LSU Ogden Honors College Student Named 2026 Astronaut Scholar

David Nguyen, a rising senior in the College of Science majoring in physics and a student in the Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College, has been named a 2026 Astronaut Scholar by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF). He is one of 79 students selected nationwide that will receive up to $15,000 in financial support, along with mentorship from industry leaders and a fully funded trip to the ASF's Innovators Symposium and Gala in Houston this August.

Built on Curiosity

Growing up watching his father work as a machinist, David Nguyen developed a curiosity early on about how materials behave. That curiosity carried him from an LSU classroom to a physics research lab and now, to being awarded one of the most competitive STEM scholarships in the country.

Nguyen works with high entropy alloys in David Young's materials physics lab on LSU's campus. These metals are made by combining typically five or more elements in roughly equal parts, rather than the one or two elements found in most conventional metals. The unusual composition gives these materials unexpected properties, like superconductivity, or the ability of certain materials to conduct electricity with zero resistance when cooled to a specific temperature.

Nguyen is examining this superconductivity, with a focus on finding ways to push that temperature threshold higher. Doing so successfully could make superconducting materials more practical for real-world applications in energy and technology. It's work that sits at the edge of what's known in condensed matter physics, and it's exactly the kind of research Nguyen plans to pursue after graduation.

After earning his degree, Nguyen plans to pursue a Ph.D. in physics and continue research into new methods of synthesis and characterization of superconducting alloys, which could have broad implications for energy efficiency and emerging technologies.

How the Ogden Honors College Prepared Him

Nguyen arrived at LSU as a self-described "unprepared incoming freshman." The Ogden Honors College, he says, changed that quickly.

"David is very modest—he arrived with all the tools necessary to excel," said Jonathan Earle, Dean of the Ogden Honors College. "But he also took advantage of the great opportunities at the OHC and our Fellowships office. I can’t wait to see what he does next."

For Nguyen, a first-generation college student, those connections meant something beyond academics. "I attended a few events in the Honors College and was treated like family," he said. "I heard a lot of interesting stories and experiences across different disciplines at LSU, which helped me learn more about different opportunities available."

The Ogden Honors College played a direct role in his path to the Astronaut Scholarship. Joe Givens, Manager of Fellowships and Honorific Scholarships, connected Nguyen with the opportunity and worked closely with him throughout the application process. "[Dr. Givens] discussed his own experience and provided meaningful critiques that helped me develop my scholarship submissions and hone in my research topics," Nguyen said.

“ The Honors College prepares you in every area necessary to succeed in college. It enables you to gain experience, discover different opportunities, and meet amazing mentors and peers. ”

He also credits Director of Career Development Cindy Seghers, who he said helped him prioritize his interests over the past two years.

The practical benefits of being an Ogden Honors College student at LSU mattered early on, too. Priority scheduling, smaller class sizes, and a dedicated advisor helped Nguyen navigate his first year and build the academic foundation his research career now rests on. “The smaller course sizes helped me focus better and form study groups easier,” he said.

About the Astronaut Scholarship

The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation was established in 1984 by the six surviving Mercury 7 astronauts to help ensure the United States would maintain its status as a world leader in science and technology. The scholarship, one of the most prestigious STEM awards available to undergraduate students, is open to juniors and seniors pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Since 1986, more than $10 million has been awarded to over 900 students nationwide.

Nguyen will be honored alongside the full 2026 class of Astronaut Scholars at the Innovators Symposium & Gala on August 13-15 in Houston, Texas.