Going for Goldwater: USF students share research behind the scholarship

At the University of South Florida, cutting-edge research isn't just left to graduate students and professors - undergraduates are driving research that is transforming their fields. From studying insect ecosystems to using virtual reality and mathematics to describe molecular processes, USF students are at the heart of important, emerging research.

This year, USF ranked No. 47 among public universities in the United States for research expenditures, demonstrating its commitment to supporting faculty research and innovation. That culture of discovery is reflected in student achievement as well: the university earned a record number of Barry Goldwater Scholarship recipients in 2025, with all four nominated students - Judy Genshaft Honors College students Benjamin Barrera-Altuna, Peter Alspaugh, Abdul-Malik Zekri and Taylor Rand - receiving the award. The prestigious scholarship recognizes outstanding students who intend to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, engineering, or mathematics.

From Forest Floors to DNA Origami

Rand, Zekri, and Alspaugh's research projects represent the three areas of STEM that the Goldwater Scholarship prioritizes: natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics.

Rand's passion for the natural sciences led her to research insects that live in woodlands, specifically on dead wood. Through a Research Experience for Undergraduates at Mountain Lake Biological Station in Virginia, she studied how insect communities interacted with one another under the influence of environmental and ecological factors.

Zekri's research applies computational methods and artificial intelligence to neuroscience to study brain connectivity, a field known as connectomics. The Spirou Connectomics Lab at USF works with high-resolution electron microscopy datasets that capture brain tissue as thousands of ultra-thin image slices, which are examined slice by slice to outline neurons and cellular structures that can be reconstructed into 3D models. Zekri's role in the project was developing artificial intelligence tools to automate this process and accelerate proofreading, helping researchers map connections in the brain at the synaptic level.

Alspaugh's research also involved biology at the molecular level, but from an entirely different perspective: mathematics. Under the guidance of USF faculty members Natasha Jonoska and Masahico Saito, he studied an algebraic system designed to describe DNA origami, a process by which DNA nanostructures are created. When his research team was on break, Alspaugh proved a lemma - a mathematical fact used to prove a larger theorem - that was crucial for describing the structure of the algebraic system and whose elusive proof had previously prevented the project from being published.

Preparing for Nomination

Rand, Zekri, and Alspaugh each met with the staff in the USF Office of National Scholars (ONS) as they began preparing their application materials for the Goldwater Scholarship. ONS Director Sayandeb Basu nominates Goldwater Scholars on USF's behalf each year and worked closely with each nominee to prepare them for success.

Due to the long-term nature of Goldwater Scholars' research, working with ONS early allowed these students to build their respective research portfolios before the application cycle.

"Since the Goldwater is a pretty involved application, Dr. Basu is looking for students who are investing in research early on and will be ready to apply in a year or two, once their research has matured and their passions have developed," said Zekri. "ONS helps you develop that story you need to communicate to the people looking at your application."

The Impact of the Goldwater

For Rand, Zekri, and Alspaugh, the Goldwater Scholarship opened doors to becoming established student researchers and gaining confidence in their fields.

Rand presented her entomology research at USF's Undergraduate Research Conference during all four of her years at USF. Not only did she share her work with peers on her home campus, but she also presented at the American Society of Naturalists conference alongside professionals in biological research. She said the experience helped her communicate the depth of her project to a wide audience.

"It was awesome to start building that network and feel like a real scientist, all prior to grad school," said Rand. "I learned a lot about how to break down my research in front of other people who have no idea what I've done."

Zekri's experience applying computer engineering approaches in neuroscience helped him discover the type of work he could see himself doing for the rest of his career - and it looks a little different from a typical computer engineering role.

"I've learned the type of lifestyle I want to have, which is not one where I am just developing a product and then moving on to the next, but one that leads to some discoveries that I'm passionate about," said Zekri.

Alspaugh learned that his passion for pure mathematics can have an impact beyond the classroom.

"Once I had finished my part of the research, the paper was published shortly after - which is crazy because it usually takes years to go through a review process," said Alspaugh. "It was a super rewarding experience."

Life-Changing Research

The Goldwater Scholarship doesn't just offer students funding to continue their academic studies - it also gives them the confidence to pursue careers dedicated to pushing the boundaries of the unknown.

"The Goldwater helped me feel confident that I actually can do research, and that I don't need to prove myself anymore," said Rand.

Alspaugh discovered there is still room for innovation in mathematics.

"Don't be afraid to take on cool questions in math, because even though math has gone quite far in the past hundred years, that doesn't mean there aren't still problems out there," said Alspaugh.

For many students, choosing the right research question - one that leaves an impact on the world and their resumes - can be daunting. Zekri encourages students not to rush the research process and to reflect on their experiences along the way.

"A lot of students ask me how to choose a research project, and for me, that decision starts with writing about your thoughts instead of just going through the motions," said Zekri. "That's how you decide if you enjoy the path you're on."