Two UofL students named Goldwater Scholars

UofL is celebrating the announcement of two Goldwater Scholars: juniors Praneeth Goli and Garrett McGrady.

The recipients were announced today for the prominent award, which goes to U.S. sophomores and juniors pursuing research careers in math, science and engineering. The $7,500-per-year scholarship helps cover education-related costs.

UofL has had five Goldwater Scholars in the last decade.

Goli is a chemistry major who plans to earn medical and doctoral degrees in integrative physiology. He is conducting ongoing research at Harvard Medical School and as a student researcher for UofL’s School of Medicine focusing on pancreatic biology, metabolism and cancer. His mentor is Balamurugan Appakalai, associate professor of surgery and director of the Clinical Islet Cell Laboratory.

McGrady, who is also a Grawemeyer Scholar, is an electrical and computer engineering major who plans to earn a doctoral degree in electrical engineering. McGrady has been conducting research on microfabrication techniques in UofL’s Micro/Nano Technology Center cleanroom. He also completed a cooperative education program at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in 2018. His mentor is Kevin Walsh, Samuel T. Fife Endowed Professor.

Goli and McGrady are both from Louisville and are duPont Manual High School graduates.

There were 496 Goldwater scholars this year, selected from a pool of more than 5,000 candidates. The program honors Sen. Barry Goldwater and is a preeminent scholarship for STEM careers.