Biomedical engineering student chosen for prestigious Goldwater Scholarship

Swedick and Lea Kyle, a biochemistry student, were among the 413 students chosen to receive the Goldwater scholarship from among more than 5,000 applicants — college sophomores and juniors pursuing research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering.

“Out of over 5,000 talented students, the achievement of Lea Kyle and Sydney Swedick in winning the prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship highlights their exceptional academic prowess and dedication to advancing their fields,” says Megan Stewart, director of UB’s Office of Fellowships and Scholarships, which identifies, encourages and supports UB students applying for national and international fellowships and scholarships.

“Their success not only brings pride to the University at Buffalo, but also showcases the potential for these scholars to follow in the footsteps of past Goldwater recipients and win further prestigious post-graduate fellowships, paving the way for a bright future in the world of science, mathematics and engineering.”

Swedick is pursuing a biomedical engineering degree and plans to pursue a PhD in neuroscience. She hopes to conduct research on peripheral nerve injuries and spinal cord injuries using tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

“Biomedical engineering is like a blank canvas,” Swedick wrote in her scholarship application. “Its multidisciplinary nature provides me with the perfect landscape to utilize every color in the palette of my life. It allows me to incorporate my fascination with understanding why something occurs, or the science, while applying the knowledge to create impact through engineering.

“I look forward to employing every color of my existence to produce my final composition one day — better therapies for those with spinal cord and peripheral nerve injuries.”

Albert H. Titus, professor and chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering within SEAS, recalled the pride he felt when he received an email informing him that Swedick had won the scholarship. 

“Sydney is an outstanding student who is focused on using her BME degree to tackle some of the most difficult problems related to human health,” Titus says. “She certainly represents the best of UB.”

Swedick has been assisting Debanik Choudhury, a PhD student in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, in a research project investigating the role of amino acids in affecting mitochondrial function with aging. 

“Sydney's drive and curiosity along with her dedication and commitment to her research have been remarkable, and we are confident that she will make significant contributions to this exciting area of study,” says Stelios Andreadis, SUNY Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. “We congratulate Sydney on this outstanding achievement and look forward to seeing her continued success in the future.”

Swedick, of Johnstown, N.Y., researched the environmental impact of an invasive species through collecting field data, executing biomass surveys, analyzing results and proposing solutions. She also performed bioinformatics analysis on opportunistic pathogens to elucidate disease-causing molecular mechanisms. Swedick also researched the development of inhibitory circuits in the ferret’s motion pathway in the Johns Hopkins Amgen Scholars Program.

Margaret McLellan-Zabielski, assistant professor of biotechnology at SUNY Schenectady County Community College, where Swedick took courses before transferring to UB in fall 2022, praised Swedick’s understanding of the fine line between putting all your energy into a project, a course, or multiple commitments, and falling into burnout.

“This is a rare quality and absolutely essential to those who have set their sights on such complex research topics as peripheral nerve and spinal cord injury recovery,” McLellan-Zabielski wrote in a recommendation for Swedick’s application.

“Graduate school is not a sprint; it is a marathon and she is not only aware of it, she is becoming practiced in the art of balancing high quality, intense work with health and thriving, not just surviving.”

Lorena Harris, director of the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) and LSAMP program in the Math, Science, Technology and Health Division at SUNY Schenectady, wrote she has “no doubt” Swedick will become the researcher she hopes to be.

“She is a dedicated scholar that takes her classes very seriously,” Harris wrote. “She is always willing to step up and be a leader if the situation demands. Likewise, she always maintains an excellent attitude and has good interpersonal skills as she participates and works equally well independently or in a group setting.”