Nethmi W. Hewage, a junior majoring in chemistry and minoring in mathematics, has been named a 2022 Goldwater Scholar. The Goldwater Scholarship is the most prestigious undergraduate award in mathematics, natural sciences, and engineering in the US to encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in STEM research. https://goldwaterscholarship.gov/2022-goldwater-scholars-listed-by-inst…
This year, 417 Goldwater Scholars were selected based on academic merit from a field of more than 5,000 applicants nationwide. Nethmi does research in Dr. Kirill Kovnir’s group in the chemistry department at ISU, where she works on synthesizing and investigating materials for energy applications. She also did a SULI with Ames laboratory in Dr. Kovnir’s group last fall and a summer REU in Dr. David Poerschke’s group at the University of Minnesota.
Nethmi’s research interest lies in using materials science and solid-state chemistry to design new materials to find solutions for the energy crisis. She plans to obtain a Ph.D. in chemistry or materials science.