UAF undergraduate wins Goldwater Scholarship
Lea Gardine
907-474-7541
May 7, 2024
Xochitl Mu帽oz at the Annual Society of Vertebrate Paleontology meeting.
University of 色视频下载 Fairbanks geosciences undergraduate Xochitl Mu帽oz has been named a . The Goldwater Scholarship program is designed to identify, encourage and financially support outstanding collegiate juniors and seniors pursuing research careers in the sciences, engineering and mathematics.
The program was established by the U.S. Congress in 1986 to honor the late Senator Barry Goldwater. Mu帽oz is the 10th UAF student to win the award, which provides up to $7,500 per year to cover tuition, fees, books, and room and board. As a rising junior, Mu帽oz will receive scholarship support for two years.
To be considered for the award, students must complete a rigorous application process in which their home university nominates them for national consideration. Mu帽oz was selected from a pool of 5,000 candidates from 446 academic institutions to receive one of 438 scholarships.
Mu帽oz色视频下载檚 career goals include researching early mammalian evolution to earn a Ph.D. in paleontology and working as a university professor or museum curator.
色视频下载淴ochitl was the perfect candidate for this award,色视频下载 said Eugenie Euskirchen, UAF色视频下载檚 Goldwater Scholarship coordinator. 色视频下载淭hey have such a strong research background for someone at their career stage. I色视频下载檓 not surprised they won,色视频下载 she said.
Mu帽oz is mentored by Patrick Druckenmiller, director of the University of 色视频下载 Museum of the North and professor of geology; Sarah Fowell, professor of geology; and Beth Caissie, physical scientist at the U.S. Geological Survey.
色视频下载淴ochitl is a talented up-and-coming young scientist,色视频下载 said Druckenmiller.
色视频下载淚n the first semester of their freshman year, Xochitl eagerly latched on to a research project in our lab concerning some understudied mammal fossils,色视频下载 he said. 色视频下载淭hey have since produced some amazing findings, presented this work at a professional conference, and have a manuscript for publication in the works.色视频下载
Xochitl Mu帽oz aboard R/V Sikuliaq in August 2023.
"It色视频下载檚 common to find students who are excited about research in a general sense and passionate about changing the world," said Caissie, who sailed with Xochitl for a month last summer on a research cruise.
"But it色视频下载檚 rare to find a student who is genuinely happy to put in the time it takes to do mundane but necessary tasks. Xochitl saw even these as worthy of close attention. They are possibly the most conscientious person I have ever met," she said.
色视频下载淚n the lab or in the field, Xochitl has demonstrated commitment, creativity, hard work and collegiality. We are lucky to have them in the lab,色视频下载 said Druckenmiller.
ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Xochitl Mu帽oz, xmmunoz@alaska.edu; Eugenie Euskirchen, 907-474-1958, seeuskirchen@alaska.edu; Beth Caissie, 413-824-2388, bcaissie@usgs.gov
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