Two CAS students named Goldwater Scholars

Carsyn Bonesteel and Chris Page, both College of Arts and Sciences students, are among this year’s recipients of the highly competitive Barry Goldwater Scholarship, a national award recognizing outstanding undergraduates pursuing research careers in science, mathematics and engineering.

The scholarship, established by Congress in 1986 to honor the legacy of Sen. Barry Goldwater, supports sophomores and juniors who demonstrate outstanding potential and plan to pursue research careers in mathematics, the natural sciences or engineering.

Carsyn Bonesteel, originally from Saratoga, is majoring in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology with a concentration in Biological Sciences, along with a minor in Statistics.

“Winning the Barry Goldwater Scholarship is incredibly meaningful to me. It represents recognition of the time, effort, and passion I have invested in my research, and it affirms my potential as a developing scientist. It also motivates me to continue pursuing challenging research questions and to contribute meaningfully to the field,” Bonesteel says.

Bonesteel has had a longstanding interest in biology, which she says “is deeply personal” to her.

“My brother has a rare genetic condition that has significantly shaped my perspective and motivated my curiosity about human genetics. When I discovered that UB offered a dedicated undergraduate program in bioinformatics, it stood out as a unique opportunity to combine biology with computational approaches. That flexibility made UB the ideal place for me to pursue my academic and career goals,” Bonesteel says.

She adds that UB’s strong commitment to undergraduate research was a major factor in her decision.

Bonesteel works in the lab of Omer Gokcumen, professor of Biological Sciences, where her research focuses on a gene called ACOT1, which evolved specifically in humans and plays a role in fat metabolism. The gene has been linked to metabolic traits and conditions such as obesity and type two diabetes. She studies how ACOT1 evolved across human populations and what that variation may mean for human health today.

“My experience in Dr. Gokcumen’s lab has been truly transformative. The lab environment is both welcoming and intellectually stimulating, and I have been supported by the lab's members every step of the way as I learned complex concepts and techniques,” Bonesteel says. “Working alongside researchers with diverse perspectives has strengthened both my research approach and my confidence in navigating future scientific challenges.”

In addition to her academic work, Bonesteel is a senior trip leader for UB’s Outdoor Adventure Club and serves as a WiSE ambassador, helping connect female students with research opportunities on campus.

Chris Page, originally from Skaneateles, is pursuing two bachelor’s degrees – one in Biological Sciences and the other in Linguistics.

“When I was deciding what college to attend, I was looking for schools with lots of opportunities for undergraduate research. And I chose my second degree because I believe that being well-rounded and exposed to many different fields/points of view is critical for success as a student, a researcher, and in life overall,” Page says. 

Page works in the labs of Charlotte Lindqvist, professor and director of graduate studies, and Victor Albert, Empire Innovation Professor, both in the Department of Biological Sciences. Here, he focuses on the architecture and evolution of genomes, particularly in plants, through genome assembly and analysis. He notes that plant genomes host many unique evolutionary events and selective pressures, making them ideal models for studying genome dynamics and evolution.

“By better understanding the foundations and origins of these genomes, I hope to inform research in genetic engineering that can be used to address questions in agriculture, medicine, industry, and synthetic biology.”

Page says he has felt supported in the lab throughout his undergraduate journey.

“It has been an amazing experience working under the mentorship of Drs. Albert and Lindqvist. Winning this award was only possible through their support and the help of PhD students Jonathan Kirshner and Johanna Merkel,” Page says. “I'm so grateful for the many opportunities provided to me by my research mentors, the Department of Biological Sciences, the Department of Linguistics, and UB as a whole.”

Page is a member of Honors College and works as an academic assistant through Campus Living, where he mentors pre-health freshmen in the Ellicott Complex.

With plans to pursue advanced degrees, both students will continue to build on their undergraduate research experiences and contributing to discoveries in their respective fields.