Nathaniel Steinsultz’s excellence in physics has been recognized with a 2010 Barry M. Goldwater Award for Math, Science and Engineering.

“The Goldwater Award for Mathematics, Science and Engineering recognizes the top 300 students in U.S. colleges and universities,” said Physics Department Chair Walter Johnson, who serves as the University’s liaison to the Goldwater Scholarship committee.

“I am so pleased that Nat Steinsultz is one of this year’s winners. In Physics we have some incredibly bright, talented students – but occasionally one comes along who is off the scale – like Nat,” said Johnson. “It is a great honor for him, the Physics Department, and the College of Arts and Sciences.”

Research interests

Steinsultz has been working with faculty members on nanotechnology research and presented a poster on Hydrogenization of Palladium Nanoparticles at the PittCon 2010 scientific conference in Orlando, Fla. This summer he will be working in a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at MIT's Materials Processing Center/Center for Materials Science Engineering.

Supportive environment

“Dr. Johnson started pulling me in on Physics Department projects during my first semester here,” said Steinsultz. “Since then, I have had countless research opportunities. The small class sizes have really helped me learn at a challenging pace, which I find wonderful.”

Steinsultz also attributes his success to the encouragement of the target=_blank>Honors Program administrators. “The faith and trust they have in their students' ability to succeed is unending. They really encouraged me to do great things and have helped me shape my academic program to suit my needs,” he said.

Plans for further study & research

Steinsultz intends to earn his PhD in Physics, conduct further research in nanotechnology and teach at the university level.

“I hope my research will keep me on the cutting edge of technology,” he said. “There is a lot of promise in the field of nanoscience, and I believe that it will completely revolutionize the future.

The Goldwater scholarship program was authorized by Congress in 1986 and is aimed at providing a continuing source of highly qualified individuals to academic study and research in mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering. The Goldwater Scholars are selected on the basis of academic merit from a field of 1,111 mathematics, science, and engineering students nominated by the faculties of colleges and universities nationwide.