Two students from Georgia State University’s Honors College, Avvai Chandrasekaran and Nneka Otuonye, have been named recipients of the Barry Goldwater Scholarship for 2025. This marks the first time that two students from Georgia State’s Atlanta Campus have received this recognition in the same year.
Chandrasekaran and Otuonye are among 441 students selected nationwide from a pool of over 1,300 applicants representing nearly 500 academic institutions. The Goldwater Scholarship is regarded as one of the most prestigious awards for undergraduates pursuing careers in natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics. Recipients often continue on to earn other major national honors and gain admission to competitive graduate programs.
Avvai Chandrasekaran is a fourth-year student double majoring in computer science and philosophy with a focus on data science. She has worked at Georgia State’s Collaborative Human-AI Center (CHAI), leading Project Pepper, which involves developing a system for a humanoid robot to interpret its environment and engage in context-aware conversations using artificial intelligence. Her experience also includes research internships at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory in Maryland and participation in the University of California, Irvine’s Logic and Philosophy of Science Summer Development Program. Chandrasekaran is currently working on her Honors thesis titled “Developing Domain Specific Large Language Models,” supervised by Professor Raj Sunderraman. She plans to pursue a doctorate in artificial intelligence and machine learning after graduating in spring 2026.
Upon receiving news of her award, Chandrasekaran said she was “elated and incredibly grateful.” She added, “I realized that the application process itself had helped me refine my research goals and fuel my commitment to achieving them,” noting her appreciation for her mentors and Georgia State’s Goldwater Committee.
Nneka Otuonye is a fourth-year biology major with an anthropology minor who aims to pursue both a medical degree and a Ph.D. Since her first year at Georgia State, she has participated in research through the National Institutes of Health’s T34 Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) program under Assistant Professor Jessica Bolton. Her current research examines how microglial mechanisms affect neural circuitry during early-life adversity. In summer 2024, Otuonye joined Vanderbilt University Medical Scientist Training Program’s Summer Research Program, gaining insights into life as an M.D./Ph.D. candidate. She also conducted research at Yale University through the Leadership Alliance consortium.
Otuonye described winning the scholarship as “the opportunity of a lifetime and a testament to perseverance.” She hopes her achievement will “inspire other students to engage in research and pursue interdisciplinary degrees, as exemplified by my academic journey.”
Georgia State’s Goldwater Campus Committee includes faculty members from several departments: Gigi Ray (Chemistry), Ashwin Ashok (Computer Science), Florian Enescu (Mathematics and Statistics), Chris Goode (Neuroscience and Psychology), Jonathan Blaylock Sylvester (Biology), Victoria Mariani (Chemistry), and Desiree Wanders (Nutrition).
The application process for next year’s Goldwater Scholarship is now open at Georgia State University, with interested students encouraged to begin preparing their materials during the fall and spring semesters before results are announced each March.
For more information about support services available for scholarships such as study abroad or graduate studies awards at Georgia State University, prospective applicants can visit the Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships website.
The Honors College at Georgia State University provides high-achieving students with opportunities for academic excellence, community service involvement, research experiences, career exploration, and personal growth within an inclusive environment.
