Outstanding Students: College of Science

The faculty of the College of Science recognizes the following students for outstanding academic achievement and co-curricular involvement, such as leadership, community service, and undergraduate research.

 

Seniors

Actuarial Science

Evan Voris

Actuarial Science, Applied Statistics

Biological Sciences

Claire Marie Wolfer-Jenkins

Neurobiology and Physiology, Management, Chemistry minor

Claire is recognized for her achievements as a student, researcher, and active member of the Purdue community. Claire has obtained Dean’s List and Semester Honors every semester at Purdue and recently joined the Phi Beta Kappa honors society. In addition to her major of Neurobiology & Physiology, she is minoring in Management and Chemistry and completed a certificate in Applications of Data Science. During her freshman year, she joined Dr. Jimmy Dooley’s lab studying the role of REM sleep in sensorimotor development and is finishing a Biology Honors Thesis in this lab. She also leads a de novo metabolic reconstruction project of a model frog organism, X. laevis, in Dr. Priyanka Baloni’s lab. Additionally, over the summer, she interned with the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) where she worked in Dr. Justin Berk’s lab at Brown University to develop a machine learning model to predict length of incarceration and inform treatment decisions for Hepatitis C Virus in jails. Claire is also involved in other activities outside of the classroom and has earned the Learning Beyond the Classroom certificate. She co-founded an initiative funded through the John Martinson Honors College called Boiler Substance Awareness Network (BSAN) that aims to educate the Purdue community about substance use disorders. Moreover, she has been involved in various organizations including the Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research (where she currently serves as Marketing Coordinator), TEDxPurdueU, the American Red Cross Club of Purdue University, Leaders in Life Sciences Purdue, Boilermaker Consulting, the Honors House System, and the Honors Mentor Program. She looks forward to a future as a public health researcher.

Chemistry

Wyatt Crain

Chemistry and Environmental Geoscience

Wyatt has made a significant impact during his time at Purdue through scholarship, leadership, and service. Wyatt is a dual major in Chemistry and Environmental Geosciences and has an excellent academic record. He has participated in undergraduate research in density functional theory with Prof. Adam Wassermann, geochemistry and plate tectonics with Prof. Michael Eddy, and mass spectroscopy of nanoclusters with Prof. Julia Laskin. His research through a Sumer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) culminated in a publication with Prof. Laskin. Wyatt has been a member, mentor and Team Leader for the Global Science Partners Learning Community for all of his time at Purdue. He is also a member of the American Chemical Society Student Affiliate Club, serving as President and Vice-President for two years. In addition to this, he has been a tutor in the Chemistry Resource Room since his junior year. Wyatt plans to pursue a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry.

Computer Science

Anish Kambhampati

Computer Science, Mathematics Minor

Anish has made the most of his time at Purdue, where he is pursuing a combined BS/MS degree in Computer Science. A recipient of both the Purdue Presidential Scholarship and the Computer Science Endowment Scholarship, he is also a member of the John Martinson Honors College and a violist with the Purdue Bands and Orchestras. Anish has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA, earning the Dean’s List and Semester Honors award every semester while excelling in challenging coursework spanning computer science, mathematics, and statistics. Beyond the classroom, he serves as Vice President of Boiler Quant, a frontend developer for Boilerexams, a mentor with LaunchPad, and a former Boiler Gold Rush Team Leader. His research efforts include investigating GPU-accelerated spatial queries under Dr. Milind Kulkarni, work he presented at the 2025 National Conference on Undergraduate Research. Additionally, under Dr. Bruno Ribeiro, he runs computational fluid dynamics simulations and generates datasets that support AI model training. Anish has earned top honors in multiple competitions, including the “Best Fintech Hack” award at BoilerMake XI, first place at the 2024 Levels. fyi Hackathon, and first place at the 2025 UIUC Trading Competition. This summer, he will intern at Akuna Capital as a Quantitative Development Intern, with plans to complete his master’s degree and pursue a full-time career in the quantitative finance industry.

Data Science

Shrinivas Venkatesan

Computer Science, Data Science, and Statistics, Interdisciplinary Science and Applications in Data Science

Shrinivas Venkatesan is a senior triple majoring in Computer Science, Data Science, and Statistics at Purdue University. Throughout his undergraduate career, he has consistently earned Dean’s List and Semester Honors recognition. He was recently named the 2024-2025 International Student of the Year and inducted into Mu Sigma Rho, the national statistics honor society. Passionate about community involvement, Shrinivas served as Treasurer on the Executive Board of BoilerMake, Purdue’s largest hackathon, and has worked as a teaching assistant for The Data Mine and multiple computer science courses including CS 251, CS 242, and CS 348. He has completed three internships during his time at Purdue, most recently working at Exelon in Chicago as a Software Engineering Intern. He will return to Exelon this summer and continue his studies at Purdue through the 4+1 BS/MS program in Computer Science.

Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences

Lauren Johnson

Geology and Geophysics, Anthropology minor

Lauren has been researching the Konnarock Formation of Virginia and its relation to the Snowball Earth Hypothesis since the fall of her sophomore year under Dr. Kenneth Ridgway and has recently presented this research at the Fall Undergraduate Research Expo. This semester, Lauren started research investigating subduction zone initiation of the Talkeetna Arc, AK, with Brandon Keough. Lauren is the current president of the Purdue University Geological Society and has been re-elected as president for the 2025-2026 academic school year. She is also a teaching assistant for EAPS 106: Geosciences in the Cinema under Dr. Andrew Freed. This summer, Lauren will be going to Belize as part of a John Martinson Honors College Study Away program and will also be participating in the Wasatch-Uinta Field Camp in Utah.

Mathematics

Aaron Boes

Computer Science Honors and Mathematics Honors

Physics and Astronomy

Jordan Gaines

Computer Science Honors and Physics Honors, Mathematics minor

While at Purdue, Jordan has conducted research in quantum optics and condensed matter physics using a mix of theoretical and numerical methods.  During his sophomore and junior years, he worked in the Purdue Ultrafast Optics and Fiber Communications Lab as part of the Honors Research Fellowship where he studied the effects of a novel optical device on entangled pairs of photons with specific emphasis on applications in quantum networking and quantum computation.  He presented his work at the CLEO 2024 conference and co-authored a paper in Optics Letters.  He later joined the research group of Professor Jukka Vayrynen in the Physics Department at Purdue and worked on several projects, including a study of many-body entanglement in fermionic systems and the time-evolution of the entanglement entropy in spin chains.  He is currently finishing up a project using numerical methods to study the entanglement structure of the spin-chain multichannel Kondo model which has close connections to the theory of quantum information and topological phenomena.  He has been awarded the Semester Honors and Dean's List distinctions for his entire time at Purdue and is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society.  He will be starting his PhD in Physics at the University of Maryland in College Park next fall.

Statistics

Lingzhu Yu

Mathematics and Statistics with a Math Emphasis

Lingzhu Yu is a senior triple major in Mathematics, Statistics, and Agribusiness at Purdue University, where she has consistently earned Dean’s List and Semester Honors with a 4.0 GPA. She has conducted multiple research projects in data science and statistics, including sentiment analysis of Minecraft social media content using multilingual NLP models and keyframe-based video analysis. Lingzhu also contributed to property tax assessment reform using Ratio Study datasets and statistical visualizations. She served as a teaching assistant for Financial Management, helping students understand investment models and portfolio theory. Her internship experience includes quantitative research and investment banking at Zhongtai Securities, where she built financial models and performed equity market research. After graduation, Lingzhu plans to pursue a master’s degree in Data Science.

Outstanding Underclassmen

Upperclassmen

Artificial Intellegence

Zheng Hua “Louis” Tan

 

Juniors

Actuarial Science	Linus Denny
Biological Sciences	Nehemiah Boyd
Chemistry	Maddie Flowers
Computer Science	Soham Jog
Data Science	Olivia Lund
Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences	Natalie Farlow
Mathematics	Joshua Culver
Physics and Astronomy	Stephen Reeves
Statistics	Joe Van Valer

 

Sophomores

Actuarial Science	Isabella DeLeon
Biological Sciences	Aadya Pandey
Chemistry	Katherine Zwiener
Computer Science	Sreekar Gudipati
Data Science	Ramya Rajaram
Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences	Kaia Wright
Mathematics	Jordan Larson
Physics and Astronomy	Ishaan Singh
Statistics	Elliott Shi

 

First Year

Actuarial Science	Gwen Keller
Biological Sciences	Karthik Varigonda
Chemistry	Ellie Murotani
Computer Science	Yikai Liu
Data Science	Hari Sai Harish
Mathematics	Caitlin Moseley
Physics and Astronomy	Priya Mishra
Statistics	Alice Zhang

 

Science Ambassadors Graduating Seniors

The Science Ambassadors are a select group of undergraduates who represent the College of Science and the undergraduate science experience to prospective students and families, and other entities, including the Dean’s Leadership Council and College of Science Alumni Board.

• Megan Janke, Actuarial Science

• Lucas Zalewski, Biochemistry

• Allison Peterson, Biological Sciences and Science Education

• Kaitlyn Ying, Biological Sciences, Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology

• Brayden Bracket, Computer Science

• Charles Menard, Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences

 

Science Data Managers Graduating Seniors

The Science Student Data Managers are a select group of undergraduates who represent the College of Science and the College of Science Data Manager in helping support and update reports for the college and its departments.

• Pranav Nag, Mathematical Sciences and Statistics

 

Purdue Science Student Council Graduating Seniors

The Purdue Science Student Council provides academically-oriented services and promotes professional growth opportunities to students in the College of Science.

