Paul Varosy

Paul Varosy, a senior majoring in Engineering Physics, won two of the most prestigious scholarships in STEM, the Goldwater and the Astronaut. Paul mentioned, “It was very rewarding to receive this recognition for my undergraduate research, and the scholarships also helped cover the cost of graduate school applications, so I can completely focus on activities during my senior year that are most beneficial to my career.”

Paul was among the 417 sophomores and juniors selected from an estimated pool of over 5,000 Goldwater applicants in the annual competition this year and 68 Astronaut scholars representing 45 universities across the nation.

Paul explained, “I was not sure exactly what I wanted to study when I came to Mines, though I knew I wanted to do something with math and science. To see if I liked research, I applied for and participated in the FIRST program at Mines – one which allowed me to participate in research in quantum computing as a freshman. Through the skills I gained participating in undergraduate research and the internship opportunities offered to me, I was able to put together strong applications for these scholarships.”

“We piloted the First-Year Innovation Research Scholar Training (FIRST) program for specifically engaging undergraduates in research early on in their education at Mines to emulate the successes that Paul and other FIRST scholars have achieved,” says Dr. Lakshmi Krishna, director of Undergraduate Research Scholars, one of six signature experiences in University Honors and Scholars, who developed the program in 2018. Involving undergraduate students in a research experience at a professional level alongside faculty and graduate students to solve some of the most pressing societal challenges is a powerful way to contextualize the classroom environment with the real world, thus enriching their Mines education. These research opportunities bridge curricular knowledge and professional development with a strong introduction and hands-on practice for the pathway to graduate study and pursuing a career in STEM. When students can participate in research as first- or second-year students, they experience the research life-cycle, including disseminating their research nationally. As a result, they are better prepared to secure prestigious research scholarships. “FIRST also serves as a meaningful way for underrepresented students to experience, engage, and see themselves in research who may otherwise not have had those opportunities before coming to Mines; this program makes a significant impact to our DI&A initiatives,” says Professor Toni Lefton,  Executive Director of University Honors and Scholars.

Since the inception of the FIRST program, Mines undergraduates have won a Goldwater every year, with a total of four Goldwater scholars to date. Two of the four Goldwater scholars participated in the FIRST program. FIRST scholars have also won the 2021 Astronaut scholarship, represented the state of Colorado at the Posters on the Hill event, and secured National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSFGRFP) scholarship.

“Research at Mines has allowed me not only to pursue fantastic research in Golden and enabled collaboration with organizations such as the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C) and MIT Lincoln Laboratory. Both collaborations have been incredibly productive and enabled me to demonstrate the strong undergraduate education I have built through Mines,” Paul mentioned.

Paul will graduate with B.S. in Engineering Physics next year and continue his education by pursuing a Ph.D. in applied physics. He hopes to work specifically with superconducting quantum circuits and continue collaborating in the exciting field of quantum computing throughout his career. “There are numerous engineering and science challenges that are currently preventing a quantum technological revolution, and I aim to be at the forefront of this exciting research.” says a determined Paul.

The Office of Undergraduate Research Scholars awards funding to students to participate in faculty-mentored research through Mines Undergraduate Research Fellowship (MURF), Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF), and FIRST programs. Undergraduate researchers can also apply for travel grants to disseminate their research work at a conference nationally.

The fall undergraduate research symposium will be held on Friday, October 28, from 2 pm to 4 pm, featuring the keynote lecture by emeritus professor Joe Gray ’68. The spring undergraduate research symposium will be held on April 19th and 20th 2023.

To learn about the Office of Undergraduate Research Scholars, you are invited to join the Lunch Bunch on November 17. More information on all the honors and scholars programs and their signature curricular and cocurricular experiences can be found on the home page for UHSP.

About the Goldwater and Astronaut Scholarship:

Established by Congress in 1986, the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation operates an educational scholarship program designed to provide opportunities for outstanding U.S. students with excellent academic records and demonstrated interest in, and potential for, research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering. The scholarship award covers eligible expenses up to $7,500 per year. Scholarship recipients nominated as sophomores can expect to receive a maximum of two years of support.

The Astronaut Scholarship, created in 1984 by the surviving Mercury 7 astronauts and administered by the ASF, provides more than 60 scholarships annually to the most academically accomplished second-and third-year undergraduate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics who are intent on pursuing research or advancing their fields upon graduation. Astronaut Scholarships are awarded to a select number of college juniors and seniors studying STEM topics who intend to “pursue research or advance their field upon completion of their final degree,” per the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.