FAU Students Named Goldwater Scholars for Research Excellence

I am proud to share that two Florida Atlantic University students have been awarded the 2025 Barry Goldwater Scholarship, the most prestigious national research fellowship for undergraduate students. Congratulations to Aiden Geleta and Vincent Stafford, who were recognized for their extraordinary research achievements. This is the fourth consecutive year that Florida Atlantic undergraduates have been recognized as Goldwater Scholars. Geleta and Stafford join seven other exceptional Owls who have earned this national distinction since 2022.

A select 441 college students from across the United States were awarded Goldwater scholarships for the 2025-26 academic year, out of an estimated pool of 1,350 science, engineering and mathematics students nominated by 445 academic institutions. The scholarship program honoring U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater was designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue research careers in these fields.

Geleta is a junior behavioral neuroscience major at the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College. Her current research, under her research mentor Erik Duboué, Ph.D., examines the effects of early life stress on neuroanatomical development using the zebrafish model. Geleta plans to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience and will work to uncover the biological basis for psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. Inspired by her work at the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute Mobile Minds program, she also intends to continue her efforts in community engagement while working to become a professor who mentors and teaches future generations.

Stafford is a junior interdisciplinary mathematical sciences major at the Wilkes Honors College, with an emphasis on computational math. Within his current research, he seeks to understand algorithmic processes using mathematical techniques, from neural networks to data structures. He published a paper with the aerospace engineering department of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and his research mentor is Terje Hill, Ph.D. Following his anticipated graduation in Spring 2026, Stafford plans to pursue a Ph.D. in computational mathematics or optimization and an industry research position.

Geleta and Stafford applied for the Goldwater Scholarship with assistance from Florida Atlantic’s Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry and Prestigious Fellowships.

The multi-year recognition of Florida Atlantic students as Goldwater Scholars is a testament to the outstanding academic opportunities and support they receive from the outset of their undergraduate experience. Thank you to our faculty and staff who continue to guide and mentor our students toward research excellence as we accelerate our momentum as a Carnegie R1 institution. Congratulations once again to Aiden and Vincent on this well-deserved achievement!