College of Natural Science undergraduate awarded prestigious national scholarship
Samuel Sottile, a Michigan State University junior majoring in advanced mathematics in the College of Natural Science’s Department of Mathematics, is among three MSU undergraduate students who are recipients of the nationally competitive Goldwater Scholarship for 2022.
Each year, the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation seeks scholars committed to a career in science, mathematics or engineering who display
intellectual intensity and who have the potential for significant future contribution
in their chosen field. The recipients receive funding for undergraduate tuition and
living expenses.
Since the scholarship program began in 1989, 52 MSU students have been recognized
with the honor.
Sottile, who is also an Honors College student, is pursuing a research project that
focuses on ergodic quantum processes under the supervision of Jeffrey Schenker and
Ilya Kachkovskiy in the Department of Mathematics. He is president of the MSU Math
Club and was a commended finalist in the Alumni Distinguished Scholarship Competition.
Sottile is from College Station, Texas.
“I would like to thank my research mentors and everyone I have worked with. I am honored
to receive this award and am looking forward to continuing my research,” Sottile said.
“Sam is an outstanding mathematician – his creativity and insight are astounding for one so early in their career path,” said Keith Promislow, Department of Mathematics chair. “It has been a tremendous pleasure for all of us who have had the opportunity to work with him.”
In addition to Sottile, Bailey Bowcutt, a junior majoring in microbiology, and Calista Busch, a junior majoring in genomics and molecular genetics, also received Goldwater scholarships. Both are Lyman Briggs College students and members of the Honors College.
The National/International Fellowships and Scholarships Office, administered by the Honors College, helps interested undergraduate and graduate students pursue major national and international opportunities by providing information and direct support throughout the competitive application processes.
Banner image: The College of Natural Science (NatSci) at Michigan State University is home to 27 departments and programs in the biological, physical, and mathematical sciences. The college averages $57M in research expenditures annually, while providing world-class educational opportunities to more than 5,500 undergraduate majors and 1,200 graduate and postdoc students. There are 800+ faculty and academic staff associated with NatSci, and more than 63,000 living alumni worldwide. Credit: Harley J. Seeley
