On March 27, the Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation announced that Elena Sasu ’27 and Mia Crawford ’28 have received the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, one of the oldest and most prestigious national awards dedicated to STEM research. This marks the fifth consecutive year that Barnard College has produced at least one Goldwater Scholar, a testament to the College’s longstanding commitment to cultivating scientific talent.
“The recognition of Elena and Mia speaks to the fellowships culture that continues to grow and thrive at Barnard," said A-J Aronstein, Vice President of Community Engagement & Lifelong Success at Beyond Barnard. "Student success in science scholarships like the Goldwater is one definite result of Barnard's ongoing investment in STEM, which includes the opening of the Roy and Diana Vagelos Science Center in fall 2026 and the continued support for the Summer Research Institute."
According to the Goldwater Foundation, 454 students were selected from a competitive pool of more than 5,000 nominees. The scholarship, which was first awarded in 1989, recognizes remarkable sophomores and juniors who are planning research careers in fields related to the sciences, engineering, and mathematics. Each scholar receives up to $7,500 in annual support to cover tuition, fees, books, and room and board.
Meet Barnard’s 2026 Goldwater Scholars
Elena Sasu, from San Francisco, California, is a junior on the Cellular & Molecular biology track. She currently works in Dr. Jennifer Lillian Small-Saunders’s lab at Columbia University's Irving Medical Center, where she researches how tRNA modifications influence stress tolerance and drug resistance in malaria parasites.
"Receiving the Goldwater Scholarship is especially meaningful to me because it reflects the growth I’ve experienced since first joining a lab in high school,” said Sasu. “I am deeply grateful for the mentors who have shaped my scientific journey, as well as the academic and research opportunities I’ve had at Barnard that have challenged me to work independently and think creatively. These experiences have strengthened my confidence in pursuing a PhD and a career in research."
Mia Crawford, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a sophomore with a double major in Cellular & Molecular Biology and English. She has worked in Dr. Sebastián A. Riquelme’s lab at Columbia’s Irving Medical Center, which focuses on the impact of metabolism on host-pathogen interactions, as well as Dr. Steve Murray’s lab at the Jackson Laboratory, where she researched the developmental mechanisms of morphogenesis and structural birth defects.
“I am extremely honored to have been awarded the Barry Goldwater Scholarship,” said Crawford. “This would never have been possible without the immense support, guidance, and mentorship I have received here at Barnard. From challenging biology and chemistry courses to analytical English classes, I felt like I had all the tools to be a competitive applicant. I know I will carry these skills through my next two years at Barnard and into a career that bridges the gap between the lab bench and the patient."