2008 Woodie Awards
Rossetti named Goldwater Scholar for lab work
Amy Harmon '10
Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: News
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Rossetti is the lead student researcher for the Morris Lab sea urchin genome project. The Lab is a group of science students under the direction of Professor Bob Morris.
In his role as lead student researcher, Rossetti focused on cell and developmental biology by conducting genomics research to identify ciliary genes in the sea urchin.
He also co-authored papers about the project that were printed in the journals Science and Developmental Biology.
"It was a wonderful feeling when I found out that I have received a Goldwater scholarship,"?Rossetti told the Wire. "I was not completely sure what to expect when I was going into it and this left me pleasantly surprised at the end."
The Goldwater scholarship provides up to $7,500 to fund expenses such as tuition, fees and books during a student's Junior or Senior year. It is awarded to as many as 3,000 currently enrolled Sophomores and Juniors each year.
Students are selected for their excellence in science and mathematics and for their intention to pursue careers in mathematics, engineering or the natural sciences.
The application contains a short answer section and one essay discussing a significant issue or problem in the applicant's field of study.
For his application, Rossetti discussed the difficulties he faced while identifying new ciliary genes in the sea urchin and how the use of an XBX motif-finding program could be a possible solution.
"The XBX motif finder is a computer program I have been working on for the past year which identifies ciliary's genes based on a regulatory motif in their non-translated region," he explained.
Rossetti attributed his success for giving him encouragement to apply for the scholarship to Associate Dean and Chief Advising Officer for Academic Advising Alex Trayford.
"Dean Trayford approached me at the beginning of the year and asked if I would like to apply for a Goldwater scholarship," said Rossetti.
He went on to say that Dean Trayford helped him along in the application process.
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