Four LAS students nominated for Goldwater Scholarship

Author: Stacey Maifeld

Four Iowa State University students, all from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS), have been nominated for the prestigious 2025 Goldwater Scholarship. Universities are typically limited to four endorsed candidates each year.

The Goldwater Scholarship is the premier undergraduate scholarship in mathematics, natural sciences, and engineering in the United States. It is awarded by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, which was established in 1986. Given to outstanding undergraduates who wish to pursue careers in STEM research, the award recognizes the need for highly-qualified professionals in critical research fields. The award covers the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.

To apply for the scholarship, students must complete a competitive application process. A selection committee at Iowa State reviews the applications and determines which nominees to endorse and submit for consideration. The foundation will announce its 2025 winners at the end of March.

LAS nominees

Krishangee Bez

Krishangee Bez (’26 chemistry) plans to pursue a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry and aspires to become a university professor. Her research interests are focused on contributing solutions to energy security. Bez has completed a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at the University of Rochester in Raman spectroscopy, is an author on an academic paper associated with her research, and has presented her work at conferences. She is also a campus undergraduate research ambassador helping to organize Iowa State’s annual symposium.

Elizabeth Dougherty

Elizabeth Dougherty (’26 biochemistry) plans to pursue a Ph.D. in biochemistry, focusing on biomedical science. Dougherty is interested in a career in disease and drug development research and aspires to help develop effective therapies and a cure for Alzheimer’s. Dougherty has presented her research at a national conference and is a Stupka Undergraduate Research Symposium leader. She is studying abroad this semester at Kansai Gaidai University in Japan.

Emma Foley

Emma Foley (’27 chemistry) plans to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry and conduct sustainability-focused research at a government or industrial laboratory. Foley aspires to lead a research team to explore innovative solutions in green chemistry to impact areas such as water pollution, environmental degradation, and sustainable energy. Foley is a research intern at the Department of Energy’s Ames National Laboratory. She has also completed a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at the University of Mississippi. Foley will present research at a national conference this spring and plans to study abroad this summer in Valencia, Spain.

Sithmi Hewage

Sithmi Hewage (’26 chemistry) aims to pursue a Ph.D. in materials chemistry and build a research career focused on promoting sustainable energy growth. With interdisciplinary research experience across chemistry, chemical engineering, and materials science, Hewage would like to cross traditional lines between the fields and research renewable energy and energy efficiency in a national laboratory. She has conducted undergraduate research in multiple campus labs, presented work at national conferences, and participated in a Research Experience for Undergraduates at the University of Minnesota. Hewage also is a member of the Start Something LAS Academy and the STEM Scholars Program.