Kudos to Andrew S. Paluch, winner of the prestigious 2007 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship! This scholarship is awarded to sophomores and juniors who have outstanding potential and intend to pursue advanced degrees in mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering. It provides up to two years of support (tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to $7,500 annually). The Foundation awarded 317 undergraduate scholarships from 1,100 competitive applicants.
Andrew, a resident of Tonawanda, NY, transferred to UB in the fall of 2005 from Niagara University. He was inducted into UB's chapter of Tau Sigma National Honor Society in April 2006. Andrew is completing a double major in Chemical and Biological Engineering and Mathematics with a minor in Chemistry.
During the summer of 2006, Andrew completed an NSF funded Research Experience for Undergraduates at the International Arctic Research Center where he developed the first successful technique (a mathematical model relating fluorescent spectra to pH for ideal snow samples) to determine the pH of solid snow on a molecular level. This is especially important as mercury deposition has played a major role in the decline of the polar bear population, causing the native people of the Artic to change their way of life. Andrew plans to return to Fairbanks, Alaska this summer to continue his work.
Currently Andrew is engaged in research here at UB under the supervision of Dr. Jeffrey Errington in the Chemical and Biological Engineering Department. His work involves the field of statistical mechanics and molecular simulations.
If you work with students that you believe are on similar paths, please refer the students to the Honors Program to investigate opportunities available through nationally competitive fellowships and scholarships. Please note that affiliation with the University Honors College , as an Honors Scholar, is not required.