Murrieta Resident Wins Coveted Goldwater Grant

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Three UC Riverside undergraduates are among nearly 500 students nationwide selected for prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Foundation grants intended to promote advancements in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, campus officials announced Wednesday.

Anthony Cort of Huntington Beach, Amrik Kang of Murrieta and Catherine Seo of La Canada-Flintridge were chosen for the foundation's 2019-20 round of scholarship awards, competing with more than 5,000 other college-level researchers who submitted applications.

"This is the first time that our campus has been awarded three Goldwaters," said Gladis Herrera-Berkowitz, director of student engagement. "I am very proud that UCR is one of the top producing Goldwaters in the UC system. This demonstrates the great mentorship that students received from faculty on our campus."

The Goldwater Foundation narrowed its list of candidates who merited awards to 496. Only one of the UCR campus-endorsed undergraduates was not selected, according to officials.

Cort, Kang and Seo will each receive $7,500 for tuition and other needs.

Cort is a developmental biology major conducting research on infectious diseases. He plans to pursue a doctorate in molecular biology.

Kang is also a biology major, interested in a career researching drugs that may prove effective arresting cancer and counteracting macular degeneration.

Seo is a general science major who has conducted research on biodegradable orthopedics and neurological implants. Her goal is to design biodegradable products that aid in regenerating damaged or broken tissues.

A total of 11 UCR students have received Goldwater awards since 2013, according to the university.

— By City News Service