Goldwater Scholarship Recipient—Sophia Boler

Sophia Boler, a Natural Sciences student in the Minerva University Class of 2026, has just become Minerva’s first-ever Goldwater Scholar—one of the highest honors in the U.S. for undergraduates in science, engineering, and math.

Raised in upstate New York, Sophia has always loved science. Her decision to attend Minerva was sparked by an article her dad sent her during high school. “I was immediately excited, it sounded perfect” she laughs. “I was drawn to the active learning, student diversity, and global experience of Minerva, but it was after attending the Admitted Students Day in San Francisco that I was inspired to enroll.”

At Minerva, she’s honed her passion for science through a focus on molecular biology and biophysics, with concentrations in Cells & Organisms and Matter & Energy. “In the future, I hope to use my knowledge of biology and physics to pursue a Ph.D. in biophysics or immunoengineering,” she shares. “I want to understand the mechanics of how our cells work and help develop therapies that can truly make a difference.” This research is important to Sophia on both a personal and societal level.  “Autoimmune disorders impact so many people I care about,” she says. “80% of those affected are women, yet the field is vastly understudied due to historical underrepresentation. I would love to be part of studying that and pushing science in a more rigorous and inclusive direction.”

Sophia’s research journey has been supported by Minerva’s civic projects, which placed her in real-world lab environments around the globe. During her semester in Seoul, Sophia worked in a polymer chemistry lab at Hanyang University where she assisted a Ph.D. student with experiments manipulating light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs). The experience not only helped deepen her understanding of experimental techniques but also confirmed her desire to pursue research as a long-term path.

In her favorite project so far, Sophia partnered with Universidad Abierta Interamericana in Buenos Aires on a computational biology study aimed at improving drug therapy for cancer treatment. “Cancer arises from complex causes, making cancer cells highly diverse among patients. By using gene expression as a marker for this diversity, we can tailor treatments to improve patient outcomes,” she explains. Sophia is helping optimize a model that predicts drug efficacy based on gene expression, with the goal of advancing precision medicine and uncovering new uses for existing cancer drugs.

“I’ve loved all my civic projects. They’ve all been stepping stones in figuring out what I truly want to do. I really thank Minerva for pushing us and giving us these opportunities.”

However, it was her summer research at the RNA Institute at the University at Albany that ultimately shaped her Goldwater application. There, she explored how ribosomal protein RACK1 affects the stress-response translation of the TXNIP gene—a project she plans to continue through publication. Her work earned her the Outstanding Poster Presentation Award at the institute’s annual RNA Day. She also presented her project at Minerva’s 2024 Research Symposium in Buenos Aires.

“Being named a Goldwater Scholar feels incredibly validating,” she says. “I’m now part of a network of students across the U.S. who care as much about science as I do.” She adds, “I can’t thank my letter writers—Prof. Allie Gale from Minerva University, and Professors Gabriele Fuchs and Andy Berglund from the University at Albany—enough for their consistent support of my scientific goals. 

Outside the lab, Sophia is a long-distance runner who has completed marathons in Japan and Argentina and helps organize Minerva’s 5K runs, which get students, staff, and alumni involved in a healthy challenge. For Sophia, running is more than just exercise—it’s a form of stress management and a means of connecting with each city she’s lived in through Minerva’s global rotation. 

As a third-year student, Sophia has started planning her Capstone project which will likely be a curated research portfolio that draws from her diverse experiences across the sciences. From computational modeling in cancer drug development to immunoengineering and wet-lab RNA biology work, her Capstone will showcase how her interdisciplinary and global experience has shaped her identity as a researcher.

Her advice to younger students? “Take risks. If you love something, or if something seems interesting to you, it’s always better to just try it and put yourself out there. Whether you succeed or fail, you will learn so much from the experience.”

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‍‍If you were inspired by Sophia’s story and are seeking a college experience that will teach you valuable pragmatic skills that will enable you to change the world, consider applying to Minerva University.