Three Rice students named Goldwater Scholars

Rice University announced undergraduates Juhye Lee, Stephanie Tzouanas and Jeanette Wat as Goldwater Scholars for 2012.

The honor is bestowed by the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation to recognize exceptional achievement in math, science and engineering. Lee, Tzouanas and Wat are among the 282 students chosen by college and university faculty nationwide to be given the distinction. Recipients receive one and two-year scholarships at a maximum of $7,500 per year.

Lee, a junior majoring in biochemistry and cell biology, is also a recipient of the Wagner Foreign Study Scholarship and plans to spend her summer at the University College of London researching protein folding. She serves as executive editor of the university's undergraduate research journal, Catalyst, plays violin with the Texas Medical Center Orchestra and volunteers with the Crisis Intervention of Houston suicide hotline. Following graduation, she plans to focus her research on the pathology and pathogenesis of disease as she works to earn a dual medical and philosophy doctorate.

Sophomore Tzouanas is majoring in bioengineering with a minor in anthropology. Since her senior year of high school, her research has focused on bone regeneration, and she has co-authored three published papers on the subject. In addition to her volunteer work at the Texas Children's Hospital and mentorship duties for the hospital's high school advisory board, she co-chairs the Rice Undergraduate Research Symposium and the Rice Center for Engineering Leadership's Engineering Houston's Future Conference. She also serves as vice president for the Rice Biomedical Engineering Society and the Rice Society of Women Engineers.

Wat is a sophomore majoring in biochemistry and cell biology, chemistry and psychology. After performing experiments in several areas of biological science, she decided it was genes that particularly interested her. Her recent work includes the study of treatment effectiveness when compared to genetic variance in cocaine-dependent patients. Upon graduation, Wat intends to work toward a doctorate in human genetics.

For more information on the Goldwater Foundation and the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship Program, visit www.federalgrantswire.com/barry-m-goldwater-scholarship-program.html.

The Rice University campus is located near 6100 main St. in Houston. For more information, visit www.rice.edu.