University of Tennessee, Knoxville, juniors Samuel Barbour and Jai Mehta have been awarded Goldwater Scholarships for the 2026-27 academic year. From an estimated pool of 1,485 nominees representing 482 academic institutions, Barbour and Mehta were chosen for their exceptional promise in STEM research.
“Sam and Jai are exceptional representatives of the power of undergraduate research at the University of Tennessee and beyond,” said Meredith Malburne-Wade, director of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. “We are so proud of their hard work and dedication to their fields, and we are grateful for the contributions of the entire UT Volunteer family, including faculty, mentors and staff. We can’t wait to see what is next for these exceptional juniors.”
The Goldwater Foundation was established by Congress in 1986 to honor the lifetime work of Sen. Barry Goldwater. The Goldwater Scholarship — widely regarded as the preeminent undergraduate STEM award — is awarded to outstanding college sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering. Awardees each receive up to $7,500 annually to cover tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Including the 2026 recipients, 35 UT have students have been named Goldwater Scholars since 2010.
Meet the recipients
Barbour, a junior from Kingsport, Tennessee, is studying civil engineering.
The Goldwater Scholarship will support Barbour’s journey to postgraduate research in civil engineering with a focus on developing intelligent transportation systems for safer, faster and more efficient transportation.
“Being selected for the Goldwater Scholarship affirms my dedication to researching intelligent transportation systems as I pursue postgraduate research,” said Barbour. “I am grateful for my mentors, friends and family that have challenged me to think critically about how engineering can meaningfully address our ongoing transportation challenges.”
Mehta, of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, is a junior studying computer science and computational biology, both with honors, as well as biomedical machine learning. His minors are pre-health professions and machine learning.
The Goldwater Scholarship will support Mehta in his research at the intersection of computer science and biology, where he aims to harness deep learning for systems and structural biology.
“I am truly humbled and blessed to receive this scholarship — it is a direct reflection of the support and mentorship I have been extremely grateful to receive,” Mehta said. “I aspire to continue my research efforts, driving the change I hope to see in the world.”
As the state’s premier public university, UT prepares students to be leaders in some of the country’s most in-demand fields. Students are frequently awarded competitive national honors including the Goldwater, Fulbright and Gilman Scholarships. URF facilitates the Goldwater application process and works with the Goldwater Selection Committee to choose the university’s nominees.
Ryan Lee, assistant director of URF, who coaches students through the application process, said, “Undergraduate Research and Fellowships would like to recognize and thank UT’s dedicated faculty who invest in and empower our deserving Goldwater recipients. Sam and Jai are being recognized for their countless hours invested in meaningful, high-level research projects. They are Tennessee natives who represent the great talents of our state. We look forward to further supporting and celebrating their future successes.”
UT students seeking more information about the Goldwater Scholarship and other nationally competitive awards can visit the Undergraduate Research and Fellowships website and schedule an appointment to meet with the staff.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Stacy Estep (865-974-8304, sestep3@utk.edu)