EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (April 2, 2026) – Muzan Ebrahem, a junior within the College of Science and Technology (CoST) at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, has been named a 2026 Barry Goldwater Scholar, probably the most prestigious nationwide awards for undergraduate college students pursuing analysis careers in science, arithmetic and engineering.
The Barry Goldwater Scholarship, awarded by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, acknowledges college students who display distinctive tutorial achievement, important analysis expertise and a transparent dedication to doctoral research and analysis‑intensive careers in STEM fields. Named for U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater, this system was designed to foster and encourage excellent college students to pursue analysis careers within the fields of the pure sciences, engineering and arithmetic. The scholarship supplies as much as $7,500 per tutorial 12 months to help undergraduate tuition, obligatory charges, books, and room and board.
“Muzan represents the very best of what it means to be an Honors scholar,” mentioned Margaret I. Kanipes, Ph.D., dean of N.C. A&T’s Honors College. “Her ability to pair intellectual depth with purposeful research and impact speaks to her drive and vision for the future. This recognition affirms not only her talent but also the kind of transformational student experience we aim to provide through the Honors College. We are incredibly proud of her and excited for what lies ahead.”
Ebrahem, an Honors College pupil finding out chemistry, holds a 3.94 GPA and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in most cancers biology, with a concentrate on figuring out novel most cancers vulnerabilities and advancing focused and hybrid therapeutic approaches. Her tutorial and analysis resume displays a excessive caliber of independence, mental maturity and interdisciplinary engagement for an undergraduate pupil.
“Being named a Goldwater Scholar is an incredible honor and affirms my commitment to pursuing a research career,” mentioned Ebrahem. “I am deeply grateful for the mentorship, research opportunities and support I’ve received at North Carolina A&T. This recognition motivates me to continue asking challenging questions and contributing to research that can advance our understanding of cancer and improve therapeutic approaches.”
At A&T, Ebrahem conducts analysis within the Department of Chemistry underneath the mentorship of Rachel Bangle, Ph.D., assistant chemistry professor, the place she investigates the synthesis and utility of form‑dependent silver nanoplates as antimicrobial brokers. Her work integrates nanomaterials synthesis, spectroscopy, and microscopy to handle challenges associated to antimicrobial resistance.
“We are incredibly proud of this outstanding achievement. Receiving the Goldwater Scholarship is a testament to Muzan’s exceptional talent, dedication to research, and commitment to scientific excellence,” mentioned Abdellah Ahmidouch, Ph.D., CoST dean. “This recognition also reflects the outstanding mentorship provided by her faculty advisor, Dr. Bangle. Together, they exemplify the excellence in research and scholarship we strive to cultivate in the College of Science and Technology.”
In addition to her on‑campus analysis, Ebrahem accomplished a extremely aggressive summer season undergraduate internship program on the University of Pennsylvania, the place she carried out most cancers biology analysis underneath Donita Brady, Ph.D. Her mission examined novel copper‑binding inhibitors aimed toward overcoming resistance mechanisms in melanoma therapies. As a results of her analysis excellence, she was chosen to current her findings on the Leadership Alliance National Symposium, an honor awarded to solely a choose group of contributors nationwide.
“At North Carolina A&T, our Goldwater nominees represent the very best of undergraduate research excellence, and Muzan truly stands out at the national level,” mentioned Gerard Dumancas, Ph.D., Goldwater Scholarship campus interim liaison and affiliate Honors College dean of Research and Program Innovation. “She combines exceptional academic strength with remarkable research independence and creativity. Her ability to design experiments, troubleshoot complex challenges, and think deeply about scientific problems places her well beyond her undergraduate peers.”
The Goldwater Scholarship Program at A&T is run by the Honors College. Students concerned about studying extra in regards to the Goldwater Scholarship or the applying course of are inspired to e mail Dumancas at [email protected] for extra info.