Chapter Achievements

This page is dedicated to acknowledging the outstanding academic achievements of our current Sigma Xi members and Northeastern alumni!

Goldwater Scholarship

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship is a highly competitive, merit-based award for outstanding students in mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering who are interested in pursuing a career in research. Sophomores and juniors with exceptional academic records and compelling research proposals are typically the most successful applicants. Northeastern can nominate up to 4 undergraduate students per year to receive Goldwater funding.

Kaitlyn Ramesh- 2024 Recipient

COE '25, Bioengineering

Mentors: Mingyang Lu, Maxim Prigozhin, Helen Ann Markewich

Kaitlyn is a fourth-year member of Sigma Xi who aspires to earn a PhD in Computational Biology. She hopes to advance the field of precision medicine by developing computational tools for examining genomics data. Using Northeastern PEAK funding and the AJC Merit Research Scholarship, she developed an algorithm that analyzes single-cell gene expression data to infer the kinetics of expression changes that drive biological processes such as wound healing.

Madeline Szoo- 2024 Nominee

COE / COS '25, Chemical Engineering & Biochemistry

Mentors: Debra Auguste, Adam Hartigan, Rachelle Reisberg

Madeline is a fourth-year member of Sigma Xi who came to Northeastern with a drive to cure triple-negative breast cancer. She hopes to earn a PhD in Bioengineering with a concentration in oncological nanomedicine. Madeline has earned 2 Northeastern PEAK Awards and an Honors Early Research Award to explore lipid nanoemulsions with Professor Debra Auguste. She completed her most recent co-op at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at MGH and Harvard Medical School. Madeline earned a Sigma Xi Grant in Aid of Research to support her work at MGH, where she studied pancreatic cancer models and their treatment using a combination of photodynamic therapy and immunotherapies. Madeline joined the TUMOR Laboratory of Northeastern Professor Cynthia Hajal in Spring 2024 to pursue her passion for tumor modeling.

Gillian McClennen- 2023 Recipient

Churchill Scholarship

The Churchill Scholarship provides funding to American students for one year of Master's study at the University of Cambridge, based at Churchill College. The program was set up at the request of Sir Winston Churchill to foster international scientific exchange with the goal of advancing science and technology. Churchill Scholars attend the only college at Cambridge focused entirely on STEM subjects, and have the opportunity to conduct independent research (often leading to publications) that is otherwise difficult to find until well into a PhD program.

Ethan Wong- 2024 Recipient

Ethan is a Northeastern Sigma Xi alumnus who earned his undergraduate degree in Biology with a minor in Data Science in May 2024. He is one of 16 recipients of the 2024 Churchill Scholarship in science, math, and engineering, which funds one year of Master's study at Churchill College at the University of Cambridge. After receiving his Master's degree, Ethan plans to pursue a career in medicine.

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GFRP)

The National Science Foundation (NSF) makes about 2,300 annual awards to students with the potential to make significant contributions to research, teaching and industrial applications in science, mathematics and engineering. The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (GFRP) is to help ensure the quality, vitality, and diversity of the science and engineering workforce, and to broaden participation of the full spectrum of diverse talents in STEM. The five-year fellowship provides financial support to recipients, including an annual stipend that helps fund graduate study. The NSF GFRP fellowship may be granted to graduating undergraduates, first-year graduate students, or second-year graduate students.

Jason Olszewski- 2024 Recipient

COE '24, Bioengineering & Electrical Engineering

Graduate Instutution: TBA

Field of Graduate Study: Biomedical Engineering

Jason is a Northeastern Sigma Xi alumnus who received his undergraduate degree in Bioengineering with a minor in Electrical Engineering in May 2024. He plans to pursue a PhD in Biomedical Engineering, and is one of 24 Husky awardees receiving an NSF grant this year to fund graduate research in STEM. Jason's undergraduate research centered around tissue engineering and the extracellular matrix (ECM). As a research assistant in the Lewis Lab at Harvard and the Ruberti Lab at Northeastern, Jason studied the biomechanical components of tissue formation to develop 3D bioprinting technology for vascularized tissue fabrication.

Gillian McClennen- 2024 Recipient

COS '23, Biochemistry & Data Science

Graduate Institution: TBA

Field of Graduate Study: Microbial Biology

Gillian is a Northeastern Sigma Xi alumnus who received her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry with a minor in Data Science in December 2023. She plans to pursue a PhD in Microbial Biology, and is one of 24 Husky awardees receiving an NSF grant this year to fund graduate research in STEM. Gillian was also named a Goldwater Scholar in 2023, and is currently working as a research assistant in the MACE Lab at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland.

