University of Alabama at Birmingham student Ethan Mallick Hossain of Gadsden, Ala., has been named a 2011 Goldwater Scholar by the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation.
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| Ethan Mallick Hossain. Download image. |
In addition, three UAB students were given Goldwater Honorable Mentions: Timothy Fernandez of Gadsden, Charlotte Kent from Clay, Ala., and Helen Lin of Birmingham.
Hossain, 18, is a sophomore with majors in chemistry, mathematics and philosophy. He plans to combine his interest in economics with medical research. He is a member of the Early Medical School Acceptance Program and Fast-Track Mathematics Program and maintains a 4.0 GPA. Hossain is a member of the winning UAB teams in both the National Ethics Bowl and the National Bioethics Bowl. His research in the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center lab of Kevin Harris, M.D., Ph.D., is to find a biological marker for the presence of cancer using a simple blood test. His career goal is to conduct cancer research to create a deeper understanding of cancer mechanics and its biological indicators, specifically in humans. He is the son of Sajjad and Monika Hossain. In addition to his research and academic interests, Hossain is a violinist in the Alabama Symphony Youth Orchestra and enjoys playing piano.
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| Timothy Fernandez. Download image. |
“My initial career goal was to become a doctor of medicine,” Hossain says. “However, my research experience has motivated me to amend my decision and aim to become an M.D., Ph.D. instead. The minute I stepped into the lab, I was gripped by its productive and focused energy. I quickly became familiar with lab protocol and immersed in the research. I plan to specialize in cancer research because of how enthralling my current lab experience has been. My research focuses on how the severity of cancer influences the concentration of telomeric DNA in human blood. Working in this field and through discussions with colleagues, I have become extremely interested in cancer research, and I hope to further my knowledge of cancer through this internship.”
Hossein is the 13th UAB student to win a Goldwater scholarship. He is one of five Alabama residents to win the award for 2011.
“What an outstanding honor for Mallick and an honor for UAB, that the Goldwater Foundation has recognized the high caliber of students here,” says UAB President Carol Garrison. “Having a Goldwater Scholar, plus three students with Honorable Mentions, is quite a distinction; we congratulate these outstanding students.”
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| Charlotte Kent. Download image. |
Three UAB students have been awarded Honorable Mentions for 2011, according to the foundation.
Fernandez, 20, a sophomore, is majoring in chemistry. He is a member of the University Honors Program and a Chemistry Scholar and is president of the Undergraduate Research Association. Fernandez works in the lab of Jamil Saad, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology, investigating interactions between the ubiquitous protein calmodulin and HIV-1 Matrix. After graduating, he plans to attend medical school, specializing in pathology, and seek a doctorate in virology. He hopes to teach and conduct research in biomedical science at a leading medical research university. He is the son of Raymond Fernandez and Nola Fernandez.
Charlotte Kent, 21, a junior, is majoring in biomedical engineering. Kent is a member of the Science and Technology Honors Program, Biomedical Engineering Honors Program, Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Lambda Delta and Tau Beta Pi. Kent researches with Andrew Pollard, Ph.D., in the Cardiac Rhythm Management Laboratory, where she is trying to identify possible uses of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) in the fabrication and application of microelectrode arrays. Her goal is to determine the smallest channel possible in which to push conductive material such as silver epoxy. Kent plans to earn an M.D., Ph.D. in obstetrics and gynecology and biomedical engineering, with a concentration in tissue engineering. She hopes to build an artificial womb for women who cannot have a baby. She is the daughter of John Kent III and Barbara Kent.
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| Helen Lin. Download image. |
Helen Lin, 21, is a junior studying molecular biology at UAB with a double minor in chemistry and linguistics. She is pursuing independent research with Elizabeth Sztul, Ph.D., in cell biology. Lin’s career plans are to practice internal medicine combining HIV/AIDS, primary care and research at a medical research university. Recently, she was accepted to attend Taiwan Tech Trek, an international research internship and program in Taiwan. She will intern at the Academica Sinica Institute of Molecular Biology. She is the daughter of Gwen and Hunter Lin.
The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship Program was created to encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in mathematics, natural sciences or engineering and to foster excellence in those fields. Goldwater Scholars are nominated by the faculties of colleges and universities and are selected on the basis of academic merit. One- and two-year Goldwater scholarships cover tuition, fees, books and room and board up to $7,500 per year.