Personal Mention
Mellon College of Science students William Fahy and Jung Joo Suh have been named 2019 Goldwater Scholars. The award, given by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, recognizes second- and third-year college students intending to pursue research careers in mathematics, engineering and the natural sciences, and provides up to $7,500 per undergraduate year for tuition, mandatory fees, books, room and board.
Fahy, a second-year chemistry student, plans to pursue a Ph.D. in environmental chemistry after his graduation. Under Associate Professor of Chemistry and Mechanical Engineering Ryan Sullivan, Fahy has been researching how particles, specifically volcanic ash, can be changed in the upper atmosphere, and how this could change the particles' effects on the formation of ice. Outside of his research, Fahy plays eight different kinds of flute and is a member of Carnegie Mellon's All-University Orchestra and flute choir. He recently took the top prize in the environmental research category at the 2019 Meeting of the Minds.
Suh, a third-year mathematical sciences student, plans to enter a Ph.D. program in mathematics after graduation, with a focus on research in descriptive set theory and analysis. Under Associate Professor Clinton Conley, Suh has been focusing on clopen sets — a set that is both open and closed — in a specific topological space. Besides research, Suh has spent time working as a peer tutor, grader and teaching assistant. He is excited about his Goldwater scholarship, and said applying for it has helped him organize his research into a coherent narrative.
Emily Zhu is the recipient of the 2019 Judith A. Resnik Award, named after the late astronaut and CMU alumna. The award recognizes an exceptional, senior woman graduating with an undergraduate technical course of study who will be pursuing graduate or professional training in a technical field. Zhu earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematical sciences with a concentration in discrete mathematics and logic, and a master’s degree in mathematical sciences. She earned the two degrees concurrently as part of her participation in the department’s Honors Program. “Emily’s intellect is unsurpassed by other math majors in her cohort. She is incredibly talented mathematically and she has a work ethic to match,” said Jason Howell, director of undergraduate studies for the Department of Mathematical Sciences. Zhu’s research is in combinatorics. She completed work described as “cutting edge” by Howell for her honors thesis on multicolor Ramsey numbers for 3-uniform hypergraphs with 3 edges, advised by Department Head and Professor Tom Bohman. Find out more.
Venkat Viswanathan, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering, has received a 2019 Young Investigator Award from the Office of Naval Research to research how to improve battery safety in low temperatures. His research focuses on designing materials for novel energy conversion and storage capabilities, making batteries an important part of his work. He is currently working with graduate students Shashank Sripad and Dilip Krishnamurthy to improve the widespread lithium ion batteries. The Young investigator Program supports young academic scientists and engineers in researching topics that could benefit the goals of the Navy and Marine Corps. As the recipient of the award, Viswanathan will work closely with other researchers, to make the work relevant for naval applications. Find out more.
CMU Tepper MBA student and Swartz Fellow Summer Xia has been selected as a finalist to pitch her company at the 2019 Forté Power Pitch competition June 29 at the Forté MBA Women’s Leadership Conference in Chicago. Xia is the founder of Little Moochi, a venture focused on leading children toward healthier eating habits through interactions with a virtual pet. Little Moochi won second place in the graduate track at the McGinnis Venture Competiton held at the Swartz Center this past March. The spirit of the Forté Power Pitch competition is to focus on ideas conceived and developed as part of the business school experience. Find out more about LIttle Moochi.