Senior year educational costs
Neuroscience & Behavioral Biology; Music (highest honors)
Currently a seventh-year MD/PhD student at Washington University in St. Louis, graduating in Spring 2020.
During his time at Emory, Jonathan was an Emory Scholar, a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Nu Rho Psi, and Phi Sigma, a two-time recipient of the Emory Class Gift Book Award, and a 2010 recipient of the Best Natural Sciences Poster Presentation at the Emory Undergraduate Research Symposium. In addition to his extensive involvement in research, he volunteered with the Vision Screening Initiative for the Homeless and Unite for Sight. He was managing editor of Science and Society Magazine, and a member of the First Violin Section in the Emory Symphony Orchestra. Jonathan served as a Peer Tutor with Emory’s Writing Center and as a tutor for the Chemistry department.
Q: What experiences at Emory prepared you for the Goldwater?
A: Working as a research assistant in Krish Sathian’s lab in the Medicine Department of Neurology, beginning in the spring of my freshman year, most prepared me for the Goldwater. I studied multisensory imagery through behavioral testing and functional brain imaging with the goal of developing novel targets for neurorehabilitation for the visually impaired. The mentoring I received during my tenure in the Sathian Lab prepared me well for the Goldwater and my work today.
Q: What memorable or interesting things happened during your Goldwater experience?
A: As a Goldwater Scholar, I continued my research efforts in the Sathian Lab and pursued projects examining spatial imagery in the visually impaired. These experiments involved behavioral and functional brain imaging in blind individuals. Having the opportunity to conduct that research motivated me to pursue a research career in the vision sciences so that I can contribute to novel treatments for blinding diseases.
Q: How did the Goldwater impact your academic/career path?
A: The Goldwater nurtured my interest in biomedical research. I am currently beginning my fourth year in the Medical Scientists Training Program at Washington University’s School of Medicine. After my MD/PhD training, I plan to pursue a residency in ophthalmology. My goal is to work as a physician-scientist in the vision sciences so I can run my own lab, focusing on research questions connected to my clinical interests.
Q: What advice would you give current Goldwater applicants?
A: Spend significant time working on your research essay to make sure it is as clear as possible and conveys the significance of your work. The people reviewing your application may not be experts on the specific protein that you are studying, so you need to make it clear to them why it is the most important protein in the world! Work closely with NS&FP to develop your application. The advisors have extensive experience, and will do all they can to maximize your chances of success.