Growing into a Goldwater Scholar

BY CAITLYN COLEMAN, MICROBIOLOGY, CLASS OF ‘23

THREE YEARS AGO, I had no idea what a Goldwater award was. I was a bright-eyed 18-year-old student with big dreams of starting her own biotechnology company. I had everything planned out - the company had a name and I knew who I wanted to partner with. That’s the goal I shared with Dr. Basu, Director of the Office of National Scholars, in our initial meeting.

But by the end of my first year at USF, my career path had completely changed. I was selected to participate in a coursebased undergraduate research program called the Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) program, led by Dr. Pollenz. Jumping into research was challenging, but I found it was my favorite part of the day, which led me to apply to be a teaching assistant the following year. I loved teaching and sought out additional opportunities including working as a Peer Mentor for the Judy Genshaft Honors College, where I helped new Honors students acclimate to college. The following year I advanced to being a Peer Mentor Lead, collaborating with the rest of the PML team to develop the Canvas course for Honors Foundations. These activities were gratifying, but I initially saw them as separate from my passion for biotechnology.

Through my conversations with Dr. Basu, I learned to take a step back and reevaluate my goals and consider the impact I could have as a scientist. The joy I gained from mentorship and teaching combined with my love of research align with the work of college professors. In addition to providing mentorship about career paths, the Office of National Scholars supports students through the intricacies of applying for opportunities that support those career goals. For me, that meant Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs), which are specific research programs hosted by universities across the nation. These programs offer paid, intensive summer research experiences on topics not offered at USF, along with networking and mentorship from faculty who are the top in their field. Dr. Basu served as my mentor, guiding me through the application process, which involved writing a personal statement, submitting letters of recommendation, and other program-specific elements.

I conducted research both at USF and through REUs at Cornell University and the University of Georgia. At USF I was a part of SEA-PHAGES, SEA-GENES (Gene-function Exploration by a Network of Emerging Scientists), and worked on the USF Venice Project with anthropology faculty Dr. Vianello. I am currently completing my Honors thesis in the Zalamea lab, which investigates the impact of microbes in the soil on forest ecosystems. Dr. Basu believed my research journey made me a strong candidate for the Barry Goldwater Award, which recognizes excellence in STEM with tuition assistance for STEM degrees. Learning how to communicate my research interests and experiences for REU applications prepared me to complete the Goldwater application and I was honored to be named as a 2022 Goldwater Scholar.

My sincerest gratitude to my mentors at USF, Cornell University, and the University of Georgia. I aspire to provide my future students with the same support and encouragement I had during my undergraduate studies and continue to create opportunities for future student scientists.