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Elise Tahti, a third-year biochemistry major from Gardnerville, Nevada, has been awarded a prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarship, a federally endowed program that gives $7,500 to recipients studying engineering, science or mathematics. Fewer than 10% of applicants become Goldwater scholars. 

Tahti extended thanks to teachers and professors along the way who fueled her interests. Through her education, Tahti said she is always looking to understand things on the smallest level. 

Drawing from this interest, Tahti found her major when she brought her drive to understand the way the world works to biology. On a whim, Tahti decided to major in biochemistry based on her interest in medicine and found a passion for it.  

“I think it's a really elegant way to explain how chemistry integrates into the human body’s biological processes,” Tahti said. “I think it's really cool to look at the molecular level of how things happen.” 

After coming to Western, Tahti began working with Associate Professor of Chemistry Jeanine Amacher. Tahti’s research in Amacher's lab focuses on the way proteins bond to one another using amino acids. When proteins bind together, they use a specific sequence of amino acids to recognize one another, and bond based on those combinations.  

Issues arise when viruses bind to these cells using a similar series of amino acids. Tahti’s research examines the nuances of just how selective proteins are when binding to other proteins with similar amino-acid combinations.  

“Elise is an absolute pleasure to have in the lab, and an excellent budding scientist! She has shown exciting promise since her first days in the lab when she was a freshman,” Amacher said. “It's been wonderful to watch her develop into the inquisitive and productive researcher she is today.” 

After completing research with the team from Amacher's lab, Elise presented the findings at several conferences, such as the University of Washington’s Volcano Conference for Molecular Biology and ��������’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates Symposium. With encouragement from Amacher and guidance from Tom Moore of the Fellowships Office, Tahti decided to apply for the Goldwater. 

Applying for the scholarship is a rigorous process, requiring academic essays, letters of recommendation and a long, competitive process to even be nominated by the university. Tahti’s hard work paid off. 

This summer, Tahti will work as an Amgen scholar at UCLA to study cancer biology at the UCLA Department of Medical and Molecular Pharmacology. In the future, Tahti plans to go to graduate school to continue her studies and hopes to earn her doctorate in pharmacology. 

Amacher said Tahti’s research and hard work had been rewarded in receiving the Goldwater. 

“I am thrilled that Elise has the opportunity to do research as an Amgen UCLA scholar this summer before returning for her senior year,” Amacher said. 

Tahti said anyone applying for a similar scholarship should start thinking about applying ahead of time and not being afraid to talk in-depth about their academic and research achievements. 

“I’m super excited about the scholarship and all the opportunities I’ve had at Western,” Tahti said.