties of images seen in gravitational lensing.

Her research interests already have taken her to New Mexico, where she worked at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and spent time amidst the Very Large Array, 27 giant radio telescopes in the desert featured in Jodie Foster’s film, “Contact,” van Saders’ favorite movie. She also traveled to Hawaii to see the optical telescopes atop Mauna Kea.

“Rutgers has been wonderful,” van Saders said. “I had the good fortune of getting connected with people in the department very early through the Aresty program. It opens so many doors.”

Keeton said van Saders’ excitement about astrophysics is “deep and sincere.”

“Every aspect of research – learning about astronomical data, obtaining puzzling new results, figuring out how to interpret them … thrills her,” Keeton wrote in his recommendation for van Saders. “Rare is the undergraduate who can teach a professor about the excitement of learning.”

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, which administers the awards, is a federally endowed agency established by Congress to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians and engineers by awarding scholarships to outstanding college students who intend to pursue careers in these fields.

The federally endowed agency honors the late Goldwater, who served his country for 56 years as a soldier and statesman, including 30 years of service in the U.S. Senate.