by Hannah Buckelew
Alyson Goodwin, a sophomore biomedical engineering student, is a recipient of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. The scholarship will fund Goodwin’s study abroad experience in South Korea for six weeks this summer. She is one of seven UAB Honors students to receive the award.

Goodwin will study genetics at Yonsei University in Seoul under the guidance of Jon Soderholm, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Division of Life Science and Biotechnology.

“I applied for the Gilman Scholarship to make professional connections through the Gilman Scholar Network and to ease the cost of studying abroad,” Goodwin says. “I will also be taking a Korean language course to immerse myself in the city’s culture more effectively.”

Goodwin serves as a student lab assistant in the UAB Materials Processing and Applications Development (MPAD) Center. She is both the Secretary for the National Society of Black Engineers and the Outreach Coordinator for the Society of Women Engineers at UAB. When Goodwin is not at school, work, or involved in professional societies, she rehearses weekly as an oboist in UAB’s Wind Symphony.

“Studying abroad has always been a goal of mine and I am looking forward to gaining a global perspective as I ultimately plan to work in the biomedical engineering industry.”

The Gilman Scholarship is funded by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The program enables a diverse population of students to study abroad, thereby gaining critical skills and new perspectives in language, culture, economics and science.

“Seoul is a global hotspot for innovation and technology. I’m excited to explore the city while learning and making connections.”