BAE’s Crosby Awarded Goldwater Scholarship

LSU biological engineering junior and Honor College student, Tyler Crosby of Bush, La., has been awarded a prestigious, nationally competitive Goldwater Scholarship by the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program. The Goldwater Scholarship can be used to cover the cost of tuition, fees, books and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.

"Tyler represents the 'LSU Engineer' very well in that he has outstanding academic credentials, combined with an appreciation for important discovery, as well as strong communication skills," explains Dr. W. Todd Monroe, professor in biological and agricultural engineering. "Tyler is an outstanding biological engineering student researcher. Since joining our laboratory group last year, I have been very impressed with his diligence, analytical abilities, and troubleshooting skills."

Crosby will graduate from LSU in May 2011, and after graduation, he hopes to pursue a combined MD/PhD and conduct clinical research into genetic therapies for diseases.

"As a recipient of the Goldwater Scholarship I am proud to represent my community, school, and department on a national stage, and I am eternally grateful for the opportunities afforded to me at LSU as an engineering undergraduate," says Crosby, "My research experience has been a cornerstone of my undergraduate career, and this recognition will undoubtedly help me continue contributing to a field of study that has proven so rewarding for me"

Crosby was selected on the basis of academic merit from a field of 1,111 mathematics, science and engineering students who were nominated by the faculties of colleges and universities nationwide. One hundred fifty-six of the Scholars are men, 122 are women and virtually all intend to obtain a Ph.D. as their degree objective. Seventeen scholars are mathematics majors, 199 are science and related majors, 53 are majoring in engineering, and nine are computer science majors. Many of the scholars have dual majors in a variety of mathematics, science, engineering and computer disciplines.

"I intend to use my experience as a Goldwater Scholar as a springboard into my professional aspirations to earn an MD and PhD, enabling me to fulfill a goal of not only diagnosing and treating patients, but also finding new ways to overcome prominent ailments by researching new ideas in medicine and burgeoning fields in genetic research and therapies," Crosby explains.

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. In its 24-year history, the foundation has awarded 6,079 scholarships worth approximately $58 million.

"As I start preparing for graduation, I realize I owe my accomplishments to the support of a community and an institution that has become dedicated to excellence," explains Crosby, "I hope our state will continue to support the exemplary efforts and achievements of the LSU faculty, administration, and student body."

Rob Egnatchik, a recent alumna who won another National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship is currently representing the foundation while pursuing his PhD at Vanderbilt University. "Rob is an outstanding student who is representing LSU well up in Nashville," claims Monroe.

 

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Article by Crystal Jackson, College of Engineering Public Relations Graduate Assistant, 225-578-5706, mlavall@lsu.edu