UNT a national leader, tops in Texas for Goldwater Scholar winners
Posted by: Carolyn Bobo


Richard Sinclair, dean of TAMS, says, "I was delighted, but not surprised at the news of these four awards. The winners are some of the brightest, most highly motivated students I've ever known." TAMS is a two-year residential program that allows talented students to complete their freshman and sophomore years of college while earning their high school diplomas.

James Duban, director of the Office for Nationally Competitive Scholarships and chair of the Goldwater Faculty Nominating and Mentoring Committee, says the success of the students bodes well for UNT. "The results are just stunning, and I join my colleagues in celebrating the grand-slam accomplishments of these students." "They have brought added distinction to TAMS and to UNT. The Goldwater outcome admirably reflects the success of research-based undergraduate education at UNT."

About the scholars:

• Irene Cai, of Mansfield, used computational models to examine how muscle protein is affected by mutations associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or enlarged heart-muscle disease, one of the primary precursors of sudden cardiac death in young adults. Cai worked with Douglas Root, professor of biology. Cai plans to major in molecular biophysics or chemistry. At TAMS, she is vice president of the Junior Engineering Technical Society, a member of Mu Alpha Theta, the TAMS math club, and an honors society member of Research Organization.

• Wen Chyan, of Denton, engineered new antimicrobial coatings for medical devices that prevent common and sometimes deadly hospital infections. Working with Richard Timmons, a chemistry professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, Chyan created a polymer that prevents and kills bacterial biofilms. The polymer can be used on catheters, breathing tubes and other medical devices that have direct contact with patients. Chyan's work has already received national attention. In December, he won the top prize and a $100,000 scholarship at the national Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology. Chyan hopes to major in chemistry or chemical engineering next year at Harvard or MIT. Chyan says his parents,both scientists, spurred his interest in science at an early age. He was home schooled by his mother, Jin-Jian, before arriving at TAMS, and his father, Oliver Chyan, is a chemistry professor at UNT.

• Jonathan Dau, of Colleyville, studied the maturation of stem cells. He developed methods, using mathematical models, to classify and characterize the neural stem cells by their morphological characteristics, which provides a new, useful and complementary tool for applications in stem cell research. Dau worked with Jannon Fuchs, professor of biology. Dau plans to major in biology at Stanford University and earn medical and doctoral degrees to combine a medical career with research. He is a member of National Honor Society and Helping Other People Everywhere. He is a volunteer tutor for the UNT Learning Center in Math and at Denton High School.

• Jeremy Lai, of Houston, developed new, faster methods for computational chemistry. Lai assisted in the creation of a new method of computation capable of modeling large-sized molecules, which would allow the study of previously impractical molecules such as carbon nanotubes, next-generation fuels and proteins associated with deadly diseases. Lai worked with Angela Wilson, UNT associate professor of chemistry. Lai, who is the president of the Junior Engineering Technical Society, plans to major in chemistry or biochemistry at Stanford University or Rice University.