• Sophia Benjemia, Chemistry

• Rianna Deckowitz, Planetary Sciences

• Samantha Maari, Biological Sciences

• Valentina Micolisin, Biological Sciences

• Allison Peterson, Biological Sciences and Science Education

• Rebekah Stryjewski, Chemistry

• Kaitlynn Tran, Statistics and Actuarial Science

• Caroline Zu, Chemistry

 

Learning Beyond the Classroom Graduating Seniors

The Learning Beyond the Classroom Certificate Program is a way for students to apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world situations. Students learn to negotiate multiple cultures, develop confidence as professionals, view themselves in new ways, prioritize tasks, navigate the world, and pursue life-long learning. The certificate is awarded when students complete activities in three categories (career and professional development, service, citizenship and leadership and experience with domestic and international diversity) and is noted on their official Purdue transcript.

• Aayushi Akhouri, Data Science

• Faris Iyas Khali Amarneh, Biological Sciences

• Julia Dassel, Biological Sciences

• Bailey Davis, Biological Sciences and Psychological Sciences

• Indiraa Doraivel, Biological Sciences

• Isabella Ford, Biological Sciences

• Joshua Friedman, Physics Honors and Mathematics

• Mason Giacchetti, Physics Honors and Mathematics

• Kaitlyn Gregerson, Biological Sciences and Psychological Sciences

• Jacey Hoopingarner, Biological Sciences and Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies

• Claire Lang, Biological Sciences

• Sydney Ludwig, Biological Sciences

• Megan Martin, Actuarial Science and Applied Statistics

• Jack Morehouse, Biological Sciences

• Thanh Nguyen, Biological Sciences

• Sheila Patel, Biological Sciences

• Allison Peterson, Biological Sciences and Science Education

• Audrey Shea, Chemistry

• Shatakshi Shelar, Data Science and Applied Statistics

• Serena Shughoury, Biological Sciences

• Dean Stornello, Biological Sciences and Biomedical Engineering

• Angelika Torres-Muniz, Biological Sciences and Sociology

• Daria Tsoneva, Chemistry

• Maureen VanMatre, Chemistry

• Landon Wence, Chemistry

• Morgan Wetzel, Biological Sciences

• Claire Marie Wolfer-Jenkins, Biological Sciences

• Genna Yavaraski, Computer Science, Data Science, and Applied Statistics

• Kaitlyn Ying, Biological Sciences, Cell Development

• Caroline Zu, Biochemistry

 

Bridging Cultures Award

The Bridging Cultures Award is presented to student leaders from the Global Science Partners Program---a program dedicated to helping students become interculturally competent. These students have demonstrated the ability to bridge cultural gaps between themselves and others --- shifting perspectives, attuning emotions and adapting their behavior in respectful and appropriate ways.

• Faris Iyas Khali Amarneh, Biological Sciences

• Wyatt Crain, Chemistry and Environmental Geoscience

• Khushi Duggal, Biological Sciences

• Rygel Ginete, Data Science

• Wyatt Kenyon, Chemistry

• Amiyah Robinson, Chemistry

 

Purdue Indianapolis Golden Hammer Award

In its inaugural year (2025), the Golden Hammer Award will recognize the top twenty undergraduate students in Indianapolis who have holistically excelled at accruing collegiate experiences that represent the pillars of our Purdue community: integrity, respect, honor, innovation, and growth.

• Nikhil Dhoka, Computer Science

• Lina Im, Computer Science

Purdue Indianapolis Golden Hammer Innovation Award

The Golden Hammer Award for Innovation will recognize the top two students from each college who have made exceptional contributions in innovation while studying at Purdue University in Indianapolis.

• Gregory Harner, Computer Science

• Ruthu Shankar, Computer Science

Promoting Career Development Award

Students promote career development to peers while using this opportunity to develop themselves professionally. Professional growth occurs by working independently, generating new ideas, and implementing these ideas through career programming, career education, and career resources.

• Shatakshi Shelar, Data Science and Applied Statistics

 

Championing Diversity Award

The Championing Diversity Award is given to students who have been active participants in the programs sponsored by Science Diversity over several years of their career at Purdue. Through participation in these programs they have enriched the experience of their classmates by ensuring that all students have the opportunity to be educated in a more diverse environment. They have grown personally and professionally by taking leadership roles within the College of Science.

