Highlights
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ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ tied for fourth in the nation in total Goldwater Scholars this year, surpassing Ivy League institutions such as Harvard University, Yale University and MIT, and outperforming nearly all other Florida universities.
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The four scholarship recipients β Keanu Brayman, Kyle Coutray, Trevor Overton and Varun Nannuri β are pushing the boundaries of STEM by blending fields like engineering, medicine and robotics.
Four outstanding undergraduate students are redefining the boundaries of STEM through their high-impact research β and in doing so, placing the university among the nationβs top producers of Goldwater Scholars.
The prestigious Goldwater Scholarship identifies and supports the nationβs best student researchers in the fields of engineering, mathematics and natural sciences.
This yearβs honorees β all expected to graduate next spring β have propelled ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ into an elite tier of research institutions, surpassing several Ivy League institutions and tying for fourth in the nation in total Goldwater Scholars produced alongside Stanford University, the University of Notre Dame and the University of Chicago. Their impactful work reflects ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½’s commitment to building a high-level research environment that empowers students to lead projects addressing significant global and scientific challenges.
Supporting Space Exploration
Goldwater Scholar: Keanu Brayman
Major: Mechanical engineering
Ultimate Goal: To develop robotic systems to support human exploration on Mars.
Keanu Braymanβs passion for space began early.
βOne of my earliest memories is watching a Space Shuttle streak across the sky from a beach in South Florida,β Brayman says. βI remember being amazed there were people on board and feeling drawn to one day help explore the stars and discover what lies beyond our planet.β
At ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½, Brayman has refined that dream with the support of faculty and mentors β including Associate Professors Adrienne Dove (physics) and Tarek Elgohary (mechanical and aerospace engineering), and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Engineer Christopher Proctor β as well as through programs like the .
He plans to pursue a doctoral degree in aerospace engineering to support lunar exploration and NASAβs Artemis program, as well as develop robotic systems that can extract resources and build infrastructure to support human exploration on Mars.
Engineering the Brain
Goldwater Scholar: Kyle Coutray
Majors: Computer engineering and biomedical sciences
Ultimate Goal: To research ways to restore communication, movement and cognitive function to the brain through engineering methods.
Kyle Coutray is focused on the intersection of neuroscience and technology.
βIβm interested in building systems that interact directly with the brain,β Coutray says. βIn the lab, β¦ [Iβm] blending [both majors] into one approach.β
He aims to pursue a doctoral degree in neural engineering to further his research on brain-computer interfaces that translate complex brain activity into useful functions.
A 2026 Order of Pegasus inductee and a Burnett Honors Scholar, Coutray credits his success to disciplined focus and strong mentorship, particularly from Charles N. Millican Professor of Computer Science Joseph LaViola and Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Helen Huang.
Advancing Patient Care
Goldwater Scholar: Varun Nannuri
Major: Molecular and cellular biology
Ultimate Goal: To pursue a career as a physician-scientist.
Varun Nannuri is driven by a desire to understand why people experience different health outcomes and improve care.
“Through my clinical experiences, I have seen how much patients and families rely on physicians during some of the most difficult moments of their lives,” Nannuri says. “My research experiences have shown me that better care depends on asking better questions.”
Nannuri plans to pursue a dual M.D./Ph.D. degree and become a physician-scientist. His ambition earned him recognition as a 2026 Order of Pegasus inductee and led to the completion of his Honors Undergraduate Thesis. Nannuri is also a member of the Burnett Honors College as a Burnett Medical Scholar, a program that offers guaranteed admission to the ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ College of Medicine upon completion.
βΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ has given me opportunities to grow as a student, researcher, leader and future physician,β Nannuri says.
Restoring Human Senses
Goldwater Scholar: Trevor Overton
Majors: Electrical engineering and biomedical sciences
Ultimate Goal: To improve the lives of people with disabilities through advanced robotic prostheses.
Burnett Honors Scholar Trevor Overtonβs work centers on neuroengineering and next-generation prosthetics.
βIβve always had a passion for building things, and I also love reading and watching sci-fi,β Overton says. βWhen ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ offered me the opportunity to join the MEDD [ β¦ I knew I had to take it.β
ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½βs MEDD program provides scientifically driven students like Overton with a unique opportunity to integrate engineering principles into medicine.
Much like the development of cochlear implants, Overton imagines similar breakthroughs with vision and touch.
βI envision a future where robotic prostheses are so advanced that they could completely replace or enhance the abilities of humans,β Overton says. βItβs not entirely impossible.β
After earning a doctoral degree in electrical engineering with a focus on neuroengineering, he hopes to inspire the next generation β just as his professors inspired him β emphasizing that ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½βs strength lies in professors who actively invest in their students.
A Growing Research Powerhouse
With four 2026 Goldwater Scholarship recipients, ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ continues to strengthen its position as a leader in undergraduate research. The achievement reflects both studentsβ immense dedication and a university-wide commitment to driving innovation, mentorship and hands-on discovery. As these Knights prepare for the next steps in their academic journeys, they carry forward a shared mission: to turn research into real-world impact.
Students interested in applying for the Goldwater Scholarship or other major national awards should contact the Office of Prestigious Awards atΒ opa@ucf.edu.
