EVANSTON, Ill. --- Three students at Northwestern University have received the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship for 2007-08. They are Yonatan F. Kahn, James E. Kath and Suraj S. Pradhan.

The Goldwater Scholarship covers the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year. It is one of the most desirable undergraduate awards. Recipients are chosen based on high GPA, research experience and experience in positions of leadership. Sophomores and juniors in mathematics, the natural sciences or engineering are eligible.

This year, 1,110 students were nominated by the faculties of colleges and universities nationwide. Only 317 scholarships were awarded.

A sophomore with a double major in physics and music, Kahn is a research assistant working on an experiment to detect dark matter particles in the laboratory. He has been offered a research internship in the theory department at Thomas Jefferson National Library during summer 2008.

Kath is a sophomore studying integrated science and physics. Last summer he conducted theoretical astrophysics research on cooling white dwarfs and is currently researching the structure of DNA. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. in physics and biophysics and someday teach on the university level.

A junior in neurobiology and integrated science, Pradhan conducts research on the genetic basis of circadian rhythms and sleep in fruit flies and will continue this research throughout his senior year. He hopes to become a neuroscientist and study the functionality of the brain.

The Scholarship Program honoring U.S. Senator Barry M. Goldwater was designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, natural sciences and engineering. It was established in 1986.

I think it signified the end of the 20th Century.

-Professor Peter Hayes on the Fall of the Berlin Wall