University of Rochester junior Maximilian Popp has been selected to receive one of 300 Goldwater Scholarships to be awarded nationally for the upcoming academic year.
A graduate of Webster High School, Popp is the son of Gerhard and Margaret Popp of Webster. He is majoring in molecular genetics and chemistry and will graduate in 2004.
At the University, Popp has worked in developmental biology and biochemistry laboratories investigating various DNA binding proteins. He also has been a teaching assistant for an undergraduate biology course.
Popp's extracurricular activities include membership in the Undergraduate Chemistry Council, a group that represents students' interest for the quality and improvement of chemical education at the University. He is also involved in the regional Science Olympiad for high school students, writing and grading tests and administering competition events.
One of three students at the University to be awarded a Goldwater Scholarship this year, Popp will receive a grant of up to $7,500, which can be used to cover tuition, fees, books, and room and board.
The Goldwater Scholarship, which is endowed by the U.S. Congress to honor the late Sen. Barry M. Goldwater, is designed to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians, and engineers by awarding scholarships to college students who intend to pursue careers in these fields. The Goldwater Foundation has awarded more than 3,800 scholarships since 1986. This year, 1,093 students were nominated for a scholarship.
The University of Rochester (on the web at www.rochester.edu) is one of the smallest of the most distinguished private universities in the country. Fewer than 3,700 undergraduates are enrolled in its College, the home of arts, science, and engineering programs. College learning centers on the individual with a core mission of research and discovery for each student.