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Juniors Nicholas Pratt and Nicholas Reilly are UB’s latest recipients of the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, the country’s most prestigious and competitive research scholarship offered to undergraduate STEM students.

Pratt, a bioinformatics and computational biology student from Angola, N.Y., plans to work to advance understanding of gene families responsible for traits of agricultural interest, such as fruit size or nutrient content.

Reilly, a chemical engineering major from Voorheesville, intends to focus his research on materials science, specifically materials to mitigate carbon emissions and combat greenhouse effects.

“Throughout the process, Nicholas Pratt and Nicholas Reilly impressed us with their academic excellence and passion for research,” says Lisa Gagnon, adviser in the Office of Fellowships and Scholarships.

“The achievements of Goldwater scholars reflect not only the students’ personal dedication but also the dynamic environment fostered at UB, where cutting-edge research is shaping the future of science and technology. We believe Pratt and Reilly are poised to make meaningful contributions to their fields and tackle pressing environmental challenges.”

“Agriculture faces significant changes,” Pratt, who also received the Gilman Scholarship in 2024 to study abroad in the Czech Republic, wrote in his Goldwater application.

“Since the Green Revolution, which transformed global food production in the mid-20th century, progress in agriculture efficiency has slowed. Industrial systems, characterized by monocultures and heavy pesticide use, have caused widespread ecological harm.

“Advances in genetic engineering and plant genomics provide opportunities to redefine agriculture. By identifying and optimizing genes linked to traits like draught tolerance and yield improvement, I hope to create resilient sustainable food systems.”

Jaroslaw Zola, associate professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, praised Pratt’s dramatic learning curve since coming to UB.

“When Nicholas first joined Scalable Computing Research Group (SCoRe), he was not really prepared for the challenges of research in our group,” Zola wrote in his letter of recommendaton.

“However, through his perseverance, curiosity and dedication, he rapidly acquired the necessary skills and knowledge. He quickly became a vital member of our team, contributing meaningfully to research discussions, independently troubleshooting challenges, and delivering high-quality, actionable results. His growth over the past year is a testament to his work ethic and passion for research. Currently, I consider him in the top 5 percent of the undergraduate students I worked with!”

Reilly wrote in his Goldwater application that he wanted to focus his research on addressing the crises in climate change. His interest comes from two deeply rooted passions.

“First and foremost, the environment is precious to me,” Reilly wrote. “It has been a lifelong dream to dedicate my career to preserving it for future generations as I wish others had for us. Secondly, my experience in research projects at UB has fueled my passion for scientific problem-solving. Pursuing a PhD will develop my experience and research ability to work on climate-focused prospects, making it a clear choice for me.”

Reilly’s candidacy was endorsed by David Watson, professor in the Department of Chemistry.

“From Day One, I have been utterly impressed with Nick’s performance in research,” Watson wrote in his letter of recommendation. “He is unusually smart, mature and hard-working; has exceptional hands-on research skills in synthesis, spectroscopy and electrochemistry; communicates beautifully; and is a natural leader. Nick checks all the boxes and is poised for great success in scientific research, as an undergraduate student, graduate student and beyond.”

Pratt and Reilly were chosen from an estimated pool of more than 5,000 college sophomores and juniors nominated by 445 academic institutions to compete for the 2025 Goldwater scholarships. They were among 441 students from across the United States selected by the Goldwater board to receive scholarships for the 2025-26 academic year.