Two Florida State University College of Arts and Sciences students, Grace Hickey and Kaya Simmons, have been awarded the 2025 Barry Goldwater Scholarship, a national honor recognizing outstanding undergraduates pursuing research careers in natural sciences, mathematics and engineering.

“FSU’s consistent success with the Goldwater Scholarship is not only a testament to the quality of our students’ research, but the quality of the guidance and mentorship they receive from their faculty mentors who demystify what it means to be a scientist,” said Jesse Wieland, associate director of the Office of National Fellowships.

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship & Excellence in Education Foundation received 1,305 applications from 445 colleges and universities for the 2024-2025 cycle, awarding 441 new scholarships. Since 1986, the program has honored 11,162 scholars for their contributions to scientific advancement.

Grace Hickey, a junior from Niceville, Fla., is pursuing dual degrees in Cell and Molecular Neuroscience and Computational Science. Since arriving at FSU, she has immersed herself in neuroscience research, laying the groundwork for her Goldwater Scholarship.

Her passion for neuroscience began in high school after reading “Patient H.M.: A Story of Memory, Madness, and Family Secrets,” a book about the history of lobotomies and a patient who underwent a brain surgery in 1953 that caused him to lose the ability to form new memories.

“I didn’t always want to be a scientist — through most of middle school I actually wanted to be a fiction author — but ‘Patient H.M.’ opened the door to neuroscience and all of the incredible things that the brain does,” Hickey said. “It opened my eyes to the brain’s complexity and set me on this path.”

For her honors thesis, Hickey has focused her studies on genetic and cellular bases of social behavior alongside Elizabeth Hammock, associate professor in the Department of Psychology. She has also worked on frog mate choice with Alan Lemmon, professor in the Department of Scientific Computing, and the study of insect vision with the Air Force Research Laboratory, where she is the lead author on a forthcoming paper.

Hickey praises the Office of National Fellowships (ONF), especially Jesse Wieland, associate director of the Office of National Fellowships, for the invaluable assistance in preparing her for such a competitive award application.

“FSU’s overall environment for undergraduates in research is fantastic; so many professors are willing to bring undergraduates into their labs, and these professors have been critical to shaping my experience and goals,” she said. “I know I would not be in the same place without the support of ONF and the amazing professors at FSU.”

Reflecting on her journey, Hickey sees this Goldwater Scholarship as both a milestone and a motivator toward her future in research.

“It’s really validating to know that I’m on the right track for a career in research,” she said. “Winning a Goldwater is an amazing reminder that all of my hard work in academics and research over the last three years is helping me grow into a scientist, both now and in the rest of my career.”

Kaya Simmons, a junior from DeLand, Fla., is pursuing a degree in behavioral neuroscience, earning a 2025 Barry Goldwater Scholarship for her innovative animal behavior research.

Her passion for research took flight while working at a local parrot sanctuary in high school, where she interacted with more than 100 parrots to address behavioral challenges.

“The variations in each bird’s response fascinated me, sparking questions about what drives behavioral differences within and across species,” she said. “Behavior ultimately starts with the nervous system, which is why neuroscience is of extra interest to me.”

Since her freshman year at FSU, Simmons has been part of the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), building a foundation for her 2025 Goldwater Scholarship.

With Emily DuVal, professor of biological science, Simmons develops machine-learning techniques to analyze dance displays of Panama’s tropical birds, preparing her for upcoming summer fieldwork there. For her honors thesis with Emily Lemmon, professor of biological science, she investigates how vasotocin, a neural hormone, shapes female frog reproductive behavior.

Last summer, Simmons secured a National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Award to study climate change’s impact on ground squirrel behavior in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. She also co-founded a campus bird-window strike study and leads the Spoonbill Society, FSU’s birding club.

“The faculty here at FSU have played a monumental role in my achievements and ultimately the awarding of this fellowship,” Simmons said. “By providing me with endless knowledge, support, opportunities and resources, I have been able to accomplish so much more than I ever thought was possible.”

Reflecting on the scholarship, she added, “This honor confirms I’m on track for a research career. It’s a milestone motivating me to keep following my academic dreams and contribute to science long-term.”

