This marks the fourth consecutive year that students from Illinois State have won the award.
Illinois State University’s Office of Student Research is pleased to announce that two students, Claire Campbell and Trent Kobulnicky, were named 2025 Goldwater Scholars.
Established in 1986, the Scholarship Program honoring Senator Barry Goldwater was designed to identify, encourage, and financially support outstanding undergraduates interested in pursuing research careers in the sciences, engineering, and mathematics.
Claire Campbell is from Towanda, Ill., and considers Bloomington-Normal her home. She is a second-year computational physics major with a minor in mathematics.
She is studying under Dr. Matt Caplan, associate professor of physics, conducting research on supermassive black holes, which are millions of times the mass of the sun and found in nearly every galaxy in the universe. Their work focuses on understanding the supermassive black holes’ formation and, ultimately, explain their existence.
Campbell is active on campus, serving as president of the Astronomy Club and participating in the Physics Club. She works at the Center for Mathematics, Science, and Technology as a STEM Ambassador, conducting research to improve the introductory STEM student experience.
“We’re all incredibly proud of Claire, she is everything the Goldwater Scholarship seeks to recognize,” said Caplan. “Claire does not just intend to be a scientist after graduating, she already is one now. She’s made tremendous progress in a very short time studying the growth of supermassive black holes in the early universe, and I believe the simulations she’s running will provide important insights to field.”
Campbell plans to pursue a Ph.D. in computational astrophysics, with a career goal of teaching and conducting research at the university level.
“I appreciate astrophysics research because, despite our distance from many of the objects involved, it is so widely applicable to Earthly phenomena that impact our daily lives. It is an honor to be at the forefront of our expanding knowledge in this area,” Campbell said. “Teaching also appeals to me because of the wonderful professors I have had at ISU. I aspire to be faculty so that I can give back to future students that from which I am now benefitting.”
Trent Kobulnicky is from Bloomington, Ill., and is a third-year biochemistry major with a graphic communications technology (GCT) minor.
He studies under Dr. George Barnes, Chemistry Department chair; and Dr. Jeremy Driskell, professor of chemistry, conducting research utilizing a model enzyme (HRP) to measure the activity of biotinylated antibodies immobilized onto streptavidin-coated surfaces. He also is researching using trypsin in conjunction with nanoLC-MS to do proteomics analysis of biotinylated antibodies.
“The Goldwater Scholarship is a highly competitive national award that is recognized as one of the most prestigious undergraduate scholarships in the STEM fields,” said Barnes. “Trent was a joy to work with in my research group. He clearly demonstrated his determination and tenacity in tackling complex scientific problems, and I’m excited to see what challenges he will pursue next!”
Kobulnicky also is active in the campus community. He serves as treasurer of the ISU Chemistry Club and works as a tutor at the Visor Center. Additional club activities include involvement in campus ministry with Cru and the ISU Swingin’ Redbirds.
He plans to pursue a Ph.D. in computational biochemistry and advancing the study of simulated biological mechanisms. His career goal is to combine his passions for learning and education to inspire the next generations of chemists as a professor.
“My Goldwater application was motivated and supported by my amazing mentors in the ISU Chemistry Department, Dr. Barnes and Dr. Driskell,” said Kobulnicky. “Each of them provided invaluable feedback throughout the review process, and I thank them for the Goldwater Scholar distinction I can now use for graduate school.”
The process for the Goldwater Scholarship requires students to submit the essay, an application describing their research experiences, and three letters of support from faculty mentors to a campus committee responsible for selecting students to compete nationally.
Nationally, 441 Goldwater Scholars, nominated by 445 institutions from across the U.S., were chosen from the 1,350 total nominees to receive the $7,500 award for the 2025-2026 academic year. When these new awards are combined with the second year of support to 64 sophomores who received Goldwater scholarships in 2024, the total number will again be among the largest number of scholars ever supported in a single year. With the 2025 awards, the Goldwater Foundation has awarded 11,162 scholarships since its inception in 1989.
