 | Juniors Aaron Ring, Bennett Lane and Cassie Stoddard are among the 317 Goldwater Scholarship winners nationwide. |
Three Yale juniors were among the 317 undergraduates nationwide to receive a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship to pursue careers in mathematics, engineering or science during the 2007-2008 academic year.
The Yale winners are:
A native of Waco, Texas, Lane went to high school in Chattanooga, Tennessee. At Yale, he majors in molecular biophysics and biochemistry and works in the lab of Susan Baserga, conducting research on the maturation of ribosomal RNA.
Getting a better understanding of the production of the ribosome, which translates genetic information to form proteins, is "very basic" science, says Lane, who got hooked on science as a freshman taking organic chemistry. "Yale is one of a handful of places conducting research in this particular field of ribosome biogenesis," notes Lane, a resident of Pierson College. "Having a medical school expands the range of possibilities" for developing clinical applications for scientists' findings. With a passion for pure science at its most fundamental -- and complicated -- Lane hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in biochemistry after graduating from Yale next year with B.S. and M.S. degrees.
Stoddard, from Alexandria, Virginia, does research in the ornithology lab of Richard Prum, where she is part of the effort to unlock the mysteries of bird vision.
The evolution of bird feather patterns is connected to the very complex system of avian vision, says Stoddard, noting that the color of many kinds of bird feathers is produced by the peculiar interaction of certain tiny biological structures and light. Decoding the evolutionary patterns of these "structural" colors, in addition to those produced by molecular pigments, she says, can reveal a great deal about avian vision.
Stoddard, a resident of Morse College, is working on a computer program that will map "bird color space" to determine precisely what colors birds can see. She notes that her research "bridges biology, physics and computer science in a new way." An accomplished violinist who plays in the Yale Symphony Orchestra, she hopes to pursue an academic career in evolutionary science.
Ring, who hails from Spokane, Washington, works in the lab of Richard Lifton, conducting research on the genetic causes of hypertension.
It is well known that diet, genes and environment can affect blood pressure, notes Ring, and his particular area of investigation focuses on how genetic mutations cause cardiovascular disease, the world's leading cause of death. While Ring has a passion for basic scientific research on physiology at the molecular level, he also takes an interest in the clinical applications of his work. His hands-on experience screening patients for high blood pressure has taught him a lot, he says, and he intends to combine scientific research with the healing arts in his future career.
Ring intends to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. after graduating from Yale with bachelor's and master's degrees next year. Ring keeps his own blood pressure down by playing the cello and going downhill skiing in his free time.
The Goldwater Scholars were selected on the basis of academic merit from a field of 1,110 mathematics, science and engineering students who were nominated by the faculties of colleges and universities nationwide. The one- and two-year scholarships provide up to $7,500 per year.
T H I S
Three student scientists win
Goldwater Scholarships
Bennett Lane
Mary Caswell ("Cassie") Stoddard
Aaron Ring
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