Recent alumni were also named to two fellowship cohorts. 

Class of 2024 graduate Hana Gutierrez Butler is one of 35 young scholars selected to be part of the 2025 class of Gates Cambridge Scholars at the University of Cambridge. The scholarship program — which fully funds graduate study and research in any academic discipline at the esteemed British university — was established in 2000 through a $210 million gift to the University of Cambridge from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Class of 2023 graduate Martin Kononov was named an Ellison Graduate Scholar. Launched just last year, the Ellison Scholars program provides full funding for graduate studies at the University of Oxford, covering course fees, a living stipend and the equivalent of paid internships. Alongside their Oxford education, scholars engage in project-based learning and receive mentorship with world-renowned experts at the Ellison Institute of Technology, preparing them to drive profound change in their home countries and around the world.

Each of the five scholarship recipients leveraged Brown’s distinctive academic environment, marked by the Open Curriculum, close faculty mentorship and a culture of collaborative exploration, to tackle bold research questions and drive positive change in their respective disciplines.

Below, some of the scholars share their research interests, how Brown supported them in focusing their academic paths, and what they hope to achieve after completing their graduate studies. 

Concentration: Biochemistry and molecular biology
Hometown: Columbus, Indiana

To Matthew Liu, applying for the Goldwater Scholarship was a no-brainer.

“It supports aspiring researchers who want to make a lifelong commitment to science,” the Brown junior said. “That is exactly where I see myself: combining research with clinical insight to impact human health and science.” 

At Brown, Liu’s research focuses on developing analytical models and tools to study cardiovascular and neurological diseases. Enrolling in courses at the intersection of biology, chemistry with medicine, Liu said he embraced the Open Curriculum to study across disciplines — but it wasn’t just the freedom to design his own academic path that inspired him. 

“Brown’s culture of encouraging its students to not be afraid to ask interesting questions and see the interdisciplinary nature of research will continue to fuel my curiosity to learn more and my ambition to chase radical ideas,” Liu said. 

With the Goldwater award, Liu is looking forward to deepening his research experience and connecting with other curious scholars. 

“This award will help me take the next step toward my goal of becoming a physician-scientist, where I can bridge the gap between research and the clinic,” he said. 

After graduate and medical studies, Liu hopes to lead his own research lab to uncover the molecular mechanisms of various diseases and develop new therapies and treatments.

“I’d love to one day complement academia with industry to work on the pipeline of translating research into clinical practices as well as shape national science policy so that our research priorities reflect the real needs of patients and communities,” he said. 

Concentration: Computational biology (computer science track)
Hometown: Madison, New Jersey

Skylar Walters lights up when she talks about viruses. 

“I’ve been obsessed with viruses since I was a kid,” she said. At Brown, Walters designed a multidisciplinary academic path around them, blending genomics, deep learning and computational modeling to better understand viral evolution.

Her current research involves developing a deep learning model to identify novel, highly divergent viruses from metagenomic data — work that addresses a major limitation in standard detection methods, Walters said. 

“It’s all my favorite things rolled into one: viruses, computation, genomics and health equity,” she said. “It’s a deeply multidisciplinary field, and I love the way that I have to approach problems as a result.” 

Walters credits Brown’s Open Curriculum for shaping the nature of her work. She’s used encoding techniques gleaned from a computational linguistics course with Associate Professor of Computer Science Ellie Pavlick, models from human population genetics courses with Associate Professor of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology Emilia Huerta-Sanchez, and models from a deep learning in genomics course with Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Data Science Ritambhara Singh.

Outside of the lab, Walters is a passionate teacher and mentor. With the Goldwater award, Walters plans to pursue a Ph.D. in computational biology with the long-term goal of teaching at the university level, guiding students as they design their own interdisciplinary projects. 

“It sounds cliché, but I’m so obsessed with learning — I keep a journal of one thing I learn each day — and for me, the best way to learn is by teaching,” Walters said.

Concentration: Mechanical engineering
Hometown: Guadalajara, Mexico

Class of 2024 graduate Hana Gutierrez Butler approaches research with a maker mindset and an eye for design, drawing inspiration from nature to build better human-made systems. 

In the Applied Mechanics Lab under the mentorship of Associate Professor of Engineering Haneesh Kesari, Gutierrez Butler studied microstructures and soft materials like elastomers — an interest that sparked a fascination with biomimetic architectures.

“I know my time at Brown shaped the way I approach learning,” she said. “The freedom to explore both engineering and art helped me realize how much I love experimental research. I want to keep embracing curiosity, allowing myself to explore new ideas and have fun with research.”

When Gutierrez Butler heads to the University of Cambridge in the fall, she will pursue a master’s degree in micro and nanotechnology enterprise. The program brings together materials science, mechanical design and real-world applications — a confluence of her interests that felt like a perfect fit, Gutierrez Butler said. 

“The Gates Cambridge cohort is full of people who are passionate about using their research and education to make a positive impact, and I really value being part of a community like that,” she said. 

After she returns from her studies in the United Kingdom, Gutierrez Butler wants to maintain a strong sense of community, encouraging anyone curious about materials engineering to join her. 

“I have a gazillion business ideas I dream about, but my favorite vision is running my own makerspace — one that provides workshops and classes for underrepresented communities, giving them full access to materials, tools and the creative freedom to build whatever they imagine,” she said. 

Concentration: Chemistry and chemical biology
Hometown: Moscow, Russia and Denver, Colorado

During his studies at Brown and since graduation, Class of 2023 graduate Martin Kononov has combined a deep scientific curiosity with a hands-on approach to research and education. 

At Brown, Kononov investigated topics ranging from oxidative stress in cardiac cells to the biological roles of hydrogen sulfide, a gaseous signaling molecule implicated in cardiovascular, neurological and oncological diseases. For several semesters, Kononov said he served as a teaching assistant in courses exploring human anatomy, biomechanics and physiology, and helped restructure elements of a biochemistry curriculum.

Beyond the laboratory, he volunteered as a medical scribe with local health care organizations, participated in the Brown Flying Club as a licensed pilot, served as editor-in-chief of Brown’s Intercollegiate Finance Journal and served in Model United Nations. 

After earning bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and chemical biology in 2023, Kononov continued his translational research as a research assistant in the Daley Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital. He continues clinical work as an emergency medical technician in Boston and founded Crimson Bear Associates, a biotechnology consulting firm. 

As an Ellison Scholar, Kononov will pursue a doctoral degree in clinical medicine at the University of Oxford. He will study the molecular mechanisms of aging and longevity with the goal of becoming a physician-scientist dedicated to combating age-related diseases.