HUNTSVILLE — Emily Wisinski, an honors student in the Department of Atmospheric and Earth Science at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, has been named a 2022 Goldwater Scholar.
The Sen. Barry Goldwater Scholarship was established in 1986 by Congress in partnership with the Department of Defense National Defense Education Programs. The award honors to honor Goldwater, who served 30 years in the U.S. Senate.
The undergraduate scholarship is awarded annually to students in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics. The goal is to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians and engineers.
“I was so shocked,” Wisinski said. “The scholarship is very selective, so I felt extremely proud when I found out I was chosen. The first thing I did was email all of my mentors to let them know the good news, because I wanted to share the moment with everyone who helped me through the application process.
“This scholarship will help my graduate school applications stand out and allow me to pursue other prestigious scholarships and fellowships. I would like to pursue a career in research, so this scholarship will help propel my career forward.”
The Goldwater Scholarship is awarded based on merit and provides up to a maximum of $7,500 per academic year. Colleges and universities are allowed to nominate only four undergraduate students annually.
“There have been so many individuals that have helped me reach the point I am at today,” Wisinski said. “Ryan Wade and Megan Sirbaugh have been fantastic mentors and professors during my first three years of college and always went out of their way to help me.
“I have learned so many valuable lessons from them both in and out of the classroom that I will carry with me forever.”
Wisinski has been working on a project with the Earth Science Branch at Marshall Space Flight Center Disasters Program since March 2020.
“Jordan Bell, who is my mentor on the project with the disasters team, has been one of the most influential mentors I have had,” she said. “We have been working together for almost three years, and he has pushed me to become a better person and scientist every day.
“I am so thankful for the opportunities he has given me on the projects we have worked on, and the support he has given me through all of the ups and downs I have faced throughout my academic career.”
She recently created a comprehensive hail damage “swath events” database covering the Great Plains and Midwest. The program employs remote sensing and geographic information systems.
“With the completion of this database, there are multiple avenues for future work, such as developing a machine learning technique to detect swaths through an automated process, agricultural impact analysis, improvements to seasonal and subseasonal forecasting and more,” Wisinski said. “Currently, … Jordan Bell and I are working on completing a manuscript for this work, which is super exciting.
“The disasters team has provided me with invaluable research experience during my undergraduate career and continually pushes me to develop into a better scientist.”
Last fall, Wisinski was awarded the NOAA Hollings Scholarship, and served an internship at the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory in Seattle.
“I wanted to explore the topics of oceanography and climate modeling during this internship to see if these topics could be areas of research I would like to pursue during my graduate degree,” she said. “I am really enjoying the project and the team I am working with, and feel as though I have learned so much in such a short amount of time.”
As to her future plans, Wisinski said she has the near term mapped out, but wants to leave her options open.
“After I complete my bachelor’s degree, I would like to pursue my Ph.D. in earth science, specifically in atmospheric science or oceanography,” Wisinski said. “Currently, my research interests are all over the place, so I am not entirely sure what I would like to pursue specifically, just yet.
“I am so thankful that I am able to have opportunities that allow me to explore multiple different topics and areas of research within the field of earth science.”
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our email newsletter to have all our smart stories delivered to your inbox.
