PITTSBURGH-Three Carnegie Mellon University students have received Barry M. GoldwaterScholarships to encourage their pursuit of careers in the natural sciences. Andrew David DeYoung,Lawrence D. Jesper and Samuel M. Kim are three of 321 sophomores and juniors nationwide chosen frommore than 1,000 nominations to receive scholarships this year.

Colleges and universities can submit up to four nominations annually for these awards, and all ofCarnegie Mellon's nominees were recognized. Carmeline Joan Dsilva, a chemical engineering major,received an honorable mention citation.

"The strength of the candidate pool this year was exceptional," said Paul Fowler, CarnegieMellon's associate dean of Student Affairs. "The fact that all four nominees were sophomores is atestament to how well our students, even within two years of their matriculation, can acquire phenomenalresearch and leadership experiences that allow them to compete with the brightest students in thecountry."

DeYoung, a sophomore from Export, Pa., is majoring in chemistry. In the summer of 2007, heconducted research in theoretical chemistry, which he plans to continue this summer. Specifically,DeYoung uses sophisticated computer software to model fluorescent dyes to predict which chemicalstructures produce the most desirable dye properties. With these predictions in hand, synthetic chemistscan then produce and test the dyes in the lab. After completing his bachelor's degree, DeYoung plans topursue a Ph.D. in theoretical chemistry.

A sophomore computer science major from Dallas, Texas, Jesper is interested in an academiccareer in computational biology, with plans to use machine learning to better understand biologicalprocesses. As part of his scholarship application, he submitted a research proposal to use machinelearning to analyze how modifications to a specific protein would affect how that protein folded.

Kim, a sophomore biological sciences major from Wyckoff, N.J., is working with biologicalsciences faculty members to develop novel molecular biosensor technology that will monitor dynamicchanges occurring within cells. Kim is producing and studying the structure of a key component of thebiosensor, research that he plans to continue this summer. His career goal is to obtain an advanced degreeand to continue research in biochemistry and structural biology.

Goldwater Scholars receive one- and two-year scholarships up to a maximum of $7,500 per yearfor tuition, fees, books, and room and board. The scholarships are also a stepping-stone for future supportfor their research careers, according to the foundation. Past Goldwater Scholars have garnered prestigiouspost-graduate fellowships, including the Rhodes Scholarship, Marshall Award and numerous otherdistinguished honors.

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation was created toencourage outstanding students to pursue careers in mathematics, the natural sciences, or engineering andto foster excellence in those fields. It was authorized by the United States Congress in 1986 to honorSenator Barry M. Goldwater, and to foster and encourage excellence in science and mathematics. Formore information, visit www.act.org/goldwater.

About Carnegie Mellon: Carnegie Mellon is a private research university with a distinctive mix ofprograms in engineering, computer science, robotics, business, public policy, fine arts and the humanities.More than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students receive an education characterized by its focus oncreating and implementing solutions for real problems, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovation. Asmall student-to-faculty ratio provides an opportunity for close interaction between students andprofessors. While technology is pervasive on its 144-acre Pittsburgh campus, Carnegie Mellon is alsodistinctive among leading research universities for the world-renowned programs in its College of FineArts. A global university, Carnegie Mellon has campuses in Silicon Valley, Calif., and Qatar, andprograms in Asia, Australia and Europe. For more, see www.cmu.edu.