Nadia Singh in OSU’s College of Agricultural Sciences has been named a 2024 American Association for the Advancement of Science fellow for her distinguished contributions to the field of evolutionary genetics and her steadfast commitment to diversifying the scientific workforce and leading institutional change.
Singh is the associate dean of inclusive excellence and faculty affairs in OSU’S College of Agricultural Sciences, as well as a professor of botany and plant pathology.
Founded in 1848, AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society and publishes Science and other journals. It has been choosing fellows since 1874, and past honorees include inventor Thomas Edison in 1878, anthropologist Margaret Mead in 1934 and computer scientist Grace Hopper in 1963.
“Dr. Singh brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to inclusive excellence,” said Staci Simonich, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences, when Singh was hired. “Her leadership will play a pivotal role in shaping a welcoming and supportive environment for all of our faculty, staff, and students, helping us to achieve our goal of a more equitable and supportive college community.”
Prior to starting at OSU in December 2024, she ran the Singh Lab at the University of Oregon, researching evolutionary genetics with a focus on deciphering genome-level patterns of genetic change.
Singh is one of 471 fellows chosen nationwide this year, and is the 159th fellow OSU has had since AAAS began honoring researchers in 1874. Recent additions also include Douglas Keszler in 2023 and Joseph Spatafora and Virginia Weis in 2022.
Two OSU Students Selected for Barry Goldwater Scholarships
Two Oregon State University students have been selected for the 2025 Barry Goldwater Scholarship. The scholarship provides opportunities for outstanding U.S. students with excellent academic records and demonstrated interest in, and potential for research careers in mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering. The Goldwater Scholarship serves as a living memorial to honor the lifetime work of former U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater.
Natalie Donato is an Honors junior in the College of Science, majoring in marine biology and ecology with a minor in biological data sciences. In the future, Donato will earn a Ph.D. in sensory biology and ecology of marine animals where she will continue to conduct research on the ocean’s marine species, leading conservation efforts, and teaching the next generation of marine biologists through her research and artwork.
Andrew Tran is a junior in the College of Engineering majoring in chemical engineering with a minor in chemistry. Tran’s current research is in chemical recycling solutions for plastic waste. His next step is to pursue a Ph.D. in environmental engineering, where he will conduct research on sustainable technologies for resource optimization. He will focus on waste management solutions and environmental impact reduction.
Donato and Tran are among 441 Goldwater scholars from across the United States selected for the 2025-2026 academic year. A total of 1,350 science, engineering and mathematics students were nominated by 445 academic institutions to compete for the 2025 Goldwater scholarships.
AAAS Fellow by By Molly Rosbach, Goldwater Scholarships by Theresa Hogue
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