WKU News

WKU juniors Cole Meador and Alejandro Ramirez have been named Goldwater Scholars in the 2026 competition. They are two of five students at Kentucky universities to earn the most prestigious undergraduate award in the United States in the fields of science, engineering, and math.

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship, established by the U.S. Congress in 1986, identifies and honors second- and third-year university students who excel in science, engineering, and math disciplines and who show great promise in becoming future research leaders in their field. This year, more than 5000 students applied nationwide, 1485 were nominated by 482 universities, and 454 Scholars from 244 universities earned awards. With the 2026 awards, the Goldwater Foundation will have awarded a total of 11,616 scholarships.

Cole Meador, the son of Amy and Craig Meador of Scottsville, is a junior pursuing a degree in Biochemistry and Math with minors in Neuroscience and Applied Statistics. His research aspirations were shaped by a family member’s frustrating years-long journey from unexplained symptoms to an eventual parkinsonian disorder diagnosis. In his second year at WKU, he reached out to Dr. Hilary Katz in the Biology department about beginning research. In Dr. Katz’s lab, he has learned computational statistics to characterize molecular mechanisms of spinal cord regeneration in larval sea lamprey.

“I was thrilled to hear that Cole was selected as a 2026 Goldwater Scholar,” said Dr. Katz. “We were actually at a Neuroscience Day event at the University of Louisville when he got the news.”

Cole's potential for a transformative research career is evident in the Katz lab.

“He has taken a lead role in one of our biggest projects: using spatial transcriptomics to characterize changes in gene expression across distinct regions of the lamprey spinal cord after a complete spinal transection,” said Dr. Katz. “Over the past year, he has performed complex bioinformatic analyses and identified differential regulation of several regenerative signaling networks.”

To expand his research experience, Cole worked with an advisor in the Office of Scholar Development to apply for a DAAD-RISE research internship; he was selected and placed in a lab in Jülich, Germany, where he used traditional statistical methods and machine learning methods to understand the dynamics of neuronal networks. He took on the Goldwater Scholarship application last fall while taking 18 credit hours, continuing research in the lab, and working nearly full-time as a mental health technician at LifeSkills Adult Crisis Unit.

“The Goldwater application challenged me to convey my knowledge of research and experiences in research, but outside of that, it was a really great way to reflect on all of the great opportunities I’ve had during my time at WKU,” said Cole.

As a Goldwater Scholar bound for an MD/Ph.D. program where he plans to study bioinformatics and neurology, Cole also receives access to medical school and licensing exam preparation resources through UWorld, the Goldwater Foundation’s sole private-sector partner and a global leader in educational and professional test prep.

Alejandro Ramirez, the son of Alejandro Ramirez and Maria Ramirez Lugo and TIffeny and James Wesley Rose of Elizabethtown, is a junior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Psychological Science and Biochemistry. Alejandro’s intellectual interests stem from observing the effects of addiction and ineffective treatment in his extended family and community, which developed into a desire to reduce complex drug-behavior interactions down to observable components. Initially interested in clinical practice, Alejandro’s coursework and research experience—first at WKU, then at a National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF-REU) program on risky decision-making at West Virginia University, followed by an NSF-REU program on the neuroscience of addiction at the University of Michigan—redirected him to a pathway focused on studying the neurological basis of addiction.

In Dr. Jenni Teeters’ Technology Enhancing Community Health lab at WKU, Alejandro has contributed to research on substance-impaired driving among young adults and developed an Honors thesis project on the usage of intoxicating hemp-derived products among young adults. To support the latter project, Alejandro has pursued and earned over $13,000 in funding from the WKU FUSE grant program, the Mahurin Honors College Honors Development Grant program, and the Kentucky IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) program.

Persistence has been a key factor in Alejandro’s success. When first attempts didn’t work out, whether seeking a spot in a lab on campus his first year, applying for grants, even applying for the Goldwater Scholarship last year, he has kept seeking opportunities, building his experience, and trying again.

“I initially didn’t even think I wanted to apply for Goldwater again this year,” said Alejandro. “I was overwhelmed with schoolwork and research, but Dr. Grimsley motivated me enough to apply. Working over winter break, the application essay writing process made me sit down and plan out the steps I would take to achieve my dream career. This has greatly bolstered my confidence in my ability to pursue my goals.”

“Alejandro is a once-in-a-generation student,” said Dr. Jenni Teeters. “He functions as a Ph.D. student in my lab even though he is still an undergraduate. He has an advanced ability to critically read and evaluate research, come up with research ideas that will move the field forward, and communicate his findings to a broad audience. I believe he has the potential to become an influential scholar at an elite institution, and I’m incredibly grateful to be a part of his academic journey.”

Alejandro plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience focusing on the neurological basis of disordered decision-making in opioid addiction.

Cole and Alejandro prepared their applications with support from Office of Scholar Development Assistant Director Melinda Grimsley and their respective research mentors.

Competitive Goldwater candidates have strong academic records and independent research experience. Students interested in applying for the Goldwater Scholarship are encouraged to discuss an application with a research mentor and contact Dr. Grimsley to get started.

About the Office of Scholar Development: OSD mentors students applying for national scholarships to fund “academic extras” such as study abroad, research, professional experience, and more. From first drafts to final submissions with multiple revisions in between, OSD helps students make more possible. By conceptualizing and revising the stories they tell in application essays, students better understand their strengths, interests, and purpose — and explore multiple possible pathways to that work.

Contact: melinda.grimsley@wku.edu