Two Newcomb-Tulane College students have each earned national recognition for their impressive academic accomplishments and research activities. Jasmine Kiley (left), a Sophomore biochemistry major, and Navya Murugesan (right), a Sophomore pursuing a dual degree in neuroscience and cell and molecular biology, were awarded a 2022 Goldwater Scholarship.
The Goldwater Scholarship, named in honor of the late U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater, is designed to encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, natural sciences, and engineering. “Winning the Goldwater is a tremendous achievement in and of itself. Doing so as sophomores is a true testament to the commitment to scholarly research and to intellectual inquiry that both Jasmine and Navya exhibit,” said Newcomb-Tulane College Dean Skinner, “I am so proud of them and their accomplishments, and excited to see what lies ahead for each of them.” Only 475 students nationwide are Goldwater Scholars this year, making their achievement even more impressive.
“Being a 2022 Goldwater Scholarship recipient has opened a world of possibilities for the impact I hope to have as a physician scientist whose priority is to advocate for the advancement of treatments and diagnostic tools for those who have been historically excluded or overlooked by medical researchers,” said Jasmine.
Jasmine, a Stamps Scholar, is a member of the Tulane Research and Innovation Award program, where she works in Dr. Kristin S. Miller’s biomedical engineering lab. Specifically, she investigates the ways that vaginal tissue mechanics remodel with increasing maternal age and throughout pregnancy. After graduating, Jasmine plans to pursue a dual MD/PhD in biomedical sciences with a focus on women’s health. Following that, she intends to practice in a clinic, teach at the university level, and conduct research that pertains to the female-specific aspects of her clinical specialty.
“It was surreal to see my name on the list of 2022 Scholars,” said Navya, “Earning the Goldwater Scholarship gave me so much more confidence to pursue a career in science and has motivated me to continue striving for high goals. I am humbled to receive this award as it is a reflection of the quality of education and emphasis on research that Tulane provides for undergraduates.”
Navya has many years of research experience, on a variety of subjects ranging from energy expenditure in patients with diabetes to cancer epigenetics. She is currently a research assistant with the Psycho-Oncology Research Program, which studies the emotional and physical burdens of cancer. After Tulane, Navya plans to pursue a dual MD/PhD in cancer biology to investigate mechanisms of cancer progression and research novel immunotherapy strategies to improve patient outcomes.
Jasmine and Navya want to thank all of their mentors and advisors, as well as the NTC Office of Fellowship Advising. “The Office of Fellowship Advising is a terrific resource for Tulane students who want to push the boundaries of what is accessible as an undergraduate student, and I look forward to continuing to work with them as I apply for other programs and scholarships in the future.”
