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DALLAS (SMU) – SMU junior biochemistry major Shriya Siddhartha’s white lab coat glows with spots of hot pink and orange fluorescent dye, evidence of her research on a new fluorescent tool biologists can use to study lung cancer cells.  Siddhartha has worked in chemistry professor Alex Lippert’s lab since the beginning of her first year at SMU, volunteers in other professors’ labs to learn new techniques and has collaborated with researchers in New York.

She is one of six students selected nationwide to receive the 2024 Goldwater U Award, one of the most prestigious national science awards presented to undergraduate students pursuing a medical research career. Winners are selected for the caliber of their research and aspirations for a future research career.

The scholarship, which honors former Sen. Barry Goldwater, encourages outstanding students to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics and provides up to $7,500 toward tuition, fees, books and room and board.

 Siddhartha has known she wanted to be a scientist since she was in fourth grade and later chose to attend SMU because of its undergraduate research opportunities. Her inspiration comes from her paternal grandparents, who were scientists, and particularly her paternal grandmother, who was accepted to a prestigious medical school in India but forbidden to attend by her parents, who considered a female doctor less marriageable.

“I’d like to carry on my grandmother’s plan,” Siddhartha said.

She is well on her way.

After exploring the work of various SMU researchers on the University web site, Shriya contacted Professor Lippert the summer before she came to SMU, expressing particular interest in his work with chemiluminescence molecules.

“It is very rare for a student to start in the laboratory so early and excel right at the start, which speaks to Shriya’s remarkable aptitude to perform high quality research,” Lippert said.

 In addition to her work with Professor Lippert, she co-authored a manuscript with a separate collaboration with researchers at Georgetown University, conducted a research internship at UT Southwestern and is learning molecular biology techniques for cloning, protein expression and purification, said Brian Zoltowski, professor of chemistry and Shriya’s organic chemistry professor.

Shriya Siddhartha is one of six students selected nationwide to receive the 2024 Goldwater U Award, one of the most prestigious national science awards presented to undergraduate students pursuing a medical research career. Photo by Hillsman S. Jackson, SMU

Siddhartha is carefully planning her steps to reach her long-term goal, to become an ophthalmology surgeon, optic nerve researcher and medical school professor, at least ten years of additional education after graduating from SMU. In the meantime, she is an active undergraduate  member of several campus honors groups – a Dedman Scholar, a Hamilton Research Scholar, a Tower Scholar and a Richter Scholar. She’s also vice president of the SMU Asian Council and a volunteer with Mustang Heroes, a campus community service organization. She is determined to promote the importance of health equity throughout her career.

This busy student relaxes with music. She performs classical South Indian music with her sister and mentors younger musicians. Siddhartha also plays the guitar with a rock band made up of high school friends. The band, “Vacuum,” is releasing a new song later this summer.