Goldwater Scholar

Goldwater Scholar

Ohio Wesleyan Student Ian Sander Earns National Award to Support Tobacco-Oral Cancer Research

DELAWARE, Ohio - Ohio Wesleyan University student Ian Sander has been named a 2026-2027 Goldwater Scholar by the prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. The highly competitive Goldwater Scholarship is widely considered the preeminent undergraduate award for students pursuing degrees in mathematics, science, or engineering.

A junior from Pemberville, Ohio, Sander is one of 454 college sophomores and juniors nationwide selected to receive a Goldwater Scholarship this cycle. He was chosen from a pool of 1,485 students nominated nationwide. The one- and two-year Goldwater Scholarships provide up to $7,500 a year for college costs.

At Ohio Wesleyan, Sander is pursuing a triple major in Microbiology, Pre-Dentistry, and Psychology, combined with a minor in Chemistry. After earning his OWU diploma, he plans to pursue dual Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) and Doctor of Oral Biology (Ph.D.) degrees.

"I am so incredibly excited and honored to have been selected as a Goldwater Scholar," Sander said. "This recognition is a significant milestone in my journey as a researcher, and it is a testament to the incredible community of scientists and educators who have supported my work in microbiology and tobacco regulatory science. Exploring the complexities of the microbiome has been a defining part of my undergraduate career, and I am more motivated than ever to contribute to the future of dental and oncological research."

Sander's work to date has included earning an OWU Connection grant to study the ecological and health implications of gut microbiome diversity in fish, completed with two other students under the mentorship of Biological Sciences faculty Andrea Suria, Ph.D., and Shala Hankison, Ph.D. The students presented their research at the 2026 Ohio Branch American Society for Microbiology meeting, and Sander will present it in August in New Zealand at the 20th International Symposium on Microbial Ecology. He is also preparing their findings for submission to a peer-reviewed microbiology journal.

Sander said this university-supported research helped to build the foundation for his tobacco-oral cancer work.

"I mastered the techniques of sample collection, DNA extraction, and chemical testing, as well as experience in experimental study design and grant writing," he said. "Most importantly, I developed an understanding of how the environment shapes the biological community."

Sander's work with tobacco and oral cancer began with the Ohio 5 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Program (OH5 SURE), through which he explored the implications of e-cigarette use at The Ohio State University's Tobacco Center for Regulatory Science (TCORS) and College of Public Health.

He will return to TCORS this summer to research methods to help tobacco users successfully switch from cigarettes and smokeless tobacco to lower-risk oral nicotine pouches, as well as investigate how switching products affects the microbes in their mouths, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, and their genes.

"We aim to inform FDA regulations designed to reduce the disease burden of tobacco use by fostering complete switching to a less harmful product among established smokers and smokeless tobacco users," Sander said. "This research sits at the fascinating intersection of microbiology and public health, and I am eager to continue to contribute to our understanding of how these factors impact regulatory science, addiction medicine, and consumer harm reduction."

Students seeking Goldwater Scholarships must include professional letters of recommendation. Ohio Wesleyan Professor Suria wrote on behalf of Sander, sharing that, as a sophomore, he proposed a project to expand the fish-related research he was already conducting, subsequently creating a new and ongoing collaboration.

"Ian ranks amongst the top students I have mentored for his critical thinking, research abilities, and work ethic," Suria shared with the Goldwater Scholarship evaluators. "He has demonstrated creativity in his research design, resilience through troubleshooting protocols, and a natural enthusiasm that inspired me daily. ... I am confident Ian will continue to be an innovative researcher in the future and make significant contributions to the field of oral biology."

About the Goldwater Foundation

Established in 1986, the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education is a federally endowed, independent agency and scholarship program honoring the late U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater. The foundation identifies, encourages, and financially supports outstanding undergraduates interested in pursuing research careers in the sciences, engineering, and mathematics. The Goldwater Scholarship is the preeminent undergraduate award of its type in these fields. With the 2026 awards, the Goldwater Foundation, in partnership with UWorld and the Department of Defense's National Defense Education Program, has awarded 11,616 scholarships. Learn more at goldwaterscholarship.gov.

About Ohio Wesleyan University

Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation's premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and competes in 24 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through its signature experience, the OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan teaches students to understand issues from multiple academic perspectives, volunteer in service to others, build a diverse and global perspective, and translate classroom knowledge into real-world experience through internships, research, and other hands-on learning. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book "Colleges That Change Lives" and included on the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review "Best Colleges" lists. Connect with OWU expert interview sources at owu.edu/experts or learn more at owu.edu.