Two UT San Antonio students have been named 2026 Barry Goldwater Scholars, a prestigious recognition for promising undergraduate sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue careers in research.
Olivia Aubone, a junior mathematics major, and Jorge Vanegas, a junior chemical engineering major, are among 454 students selected this year from a national pool of nearly 1,500 nominees from 482 academic institutions.
Aubone and Vanegas will each receive up to $7,500 to cover tuition, mandatory fees, books and housing for the 2026-2027 academic year.
The Goldwater Scholarship is awarded to undergraduate sophomores or juniors who aspire to become the nation’s next generation of researchers in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering.
Olivia Aubone
Aubone is the first mathematics student at UT San Antonio to receive the Goldwater Scholarship. She conducts research on quantum mathematics and model theory under the mentorship of Associate Professor Eduardo Dueñez and Professor Jose Iovino.
She has taken on a leading role as a student researcher on campus, routinely supporting other undergraduate students as a teaching assistant. Aubone is also part of the math department’s Problem Solving Club and has contributed to two original research projects as a co-author in her research group.
Aubone plans to pursue a PhD in pure mathematics to continue contributing to the field of quantum mathematics.
“What has stood out to me in my undergraduate research experience is how much I have been able to develop skills that are not learned in the classroom, such as giving lectures and writing papers,” Aubone said. “The guidance and support offered by my professors has been essential in enabling me to start my career path in research. Dr. Dueñez and Dr. Iovino’s willingness to share their expertise and their efforts to help students excel have provided me with an open door to the world of research in mathematics.”
Jorge Vanegas
Vanegas, a member of the Honors College, conducts research on developing nanoparticle-embedded hydrogels for cell differentiation in the lab of Gabriela Romero-Uribe, Klesse Endowed Professor.
More recently, he has begun independently studying the use of capsaicin nanoparticles to treat chronic pain. He has also participated in summer research programs at Stanford University and at Technische Universität Darmstadt in Germany. This summer, Vanegas plans to continue exploring future bioengineering applications at Yale University.
Vanegas credits the former NIH-funded ESTEEMED pre-PhD preparation program for kickstarting his interest in research.
“Having the opportunity to be introduced to a research career early on is amazing,” he said. “It helped me plan out my years at UTSA to maximize my experience.”
The Goldwater standard
Since 2019, UT San Antonio has produced 22 Goldwater Scholars, ranking in the top 5% of nearly 500 universities nationwide and tied for 24th in total recipients.
UT San Antonio’s consistent success in the Goldwater competition reflects the strength of its undergraduate research programs and broader commitment to experiential learning and student mentorship.
Programs such as the federally funded APPEX (Academic Personal and Professional Excellence) program, the McNair Scholars program and the College of Sciences’ Rising Researchers and Work Study Research Training Program, introduce students to research at early points in their academic careers.
The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation was established by Congress in 1986 to help ensure that the U.S. produces the number of highly qualified professionals needed in critical fields. To be eligible, students must be in their second or third year and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. UT San Antonio can nominate four students each year, plus one additional transfer student and one additional student who is a U.S. veteran. Applications are submitted through the UT San Antonio Office of Nationally Competitive Awards each fall.
This year, UT San Antonio nominated five students, including Daniel Leal Serrano (neuroscience), Varsha Ponnala (neuroscience) and Ashley Mottola (biomedical engineering).
