The Barry Goldwater Scholarship is one of the most prestigious national scholarships, and is awarded to undergraduates in the fields of natural sciences and engineering who intend to pursue research careers. The scholarship provides up to $7,500 in academic funding and connects the recipients to a nationwide network of scholars and mentors as well as numerous research opportunities.
Stevens student, Alexandra Garzon, a junior majoring in Chemical Engineering, has recently been awarded the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship for her undergraduate research project in computational chemistry and environmental sustainability, with the help of Dr. Alyssa Hensley and fellow researchers. Garzon, a Pinnacle scholar and peer advisor, is also active in leadership roles on campus, serving as Director of Community Engagement for the Alpha Phi sorority.
Garzon’s research journey began early in her freshman year, when she met Dr. Alyssa Hensley as a guest lecturer in her general chemistry course. Dr. Hensley, a Chemical Engineering and Materials Science professor, had promoted her website for thermodynamics and chemistry during her lecture. Garzon was deeply inspired by her and ultimately decided to reach out to her to set up a meeting to learn more about her research. With no prior background in computer science, Garzon dove into a project with Dr. Hensley that combined computational chemistry and environmental research — an experience that would become transformative for her. “I thought it would be really great to involve myself in this experience because it wasn’t what my major focused on,” says Garzon.
Her journey to winning the Goldwater Scholarship started with encouragement from Dr. Hensley, who had applied for the scholarship herself as an undergraduate. Open to sophomores and juniors in STEM fields pursuing research careers, the scholarship is highly competitive, with most applicants already having their names attached to research publications. Garzon had initially planned to apply during her sophomore year, but strategically waited until her junior year to submit her application once her paper was published.
Working with Dr. Hensley as part of her catalysis research group, Garzon continued working on a multi-year project focused on enhancing graphene structures for improved absorption of pollutants and heavy metals. Using programs such as Python and a campus supercomputer, Garzon spent five months collecting and analyzing data and dedicated the remaining time to writing and refining her research paper, which was published in August 2024. “What drew me in was the sustainability aspect of it,” she said. “It was something I could see making a real-world difference.”
The application process spanned over a year, beginning in May 2023 and concluding in January 2025. After being selected as one of Stevens’ four university nominees for the scholarship in October, she submitted her final application in January and was notified of her win in March. “I completely forgot about it after submitting,” she said, and when asked about her level of confidence, she admitted, “I didn’t think I had a good chance of winning — I was completely shocked.”
Garzon emphasized the community aspect of the scholarship as one of its greatest rewards, aside from the monetary value. “I’m so grateful, not just for the scholarship, but for the opportunity to join the Goldwater Scholars community. It connected me to like-minded scholars and access to incredible programs to further my work.” As a Goldwater scholar, Garzon will have the opportunity to attend an annual research conference at Rice University and present her findings: “I definitely want to be involved. They seem like such an incredible group of like-minded researchers.”
Although her current project has come to an end, Garzon is eager to continue her path in sustainability research. “I am absolutely open to working with new professors. I hope next year brings new opportunities.”
Now, with a published paper, a national scholarship, and more than a year of intensive research behind her, Garzon is reimagining what her future might hold. A Ph.D.—something she hadn’t considered previously—is now firmly within reach. She credits her research experience and the guidance of Dr. Alyssa Hensley for opening that door.
Garzon encourages other students to take initiative and seek out opportunities early. Building meaningful relationships with faculty, she says, can lead to transformative experiences. “This project didn’t just give me research skills — it introduced me to a community at Stevens that I might never have found otherwise.”