Additional Scholarships

Sigma Xi Grants in Aid of Research (GIAR)

The Sigma Xi Grants in Aid of Research (GIAR) program provides both undergraduate and graduate students with funding for valuable educational experiences. By encouraging close working relationships between students and mentors, the GIAR program promotes scientific achievement through hands-on learning.

Spring 2024 Recipients:

Madeline Szoo- COE / COS '25, Chemical Engineering & Biochemistry

Ethan Wong- COS '24, Biology

Northeastern University PEAK Awards

Northeastern's Project-Based Exploration for the Advancement of Knowledge (PEAK) Awards are a progressively structured sequence of opportunities designed to support students throughout their undergarduate research journeys. From new researchers gaining early experience to those establishing their independence in the lab, the PEAK Awards offer a level of support for everyone.

PEAK Base Camp Award Recipients:

Spring 2023

Sophia Nguyen- COE '27, Electrical & Computer Engineering

Fall 2022

Rachel Holly- COE '25, Bioengineering & Electrical Engineering

Fall 2021

Madeline Szoo- COE / COS '25, Chemical Engineering & Biochemistry

Julia Zalvino- COS '24, Behavioral Neuroscience

PEAK Ascent Award Recipients:

Summer 2023

Sophia Nguyen- COE '27, Electrical & Computer Engineering

Summer 2022

Madeline Szoo- COE / COS '25, Chemical Engineering & Biochemistry

Fall 2021

Jason Olszewski- COE '24, Bioengineering & Electrical Engineering

Summer 2021

Gillian McClennen- COS '23, Biochemistry & Data Science

Ethan Wong- COS '24, Biology

PEAK Summit Award Recipients:

Summer 2023

Madeline Szoo- COE / COS '25, Chemical Engineering & Biochemistry

Ethan Wong- COS '24, Biology

Fall 2022

Gillian McClennen- COS '23, Biochemistry & Data Science

Jason Olszewski- COE '24, Bioengineering & Electrical Engineering

Julia Zalvino- COS '24, Behavioral Neuroscience

PEAK Trailblazer Award Recipient:

Summer 2023

Gillian McClennen- COS '23, Biochemistry & Data Science

Northeastern University Honors Early Research Awards

Northeastern's Honors Early Research Awards offer funding for projects that introduce first- and second-year Honors students to scholarly inquiry through either student-initiated or faculty-initiated research.

Spring 2022 Recipients:

Jason Olszewski- COE '24, Bioengineering & Electrical Engineering

Madeline Szoo- COE / COS '25, Chemical Engineering & Biochemistry

Northeastern University Honors Program Amelia Peabody Scholarship

The Amelia Peabody Scholarship is one of several awards and scholarships offered to students in the Northeastern University Honors Program that can be applied towards undergraduate research and creative endeavors. Applicants must demonstrate good academic standing and active participation in the university Honors Program to be eligible.

Spring 2022 Recipient:

Aissata Cisse- COS '25, Biochemistry

Northeastern University COS Advancing Women in Science Scholarship

The COS Advancing Women in Science Scholarship demonstrates Northeastern’s commitment to increasing the representation of women in STEM majors and careers. One or more student is chosen to receive this award annually by the dean of the College of Science.

Fall 2023 Recipient:

Aissata Cisse- COS '25, Biochemistry

Northeastern University Sears B. Condit Award

The Sears B. Condit Award provides scholarships for students with outstanding academic achievements at Northeastern University. Juniors and seniors are eligible to receive this award.

Spring 2023 Recipient:

Gillian McClennen- COS '23, Biochemistry & Data Science

Martinez Fellowship for Psychology Research

The Martinez Fellowship for Psychology Research is an annual fellowship awarded to exceptional Northeastern undergraduates pursuing a career in psychology research. Each year, through the generosity of Paul and Grace Ward Martinez (’48), the Department of Psychology offers fellowships to a select group of students who will be holding positions in research or non-profit, service-oriented organizations.

2023 Recipient:

Aanchalika Chauhan - COS '25, Behavioral Neuroscience

Aspire2STEAM Scholarship

Aspire2STEAM is a humanitarian non-profit organization that provides educational scholarships to young, underserved women pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM). The Aspire2STEAM scholarship program was created to help break down barriers for women and girls in STEAM who come from underprivileged communities.

Fall 2023 Recipient:

Madeline Szoo- COE / COS '25, Chemical Engineering & Biochemistry

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