Two Georgia Tech students are recipients of the prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, the premier academic award given to mathematics, science and engineering undergraduates.

Binbin Chen, a junior majoring in biomedical engineering, is focusing on cancer research. As a freshman, he joined the Platt Lab in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, where he worked “shoulder-to-shoulder” with Assistant Professor Manu Platt on a cancer project.

“Both of my grandfathers died of cancer, so I always hoped to contribute to the battlefield of cancer research,” he said. “The Goldwater Scholarship is not only a recognition for me but also for my supportive parents, mentors and friends.”

A sophomore majoring in computer science, Ramya Ramakrishnan plans to carry on research in the field of human-computer interaction. 

“This scholarship and recognition inspires me to pursue goals that I am passionate about,” she said. “I hope to make a difference in people’s lives.”

Venkat Goli, a junior majoring in chemical and biomolecular engineering, also received an honorable mention.

The Goldwater Scholars were selected on the basis of academic merit from a field of 1,123 mathematics, science and engineering students who were nominated by the faculties of colleges and universities nationwide. Awarded to 282 sophomores and juniors for the 2012–2013 academic year, the one- and two-year scholarships cover the cost of tuition, fees, books and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year