“Emily and Alan Lemmon, Elizabeth Hammock and Emily DuVal are consistent champions for the undergraduates in their research labs, and their belief in their students is invaluable in this competitive process,” Wieland said. “Grace and Kaya worked incredibly hard to earn this prestigious honor, and I am excited to see where it takes them in their academic and professional careers.”

To learn about fellowship opportunities, visit onf.fsu.edu. Applications for the 2025-2026 cycle will open Tuesday Sept. 2, 2025.

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Angelina Dobbs, an IDEA grant recipient and Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) student, uses her undergraduate research efforts to educate others about how women participated in Enlightenment ideas in the 18th century. Dobbs seeks to provide engaging and accessible course material for future students to enjoy via her podcast about Italian women’s sociability.

In tandem with her research, Dobbs has participated in the Women’s Leadership Institute and strives to create a welcoming and empowering space for women in academia.

How did you choose FSU?

Choosing FSU was not hard at all. I am originally from Denver, Colorado, and at the beginning of my college application process, I wanted to go to Boston to study. I initially applied to FSU because my twin sister, Sofie, wanted to attend a Florida university and I didn’t want to separate from her. Of course, it helped that FSU has a fantastic editing, writing, and media program, which aligned well with my aspirations for the publishing field. It wasn’t until I toured the campus in November 2022 that I absolutely fell in love with the school. I found the red brick buildings charming and the still-green plants refreshing. My tour guide’s genuine enthusiasm and stellar review sold me on the school. After hearing about the abundance of opportunities for undergraduate research, I left the tour feeling that I needed to go to FSU. As soon as I saw my acceptance letter, I made my decision. Now, I am here and I haven’t regretted my choice for a second.

How have your academic achievements shaped your journey at FSU?

In fall 2023, I joined professor Irene Zanini-Cordi’s project “Culture, Conversations, and Social Networks in 18th and 19th Century Italy” in the UROP program. Through the lens of social network theory, my research team examined how Italian salonnières influenced the growth of Enlightenment culture through their agency and contributions to art, science and literature.

My research within this project focused on how famed Venetian salonnière, Isabella Teotochi Albrizzi, used her educational connections and intellectual merit to reframe her identity into that of a respected literary critic and published author, at a time when women were unable to do so. My primary goal was to study how she successfully challenged social and literary gender norms.

What was the thinking behind your podcast?

To spread our research, my team wrote, edited and produced a podcast series, “Sip and Connect: Social Networking Italian Style,” and co-authored “Conversations that Shape Identity,” a peer-reviewed, pedagogical article for Eighteenth-Century Studies, slated for publication in spring 2025.

Our team won an IDEA grant to expand our podcast to examine how innovative technological and cultural developments in coffee culture, journalism, politics, early science, religion, fashion, social etiquette, art and opera shaped Italian sociability during the 18th century and embodied Enlightenment ideas. The podcast episodes will be used in course curriculum for a class on Italian sociability in the 18th century at FSU, taught by professor Zanini-Cordi. While our main objective with this series was to help students explore Enlightenment culture, we also learned how to conversationally engage the public with intellectual topics and use modern media to circulate knowledge.

How have you gotten involved with your community, and how has that shaped who you are?

I attended the Women’s Leadership Institute in October 2022. I wanted to meet like-minded, ambitious women and learn from mentors who could teach me how to advocate for myself as I entered the uncharted territory of academia. During this influential weekend, we discussed topics on women’s experiences in the workplace and how to approach difficulties with confidence. The Women’s Leadership Institute laid a foundation for my college experience and professional persona. I have become comfortable directing projects, using my abilities to chase opportunities I wouldn’t have previously attempted and motivating other women to do the same. This institute also sparked my interest in Women’s Studies, which has been a crucial aspect of my research.

My research projects have also worked to support the women in my close circle. My work highlights how women have historically exercised agency to accomplish outstanding achievements and contribute to the development of our modern world. By revealing and sharing the rich history of these women’s hard work, I encourage the women around me at FSU to build each other up and attempt the impossible.

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