Villanova University student and Marian Catholic High School Class of 2019 graduate Zachary (Zach) Boyer has been named as a 2022 Goldwater Scholar by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. A junior in Villanova’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Boyer, from Tamaqua, was selected from more than 1,200 institution-nominated students nationwide.

“As a Goldwater Scholar, Zachary will have a remarkable opportunity to further the work he’s begun as a student-researcher at Villanova. He follows in the footsteps of previous Villanova honorees, many of whom have gone on to excel as researchers in other prestigious, national scholarship programs,” said University Provost Patrick G. Maggitti, Ph.D. “I congratulate Zachary on this honor and thank the Villanova faculty and staff who have helped him achieve his academic goals.”

A chemistry major and recipient of the James C. Curvey Endowed Scholarship at Villanova, Boyer’s research has focused on the underlying chemistry of antimicrobial agents. An aspiring medicinal chemist, he aims to develop therapeutics for infectious diseases. The pandemic delayed Boyer’s attempts to become involved in bench research until spring 2021, when he began working with Dr. Matthew O’Reilly. In summer 2021, he was awarded a Villanova Undergraduate Research Fellowship and studied the synthesis of novel molecules with antimicrobial properties (“Organic Synthesis, Identification, and Biological Analysis of anti-MRSA Dihydrofolate Reductase Inhibitors”). Boyer has presented at the Villanova Undergraduate Research Symposium, as well as the 2022 American Chemical Society national conference. This summer, he will work as Johnson & Johnson as a synthetic chemist intern.

The Goldwater Foundation awards $7,500 scholarships to sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics or engineering. It is widely considered the preeminent award for undergraduates preparing for research careers in STEM.

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation was established by Congress in 1986 to honor Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater, who served for 30 years in the United States Senate.