• Rosemary Ajish, Computer Science

• Sarah Alvarez, Biochemistry

• Sophia Benjemia, Biochemistry (Chemistry)

• Caitlin Birthright, Biochemistry (Chemistry)

• Isabel Chalfant, Data Science

• Marianna Chicas, Chemical Biology and Biochemistry

• Indiraa Doraivel, Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology

• Uyai-Abasi Edet, Neurobiology and Physiology

• Marygrace Fagan, Applied Mathematics

• Viviana Galindo, Health and Disease

• Alexandra Glaws, Biology

• Saloni  Gupte, Neurobiology and Physiology

• Roman Landfair, Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology

• Jadon Leal, Actuarial Science and Applied Statistics

• Santiago Lopez, Mathematics and Physics Honors

• Jasmeen Maples, Genetics

• Alexandria Martin, Biochemistry

• Madison Mercer, Chemistry

• Maria Morales, Biology

• Marissa Munoz, Applied Mathematics and Statistics

• Francisco Nieves, Actuarial Science and Applied Statistics

• Anushka Nilangekar, Computer Science

• Allison Peterson, Biology

• Caroline Powell, Biology

• Emily Raine, Genetics

• Raja Darshini Rajamani, Mathematics/Business

• Bryan Reyes, Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology

• Anna Seebold, Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology

• Shatakshi Shelar, Data Science

• Bryson Smith, Computer Science

• Mackenzie Souchon, Biochemistry (Chemistry)

• Cora C. Tolan, Biology

• Kaitlynn Tran, Statistics and Actuarial Science 

• Caroline Zu, Biochemistry (Chemistry)

 

Faculty Awards

Top Undergraduate Teacher

Each year, science undergraduate students are polled by the Science Student Council to select a faculty member whose teaching has had the greatest impact on science majors.

Hannah Starr, Assistant Professor of Practice, Chemistry

Excellence in Instruction Award for Lecturers

Kuan-Hua (Joe) Chen - Mathematics

 

 

Science Scholars

The mission of Scholars Programs is to maximize scholars’ potential by providing an overarching, campus-wide initiative supported by college specific programming. Through research-based programmatic components- such as scholarly identity development, undergraduate research activities, study abroad and internship opportunities, peer mentoring, faculty mentoring- the Scholars Program will maximize a Scholar’s potential while at Purdue University, preparing them for their next giant leap.

• Sarah Alvarez
• Precious Baker
• Marianna Chicas
• Vaneli Crespo-Cruz
• Luis Cruz Portillo
• Clayton Cullers
• Uyai-Abasi Edet
• Marygrace Fagan
• Viviana Galindo
• Talia Kidder
• Roman Landfair
• Jadon Leal
• Alma Lopez
• Santiago Lopez
• Jasmeen Maples
• Alexandria Martin
• Maria Morales
• Marissa Munoz
• Francisco Nieves
• Emileo Peralta
• Ruby Radosevic
• Bryan Reyes
• Anna Seebold
• Bryson Smith
• Cierra Surita
• Kaitlynn Tran
• Cynthia Vazquez
• Marco A. Monrouzeau

College of Science Student Worker Graduating Seniors

• Jasmeen Maples, Biological Sciences, Genetics

• Pranav Nag, Mathematical Sciences and Statistics

 

Women in Science Program Graduating Seniors

• Rosemary Ajish, Computer Science
• Sarah Alvarez, Biochemistry
• Lauren Bell, Mathematics
• Sophia Benjemia, Chemistry
•  Faith Bergin, Physics
• Caitlin Birthright, Biochemistry
• Isabel Chalfant, Data Science
• Elisa Chen, Computer Science
• Bianca Cortez, Biology
• Indiraa Doraivel, Biological Sciences
• Lexi Dunwoody, Biology
• Marygrace Fagan, Applied Mathematics
• Viviana Galindo, Health and Disease
• Alexandra Glaws, Biology
• Saloni Gupte, Neurobiology & Physiology
• Jordan Hunter, Genetics
• Megan Janke, Actuarial Science
• Japleen Kaur, Computer Science
• Bethany Kettleborough, Environmental Geoscience
• Madison Mercer, Chemistry
• Lean Montgomery, Environmental Geoscience
• Anushka Nilangekar, Computer Science
• Caroline Packee, Biology
• Sheila Patel, Biological Sciences
• Allison Peterson, Biological Sciences & Science Education
• Caroline Powell, Biology
• Emily Raine, Genetics
• Raja Darshini Rajamani, Mathematics and Business
• Shatakshi Shelar, Data Science & Applied Statistics
• Serena Shughoury, Biological Sciences
• Mackenzie Souchon, Biochemistry
• Grace Stanton, Microbiology
• Jharna Suresh, Computer Science
• Cora Tolan, Biology
• Kaitlyn Tran, Statistics and Actuarial Science
• Olivia Vigilante, Microbiology
• Megan Webb, Biochemistry
• Ira Welankar, Computer Science
• Caroline Zu, Biochemistry

Student Success Stories

Selected by the Science Student Success team and the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Affairs, these students exemplify the range of experiences and opportunities provided to undergraduate students in the College of Science. As graduating seniors, they share their stories to inspire and motivate others.