Persistence does pay off: Gabrielsson earns a Goldwater scholarship
For Rebecca Gabrielsson ’27, the path to one of the nation’s most prestigious undergraduate awards was an exercise in persistence.
In April, the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation announced Gabrielsson as a 2026 Goldwater Scholar. A mathematics and physics double major from Ankeny, Iowa, Gabrielsson joins an elite group of students recognized for their potential to become the next generation of research leaders in STEM fields.
The news was equal parts shocking and sweet for Gabrielsson, who first applied for the scholarship during her sophomore year. While she didn't receive the award then, she used the experience to bolster her academic standing and deepen her research portfolio.
“I put a lot of effort into my application both last year and this year, so it felt really good to be rewarded for that effort,” Gabrielsson shared. “Honestly, I was in shock. It didn’t fully hit me until later that day... Once it hit me, I was pretty excited.”
The Goldwater Scholarship is widely considered the most preeminent undergraduate award in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering. This year, 454 scholarships were awarded out of more than 5,000 applicants and Gabrielsson was one of only five students from an Iowa college or university to earn the honor.
Gabrielsson sought out a college with a strong physics program, city location where she could find the amenities she wanted and robust financial support. Coe College was the perfect fit.
“The incredible faculty of the physics and mathematics departments have made my experience just as amazing as I hoped,” Gabrielsson said.
Her journey to the Goldwater was especially fueled by Coe’s emphasis on early undergraduate research. Gabielsson has worked closely with physics and mathematics faculty including Associate Professor of Mathematics Brittney Miller, Fran Allison and Francis Halpin Professor of Physics Mario Affatigato ’89 and the late Professor of Physics Steve Feller — all who also provided direct support in regards to her Goldwater application.
She has already completed academic literature reviews, co-authored a paper for publication and conducted discrete mathematics research in a REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) setting. She presented her findings in Cambridge, England and at the Joint Mathematics Meeting in Washington D.C., the premier conference in her field.
She credits Coe’s faculty for not only providing these research opportunities but also for guiding her through the grueling four-month Goldwater application process. Coe’s National Fellowship Advisor Amber Shaw was instrumental in assisting Gabrielsson through the application process, which lasted from October through January. Shaw is also an official Goldwater Scholarship Mentor as selected by the Goldwater Foundation.
“One of the reasons Rebecca was a quality candidate for the Goldwater is her range of experiences, which have helped Rebecca refine her educational and career plans post-Coe. One of her goals over the past couple of years has been figuring out how to marry mathematics and physics in a way that best fits her interests and talents. Applications like the Goldwater often ask applicants to outline their future plans, and Rebecca's deliberate work in this area has definitely set her apart,” Shaw said.
Beyond the prestige, the Goldwater provides vital financial support for Gabrielsson’s future education, and it also grants her access to a powerful network of past recipients as she prepares for the next phase of her career.
This summer, Gabrielsson will participate in the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), focusing on chemometrics through mathematics and data science.
Following her graduation from Coe, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in applied mathematics with a focus on physical applications.
“The Goldwater Scholarship has created a network of past recipients that I plan to take full advantage of,” Gabrielsson said. “This scholarship will help me to finish my undergraduate studies in a financially secure place and allow me to save money in order to pay for grad school application fees.”
Gabrielsson’s achievement continues Coe’s strong legacy with the Goldwater Foundation, following 2024 winner Tyler Salrin ’25 and it reinforces the college’s reputation as a powerhouse for student-led research.
Coe students’ high qualifications are evident — since 1985, 100% of chemistry and physics majors accepted to grad school have earned full scholarships or stipends from their graduate institution to attend. Coe is also one of just a few small colleges hosting a National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program, which creates a wealth of qualified, research-oriented undergraduates to apply for the Goldwater Scholarship.