Chem Majors Daniel Levin and Anushka Peer Honored as Barry M. Goldwater Scholars

Two undergraduates stand under the Duke Chapel, both in dark colored attire.

Chem Majors Daniel Levin and Anushka Peer have been honored as Barry M. Goldwater Scholars! This prestigious award recognizes accomplished sophomore and junior researchers who plan to pursue careers in the fields of science, engineering, and mathematics. Each Goldwater Scholar receives up to $7,500 annually toward the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board.

A.B. Duke Scholar Daniel Levin plans to complete an honors thesis in both Chemistry and Biology before he graduates. Levin, a junior, has studied across chemical engineering, materials science, developmental biology, and immunology. Levin has also served as a teaching assistant for Professor James Parise in chemistry. Upon graduation, Levin will pursue a Ph.D. in chemical biology and conduct research in the field of membrane dynamics and lipid chemistry. 

Sophomore chemistry major Anushka Peer has conducted research in the School of Medicine’s Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology throughout her collegiate career. She studies the virulence traits of the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus, with the goal of applying her findings to broader questions in infectious disease. Peer plans to pursue a Ph.D. in molecular microbiology, focusing on host–pathogen interactions, and is also deeply committed to leveraging her future career to advance STEM education in rural and low-income communities.

Since its first award in 1989, the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation has awarded 11,616 scholarships worth over $70 million. A total of 100 Duke students have won Goldwater scholarships since 1990. 

A complete list of this year’s fellowship winners can be found at the Goldwater Scholarship website.