Nicole Hondrogiannis wins prestigious Goldwater scholarship
Nicole Hondrogiannis, a junior studying biology, won a prestigious scholarship awarded to those with a promising future in research.
By Cody Boteler on April 8, 2020
For the second time in two years, a Towson University undergraduate student has won a prestigious Goldwater Scholarship, awarded by the .
Nicole Hondrogiannis, a junior biology major from Harford County, received the award this year, an honor given to students who apply and who demonstrate a strong commitment to research, display intellectual rigor and who have the potential to make a future, significant contribution to their field of study.
For Hondrogiannis, that realm of study is the emerging field of nanoscience.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just fascinating,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hese nano-molecular models鈥hey hold so much capability.鈥�
Hondrogiannis says her focus is on developing minimally-invasive chemotherapy treatments. She wants to get a PhD in nanoscience, research targeted drug delivery and teach at the university level.
The proud Towson Tiger says she cried when she found out she had won the award, because of all the hard work that had gone into it, and its significance.
鈥淚鈥檝e worked so hard. I鈥檝e spent so many hours in lab. My research mentor has gone above and beyond to mentor me as a student,鈥� Hondrogiannis says. 鈥淭o see all this hard work, this constant hard work pay off鈥t was absolutely incredible. I鈥檒l never forget it. From here, I just need to keep working even harder, to maintain that. It鈥檚 a propelling point in my academic success.鈥�
Throughout her undergraduate career, she鈥檚 worked in the lab of assistant professor Mary Sajini Devadas, in the department of chemistry.
In her lab, Devadas works on developing nanoscale functional materials largely for medical applications and for harvesting energy from light, like on solar panels, Devadas says.
Devadas also works hard on mentoring students 鈥� from the high school level to the post-graduate level. She says more than 65 students have passed through her lab.
鈥� I had never seen a mentor so interactive, patient and willing to help her students. She鈥檚 truly wanted the best for me 鈥�
The mentorship, and seeing her students succeed, she says, is a highlight of her career.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e able to transform these kids into understanding what it means, and what it takes to be this all-around great researcher and become an academic in the future, that means more than me winning my awards and my research grants,鈥� she says.
鈥淭his is basically my life. I teach, and I do research, and I mentor all of these students,鈥� Devadas says.
Hondrogiannis says working with Devadas is 鈥渁n opportunity like no other.鈥�
鈥淚 had never seen a mentor so interactive, patient and willing to help her students. She鈥檚 truly wanted the best for me,鈥� she says.
Hondrogiannis is one of just 396 students across the United States chosen to be a Goldwater Scholar for the 2020-2021 academic year. Students who win the award are given up to $7,500 to support their academic career. More than 5,000 students applied for the awards, according to the Goldwater Foundation.
鈥淚t鈥檚 outstanding. I think that our students are excellent. Towson University is able to attract excellent students from high schools. We have just a fantastic crop of students,鈥� says Clare Muhoro, a professor in the department of chemistry and director of competitive fellowships and awards in the Office of the Provost.
Last year, chemistry major Marella Schammel won the award. Two other TU students have won Goldwater scholarships: Jimmy Ninh in 1999 and Michelle Weber in 2002.
Hondrogiannis is already on her way to a career as a successful research scientist. She鈥檚 co-authored two papers, including one in the International Journal of Pharmaceutics.
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The Honors College student has presented her research at various conferences, helped manage Devadas鈥� lab and been an orientation leader. She was on the university鈥檚 cross-country team her first year on campus, and has been an academic tutor for students.
鈥淪he鈥檚 kind of an all-rounder,鈥� says Devadas.
鈥淣icole has really gotten involved in Towson from the moment she stepped foot on campus,鈥� says Rhiannon Napoli Clements, director of co-curricular programs and constituent relationships for the Honors College.
Napoli Clements says she had emails in her inbox from Hondrogiannis from 鈥渂efore she started鈥� about Honors College orientation programs.
鈥淪he鈥檚 been on top of her stuff since the very beginning,鈥� Napoli Clements says.
Hondrogiannis says she chose Towson University in part because of the opportunities she knew she would have here. At other schools, she might be viewed as 鈥渏ust a number鈥� by her professors 鈥� but not at TU.
鈥淚 felt like I would be noticed by my professor as an individual, not just as another student in the classroom,鈥� she says.
Hondrogiannis has enjoyed her rigorous schedule at TU, and says she knows that she could not be as successful as she is without the help of her mentor, Devadas.
鈥淎ny time I鈥檝e gone to her with any sort of doubt, she鈥檚 pushed me up,鈥� Hondrogiannis says. 鈥淪he鈥檚 driven me to excel.鈥