Young chemist, Luis Real Hernandez, has been awarded a Barry M. Goldwater scholarship for the 2015-16 academic year for demonstrating leadership and academic promise in science or engineering.

Luis, a junior chemistry major with an interest in the biological activity of natural compounds from foods, has been conducting research since the end of his freshman year and has co-written peer-reviewed journal articles. He was awarded an NSF-sponsored undergraduate research fellowship and as a sophomore took a graduate level course in applied bioinformatics. In 2013, he was named a United States Department of Agriculture Multicultural Advocate in Nutrition Needs and Agriculture Scholar. His long-term goal is to find cures or preventative measures to combat metabolic disorders, such as Type 2 diabetes, by understanding how compounds naturally found in foods interact with proteins associated with these disorders.

The purpose of the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program is to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians, and engineers by awarding scholarships to college students who intend to pursue research careers in these fields.