Denton, TX — Sarang Goel and Ramya Motati, students from the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science (TAMS) at the University of North Texas (UNT), have been honored as 2024 Goldwater Scholars. This esteemed scholarship recognizes their significant contributions to artificial intelligence and solvation chemistry.
The Goldwater Scholarship, a highly competitive award, supports students pursuing careers in STEM fields. With these latest awards, UNT celebrates a total of 73 Goldwater Scholars in its history.
Sarang Goel: Innovations in AI for Health
Sarang Goel, a senior at TAMS, has been developing artificial intelligence applications to aid patients with Parkinson’s disease and visual impairments. His project on detecting freezing of gait in Parkinson’s patients uses a wearable device to monitor movement and provide targeted vibrations to help manage symptoms. This initiative began during his time at the MIT Research Summer Institute program.
In addition, Goel has created low-cost, AI-based eyeglasses designed to help visually impaired individuals navigate safely. Inspired by a family friend’s struggles, he developed these glasses to assist with obstacle avoidance and location guidance.
Goel attributes much of his success to his mentor, Professor Saraju Mohanty, from UNT’s Smart Electronics Systems Lab. “Sarang is the best undergraduate student whom I have mentored in the last 20 years,” Mohanty said.
After graduating from TAMS, Goel plans to pursue further studies at Stanford University, where he aims to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science.
Ramya Motati: Advancing Drug Dosage Precision
Ramya Motati, also a TAMS senior, focuses on improving the dosage precision of drugs containing pseudocyclic compounds through a solvation parameter she developed. Her research is guided by chemistry professor William Acree, Jr., and biomedical engineering associate professor Amir Jafari.
Motati’s journey into biotechnology was inspired by her personal experience with ACL rehabilitation, following an injury from track and field. This exposure to rehabilitative technology spurred her interest in biomedical engineering, which she plans to pursue at the doctoral level.
“Ramya is one of the top undergraduate students that I have mentored in my 42 years of academia,” Acree remarked. Motati has co-authored 10 research publications, including one in the international journal Liquids.
UNT’s Goldwater Scholarship Process
The selection of Goldwater nominees at UNT is managed by James Duban, associate dean for research and national scholarships at TAMS and the Honors College, along with a multidisciplinary committee of faculty members from various scientific disciplines.
Both Goel and Motati express deep gratitude for the recognition and support they have received, and they are optimistic about their future contributions to science and technology.