Two years of professor-mentored research integrating biology and mathematics on Georgia Southern University's campus has culminated in two distinguished opportunities for Katherine Barrs.

Barrs, a Statesboro native double majoring in math and biology, has garnered a Barry Goldwater Scholarship, the preeminent undergraduate award for students pursuing research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering. She is one of only 496 college students from across the United States to earn the scholarship, which she will apply to her remaining four semesters of coursework.

Barrs also was selected to participate in the 2019 Sackler/National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates: Interdisciplinary Research Training Across Biology, Physics, and Engineering at Yale University. For 10 weeks this summer, she will conduct research on the molecular machinery of endocytosis using experimental, quantitative and imaging methods with a professor in Yale's Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry. The program has a particular focus on helping students prepare for graduate school and expanding networking opportunities.

"Both of these opportunities mean a lot for my future," Barrs said. "For me, being awarded the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and earning the research opportunity at Yale is recognition of all of my hard work. Also, knowing that I can contribute to a field, even though I'm only a sophomore, is rewarding. I am grateful to my research mentors, Dr. Joshua Gibson and Dr. Hua Wang, and Dr. Steven Engel and Dr. Francis Desiderio in the University Honors Program. Their support and encouragement made this possible."

"This is well-deserved recognition at the national level for Katherine Barrs' hard work and dedication," said university Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Carl L. Reiber, Ph.D. "The Goldwater Scholar recognition is of national standing and demonstrates her ability at that level, as well as her research efforts at Georgia Southern. It is an honor to call Katherine an Eagle."

Currently, Barrs conducts research that bridges mathematics, biology and chemistry. She presented her work on colony recognition in Argentine ants at Georgia Southern's 2019 Honors Research Symposium, the College Office of Undergraduate Research Symposium and two regional conferences.

"Katherine's research project combines mathematics and biology in a really exciting way," Gibson said. "She uses modeling through mathematical analysis and chemical graph theory to understand the behavioral interactions of ant colonies using a complex blend of chemicals."

Barrs is a member of the University Honors Program, National Biological Honor Society, TriBeta, national honor societies Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Delta Kappa, and the university's Honors Ambassadors. She intends to pursue a Ph.D. in biomathematics or applied sciences and hopes to one day conduct applied research at the interface of biology, chemistry and mathematics in an industry or a government institution.

"Katherine is one of the more outstanding students at Georgia Southern," said Martha L. Abell, Ph.D., professor of mathematics. "Faculty members appreciate how she completely engages in the learning process by attending all classes, giving her full attention, providing thoughtful responses during classroom discussions and solving problems to the extent that she understands the complexities of the underlying theory. Her fellow students appreciate her helpful nature and ability to bring new perspectives to problem-solving."

The Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation was established by Congress in 1986 to honor the lifetime work of Sen. Barry Goldwater.