Nico Bers Awarded Goldwater Scholarship
April 15, 2026
Congratulations to Physics and Astronomy undergraduate student, Nico Bers! Nico has earned the 2026 Barry Goldwater Scholarship, an honor that supports students who plan to pursue careers in the natural sciences, math and engineering.
Nico conducted research with the Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA), working in the group of Professor Vicky Kalogera. He was mentored by former CIERA Fellow (NASA Einstein Fellow) Sylvia Biscoveanu, now a faculty member at Princeton University. He also is currently conducting research with Professor Elena Murchikova and Research Assistant Professor Mark Gorski.
Looking ahead, Bers plans to pursue a Ph.D. in astrophysics and build a career as a researcher and professor, advancing the study of high-energy astrophysical phenomena and cosmology at the university level.
“The Goldwater Scholarship is extremely meaningful to me as it recognizes my research as an undergraduate and inspires me to pursue graduate school in astrophysics,” said Bers. “I am honored to be in the 2026 cohort along with incredible peers across various STEM fields.”
This year, a total of 454 Goldwater Scholars were chosen from among more than 5,000 undergraduates across the nation.
Congratulations to Nico!