2025 Goldwater Scholars: Juliana Eberhardt and Zoey SwalleyThe Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education program has named two University of Alabama at Birmingham students 2025 Goldwater Scholars: Juliana Eberhardt and Zoey Swalley.
“This national recognition for Juliana and Zoey is evidence of the exceptional mentoring they have received as undergraduate researchers,” said Michelle Cook, Ph.D., director of the Office of National and International Fellowships and Scholarships. “Congratulations to these students and to their mentors on this much-deserved accolade.”
Eberhardt is a neuroscience major and member of the UAB Honors College working in the lab of Jeremy Herskowitz, Ph.D. His lab focuses on understanding the pathological mechanisms and identifying therapeutic targets in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease.
Eberhardt has presented her work at the Society for Neuroscience conference and has earned recognition within the AD research community for her novel discoveries involving how synaptic structure changes progressively under the influence of the tau protein. In the future, she aims to pursue a Ph.D. in cognitive neuroscience, focusing on the neural connectivity underlying heightened sensitivity to somatosensory stimuli in autism spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
“I’m most excited about being selected among a nationally recognized cohort, especially as it can open doors when applying to grad school programs,” Eberhardt said. “I look forward to building transferable skills and scientific expertise I can take with me to new research fields I pursue in graduate school.”
Swalley, an immunology major and member of the UAB Honors College, is pursuing an accelerated bachelor’s/master’s degree in multidisciplinary biomedical sciences. Since her freshman year, she has worked in the lab of Lyse Norian, Ph.D., exploring the genetics and immune responses in cancers such as renal cell carcinoma and breast cancer, with a focus on immunotherapy and dietary interventions.
Swalley co-wrote a publication in 2024 and currently manages two independent projects in the lab. She plans to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. in immunology, specializing in medical oncology. Her long-term goal is to identify new therapeutic targets for immune checkpoint blockade.
“I am very excited to be a part of the Goldwater Scholar community, which has a wide network of current and past winners. People are eager to help one another and oftentimes will give advice and insight on research and graduate school,” Swalley said. “I hope to build connections among other scholars and gain a more nuanced understanding of the educational journey ahead of me.”
Janet Woodruff-Borden, Ph.D., senior vice president for Academic Affairs and provost, offered her congratulations to the students on this exceptional academic accomplishment.
“Congratulations to Juliana and Zoey, as well as their mentors,” Woodruff-Borden said. “UAB has a track record of supporting extraordinary scholars thanks to our dedicated faculty and staff. I’d also like to recognize Dr. Michelle Cook; the Office of National and International Fellowships and Scholarships has thrived under her leadership.”
The Goldwater Scholarship Program is one of the oldest and most prestigious national scholarships in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics, supporting students who show exceptional promise in these fields.
Since 2002, 41 UAB students — including Eberhardt and Swalley — have been named Goldwater Scholars. The scholarship can be used to cover tuition, books, room and board, and mandatory fees. Recipients are typically students planning to pursue Ph.D.s or other advanced degrees — true of both Eberhardt and Swalley.