Engineering student receives prestigious Goldwater scholarship
Elliot Paul (Contributed photo)
East Carolina University engineering major Elliot Paul has been named a 2021 Goldwater Scholar, the most prestigious national undergraduate scholarship in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering.
More than 1,200 students from 438 academic institutions were nominated for the Goldwater Scholarship this year. Of the 410 scholarships awarded for the 2021-22 academic year, only 68 were in engineering. Students receive scholarship support equal to the cost of tuition, mandatory fees, books and room and board, up to $7,500.
“I am excited to see what doors the Goldwater will open for me,” Paul said. “I cannot say what opportunities I will receive in the coming years, but the list of possibilities excites me, and the Goldwater is a great honor that will help accelerate me forward.”
During Paul’s time at ECU, his main research focus has been on bone and joint mechanobiology. He has worked primarily with Dr. Ali Vahdati and studied articular cartilage in the human knee, femur, tibia and cornea.
“I started mentoring and working with Elliot closely on various research projects approximately two years ago when he participated in the BME-SIM REU program, and he has been an active research member of my lab since then,” said Vahdati, an assistant professor in the Department of Engineering.
Through his work with Vahdati, Paul has presented research at international Biomedical Engineering Society meetings and the 2020 State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium. He is now working on a research paper that will be submitted to biomedical engineering journal.
“Elliot has always responded to my guidance and feedback positively and has continuously improved as a research engineer,” Vahdati said. “I look forward to working with Elliot on another research project next year.”
Paul’s reaction when he received the news was one of shock, honor and excitement.
“I saw the email as I was sitting down for lunch with some coworkers. For the entire meal I had to work hard to hold back a thankful smile,” he said. “Celebrating with my family and receiving personal notes of congratulations from fellow Pirates was an honor.”
Paul is a junior in the Honors College and an EC Scholar whose passion for research drove him to apply for the Goldwater Scholarship.
“I love how research involves both soft skills like critical thinking, persistence and clear communication and technical skills like computer modeling, programming and statistical analysis,” Paul said. “I am especially captivated by human biomechanics because the human body is a breathtaking design of interrelated systems that we depend on each day. I want my research to help people to live healthier lives.”
To be eligible for the Goldwater, students must intend to pursue a research career in a natural science, mathematics or engineering. Previous Goldwater recipients have attended prestigious postgraduate fellowship programs and received graduate awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Marshall Scholarships and National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships.
“It is not my lot to predict the future opportunities I will receive, but, whatever I do, I will do it with my might,” Paul said. “Many Goldwater scholars go on to complete graduate degrees at top schools and receive other prestigious fellowships. Many go on to be professors in academia and some become expert researchers in industry.”
In addition to Dr. Vahdati, Paul has received research mentorship from Dr. Stacey Meardon, Dr. Jason Yao and Dr. Stephanie George.
“I could go on and on about the support I have received from other faculty members and administrators in the College of Engineering and Technology and the Honors College,” he said. “I hope my distinction as a Goldwater Scholar demonstrates the immense, consistent support I have received from the wonderful people of ECU.”
Paul will finish his engineering degree with a biomedical concentration in 2022.
“We are so excited for Elliot and his recognition as a Goldwater Fellow,” said Dr. Todd Fraley, Honors College associate dean and director of the EC Scholars program. “He is a remarkable young man. It is a pleasure working with him and watching him grow as a leader in the classroom and community. He is very deserving of this honor and is a reminder to others of what they can achieve during their time as a Pirate.”