Penn State University science student Jacob Wisser is the recipient of a Goldwater Scholarship from the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. The scholarship is the premier award of its type in the fields of mathematics, science, and engineering. Wisser is a physics major and mathematics minor in Penn State's Eberly College of Science Integrated Undergraduate Graduate Program, in which he will complete both bachelor of science and master of science degrees in physics in four years. Wisser also is a scholar in Penn State's Schreyer Honors College.
Two other Eberly College of Science students and Schreyer scholars -- Andrea Sylvia Biscoveanu, a physics and Spanish major and Ryan Creedon, a meteorology and mathematics major -- were awarded honorable mentions. Goldwater scholarships were awarded to 260 individuals for the 2015-16 academic year. The Goldwater Scholars are selected on the basis of academic merit from a field of more than 1,200 mathematics, science, and engineering students who were nominated by the faculties of colleges and universities nationwide.
Wisser, a junior from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, is an undergraduate researcher in Professor of Physics Nitin Samarth's lab, where he studies molecular beam epitaxial growth of thin films. His studies there include thermoelectric effects and efficient ways to transfer heat into electrical energy. He plans to continue his education, to obtain a doctorate degree in condensed- matter physics or materials science, and to perform research in an industrial or academic setting.
"My family is very excited and I have received a lot of calls from relatives," Wisser said. "I am excited, but I try to stay grounded. I want to thank my high school physics teacher, Mr. Jennings, for encouraging me to study physics. I knew I wanted to be in science because my mom would take me to science museums when I was a kid, but I wasn't sure what branch of science I wanted to go into. Mr. Jennings, who is a Penn State alumnus, told me, 'if you are going to try and understand the world, why wouldn't you try and do it through physics?'"
"The faculty and staff of the Eberly College of Science are rightly very proud of the achievements of all of our outstanding students, said Acting Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education in Penn State's Eberly College of Science Richard Robinett. "We applaud their efforts in taking full advantage of the research and other co-curricular activities that our college has to offer all of our majors, including our best and brightest."
"Winning a Goldwater or receiving an honorable mention are indications of the highest possible level of undergraduate research achievement," remarked Ruth M. Mendum, director of the Fellowships Office. "One of the most significant benefits of a Penn State education is the diversity and rigor of the research opportunities open to our students.
"As one of the top research universities in the world, Penn State has a strong commitment to nurturing undergraduate participation," said Dean of the Schreyer Honors College Christian Brady. "Jake won the Goldwater Scholarship due to his significant academic accomplishments. He is yet another example of our scholars not only achieving in their individual disciplines, but earning honors and recognition from prestigious organizations worldwide." Schreyer Honors Scholars are the top 2 percent of students at Penn State University who perform well academically and lead on campus.
The Goldwater Foundation is a federally endowed agency established in 1986 to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering.