Three UB undergraduates named Goldwater scholars

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Three University at Buffalo students have been awarded the highly competitive Barry Goldwater Scholarship, a national award recognizing outstanding undergraduates pursuing research careers in science, mathematics and engineering.

The scholarship, established by Congress in 1986 to honor the legacy of Sen. Barry Goldwater, supports sophomores and juniors who demonstrate outstanding potential and plan to pursue a PhD in a STEM field and a career in research.

In 2026, 454 scholars were selected from 1,485 students nominated by 482 academic institutions.

This year’s UB winners:

• Carsyn Bonesteel, originally from Saratoga, is majoring in bioinformatics and computational biology with a concentration in biological sciences, along with a minor in statistics.
• Matthew Bablin, a Ballston Spa native, is a junior majoring in chemical engineering who plans to pursue a PhD in the field. He plans to conduct industry-guided research at a national laboratory in sustainable process systems engineering to inform government decisions and consult companies.
• Chris Page, originally from Skaneateles, is pursuing two bachelor’s degrees — one in biological sciences and the other in linguistics.

“Putting together a strong Goldwater application requires significant time and effort on top of many other academic and research responsibilities,” says Lisa Gagnon, adviser in the Office of Fellowships and Scholarships, which supports students in identifying and applying for nationally competitive awards such as the Goldwater, Fulbright and Truman scholarships.

“We are thrilled that Carsyn’s, Chris’ and Matthew’s hard work is being recognized in this way, and we look forward to seeing them continue to thrive in graduate school and beyond.”

This year was one of UB’s most successful Goldwater years to date, Gagnon says, noting that with each institution only being allowed to nominate four to six students every year, having three recipients is a significant accomplishment. UB has achieved that only twice before: in 2022, with three recipients, and in 2015, with three recipients and one honorable mention.

Bonesteel says winning a Goldwater Scholarship is incredibly meaningful. “It represents recognition of the time, effort and passion I have invested in my research, and it affirms my potential as a developing scientist,” she says. “It also motivates me to continue pursuing challenging research questions and to contribute meaningfully to the field.”

Bonesteel calls her longstanding interest in biology “deeply personal.” 

“My brother has a rare genetic condition that has significantly shaped my perspective and motivated my curiosity about human genetics,” she says. “When I discovered that UB offered a dedicated undergraduate program in bioinformatics, it stood out as a unique opportunity to combine biology with computational approaches. That flexibility made UB the ideal place for me to pursue my academic and career goals.”

She adds that UB’s strong commitment to undergraduate research was a major factor in her decision to attend the university.

Bonesteel works in the lab of Omer Gokcumen, professor of biological sciences, where her research focuses on the gene ACOT1, which evolved specifically in humans and plays a role in fat metabolism. The gene has been linked to metabolic traits and conditions such as obesity and Type 2 diabetes. She studies how ACOT1 evolved across human populations and what that variation may mean for human health today.

“My experience in Dr. Gokcumen’s lab has been truly transformative,” Bonesteel says. “The lab environment is both welcoming and intellectually stimulating, and I have been supported by the lab’s members every step of the way as I learned complex concepts and techniques.”

In addition to her academic work, Bonesteel is a senior trip leader for UB’s Outdoor Adventure Club and serves as a WiSE ambassador, helping connect female students with research opportunities on campus.

Bablin praises UB for the opportunity to fully realize his research ambitions as an undergraduate.

“Winning the Goldwater Scholarship was very exciting to me,” he says. “I am grateful to be recognized and awarded for my research efforts.”

Bablin works in the Sustainable Systems Engineering lab at UB, focusing on plastic recycling technology. “During my career, I hope to connect my background in chemical engineering to emerging technologies in the broader field of sustainable engineering,” he says. “My research projects have been inspiring to me, as I have a deep connection to the outdoors. I feel that doing research in sustainability is my way to pay back the environment for all the joy it has given me.”

Bablin recognized his mentor, Aurora del Carmen Munguía-López, assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering, for her support throughout his time in the research lab. “Her mentorship has fostered my scientific mind and inspired my academic goals.”

Bablin sums up his time at UB in four words: “work hard, play hard.”

He serves as a trip leader with UB’s Outdoor Adventure Club, frequently taking part in the club’s backpacking and camping trips. “Working hard in my classes and research projects all week and spending the weekends outdoors has been a great way to experience UB,” he says.

Page says he was drawn to UB because of the university’s wide range of research possibilities, along with the opportunity to become educated in other fields.

“When I was deciding what college to attend, I was looking for schools with lots of opportunities for undergraduate research,” says Page. “And I chose my second degree because I believe that being well-rounded and exposed to many different fields and points of view is critical for success as a student, a researcher and in life overall.”

Page works in the labs of Charlotte Lindqvist, professor and director of graduate studies, and Victor Albert, Empire Innovation Professor, both in the Department of Biological Sciences, where he focuses on the architecture and evolution of genomes, particularly in plants, through genome assembly and analysis. He notes that plant genomes host many unique evolutionary events and selective pressures, making them ideal models for studying genome dynamics and evolution.

“By better understanding the foundations and origins of these genomes, I hope to inform research in genetic engineering that can be used to address questions in agriculture, medicine, industry and synthetic biology.”

Page says he’s felt supported throughout his undergraduate journey.

“It has been an amazing experience working under the mentorship of Drs. Albert and Lindqvist,” he says. “Winning this award was only possible through their support and the help of PhD students Jonathan Kirshner and Johanna Merkel.”

A member of Honors College, Page also works as an academic assistant with Campus Living, where he mentors first-year, pre-health students in the Ellicott Complex.