The University of Alabama
04/02/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/02/2026 09:11
3 UA Students Awarded Prestigious Goldwater Scholarships
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program has selected three University of Alabama students as Goldwater Scholars for 2026-2027.
This year's selections bring UA's number of Goldwater Scholars to 72.
The three students are Katy Butler, of Oakwood, Ohio; Colton Byrne, of Rockford, Michigan; and Jesse Park, of Burr Ridge, Illinois.
Katy Butler is a junior pursuing a major in biochemistry and minor in mathematics. She worked under Dr. David Dixon in the department of chemistry - and is now working under Dr. Małgorzata Makoś - to computationally determine the thermochemical properties of metal oxides and carbonates. Butler studies ways to improve the scalability of the electronic structure calculations utilized in computational chemistry through machine learning. She is also working with Dr. Sergei Gleyzer in the department of physics and astronomy to develop a machine learning model to enhance the predictive power of the non-contrast computed tomography coronary artery calcium scoring scan for major adverse cardiovascular events.
Butler plans to pursue a doctorate degree in computational biochemistry, and hopes to focus on utilizing, improving or building biophysical modeling tools. Ultimately, she hopes to leverage these methods for pharmaceutical research on diseases such as cancer and aging.
Besides doing research, Butler is an avid distance runner and co-founded the Marathon Club with her twin Bella. She is also a research ambassador with the Office of Undergraduate Research, treasurer of the American Chemical Society's Chemistry Club and volunteer ambassador for the retirement home volunteering organization Tide for Tuscaloosa.
Colton Byrne is pursuing a dual degree in geology and chemistry. He works with Dr. Rebecca Totten of the department of geological sciences to investigate the past and present environment of the Amundsen Sea, West Antarctica, by examining the geochemical, physical and biological properties of seafloor sediments, including near Thwaites Glacier, also known as the "Doomsday" Glacier.
Byrne plans to pursue a doctorate degree in geology or geochemistry, with particular emphasis on polar paleoclimate research. He hopes to become a field geologist in polar research and to teach at the university level.
Beyond the classroom, Byrne is vice president of the Sigma Gamma Epsilon Earth Sciences Honors Society and Geology Club, and he is a member of Gamma Sigma Epsilon Chemistry Honors Society and the Cave Appreciation Club. He also tutors Geology 101 and 102 for the Learning Commons.
Jesse Park is a Randall Research Scholar in the engineering entrepreneurship program pursuing a dual master's degree in mechanical engineering through the Accelerated Master's Program and an MBA through the STEM Path to MBA. He currently works with Dr. Keivan Davami to investigate the compressive mechanical behavior of additively manufactured mechanical metamaterials and characterize the nanomechanical properties of surface-engineered ceramics and single-crystal superalloys.
Park plans to pursue a doctorate in mechanical engineering, focusing on metamaterial fabrication and laser-based surface engineering techniques. He aims to apply his specialized knowledge to lead his own research and development division within industry.
Outside of research, Park is president of UA's chapter of Tikkun Olam Makers, a club that designs low-cost, open-source solutions for people with disabilities. In this club, he has garnered various international recognitions for UA, mentored chapters at Stanford University and the University of Michigan, and hosted disability-centered design sprints within The Cube. He is also a member of UA's Undergraduate Case Team and an ambassador for both the Honors College and Lee J. Styslinger Jr. College of Engineering.
The UA Office of External Scholarships and Fellowships assists students in the pursuit of national and international awards including the Goldwater, Rhodes, Marshall and Truman, among others. Students interested in applying for awards that require an institutional endorsement can learn more on the External Scholarships and Fellowships website.
The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state's flagship university. UA shapes a better world through its teaching, research and service. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides a forward-thinking environment and over 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus. A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers. As the state's largest higher education institution, UA drives economic growth in Alabama and beyond.
The University of Alabama published this content on April 02, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 02, 2026 at 15:11 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]