The University of New Mexico

NEWS RELEASE

Media Contact: Sari Krosinsky, (505) 277-1593, michal@unm.edu

April 14, 2009

Two UNM Students Take Home Goldwater

University of New Mexico students Jessica Martin and Anna Vestling snared the coveted Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. They are among 278 students selected from a pool of 1,097 applicants. In addition, UNM student Abdullah Feroze received an honorable mention.

Jessica Martin

Science was a big part of Martin’s life growing up in Los Alamos. Her mother, June, is a hydrologist at Los Alamos National Lab. Her father, Craig, often took her on hiking trips throughout New Mexico while he was researching for outdoor books. He also maintains hiking trails and other open space areas for Los Alamos County.

“My love of the outdoors that originated with those experiences has fused with a love of science, biology in particular,” Martin said.

She majors in biology and plans to pursue a doctorate in ecology. Outside the classroom, she works as a research assistant for Associate Professor Felisa Smith, serves as an Associated Students of UNM senator and plays the cello in the UNM Symphony Orchestra.

“Jes is exceptionally bright, articulate and highly motivated, and if that weren’t enough, personable and funny to boot,” Smith said. “Over the past few years, Jes has become a fixture in my lab, working alongside graduate students and post-docs on communal projects, but developing her own research ideas and projects.”

Martin’s goal is to teach and do ecological research at the university level. She said she feels “a strong pull to make a difference in the face of climate change and the continued destruction of our environment.”

Anna Vestling

Globetrotting Vestling was born in San Diego, Calif. as a dual American and Swedish citizen, was raised in Socorro, N.M. and has lived in Sweden, New Zealand and France.

“Traveling is very important to me, and I hope to live in Spain for a time to study flamenco,” she said.

A Regents’ Scholar, Vestling majors in biochemistry, minors in flamenco and psychology, and plans to pursue a doctorate in cancer biology. Through the Initiatives for Minority Student Development Undergraduate Research Program, she researches oncological biochemistry with Angela Wandinger-Ness, professor of pathology at the School of Medicine.

“I would love to conduct cancer research, treat patients and teach at a medical school, but for now (and the next 15 years or so) I am thrilled to know that I have many more years of school ahead,” she said.

Abdullah Feroze

Roswell native Feroze majors in biology and economics and plans to pursue a doctorate in neuroimmunology. He serves as an ASUNM senator and works in Assistant Professor Hugh Smyth’s lab at the College of Pharmacy studying the use of nanoparticles to deliver drug therapy for cystic fibrosis.

“Although he is still at the undergraduate level, Abdullah is clearly already capable of performing research at the level of a graduate student,” Smyth said. “What has impressed me the most is that despite his heavy course load, numerous campus and community activities and commitments and additional employment, Abdullah has really made this project happen without too much input or effort on my part.”

He hopes to combine experience in university-level teaching, research and policy to improve international health care.

About the Goldwater Scholarship

The Goldwater Scholarship was established by Congress in 1986 to honor Senator Barry M. Goldwater and provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians and engineers by awarding scholarships to college students who intend to pursue careers in these fields. The scholarships cover the cost of tuition, fees, books and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.