2025-2026 Goldwater Scholar: Natalie Rawlings

Congratulations to Natalie Rawlings who was named the 2025 - 2026 Goldwater Scholar!

"I am a junior in the Honors College pursuing degrees in both Molecular and Cellular Biology and Biochemistry. I am passionate about uncovering the molecular basis of disease and developing better therapeutics for patients who have limited options. Since joining the Capaldi Lab in my very first semester, I’ve enjoyed studying TORC1/mTOR, a major metabolic regulator in all eukaryotes that is important in aging and diseases such as cancer and epilepsy. I hope to apply the molecular-level thinking I've gained in my research to the clinic as a future physician-scientist. Outside of the lab, I have founded the Undergraduate Journal Club to foster scientific communication and inspire undergraduates to engage with research, and I have also contributed to health and wellness initiatives as a Lead WellCat and Lead Peer Counselor with Campus Health and have recently pioneered a project with the College of Medicine to build a wellness room on campus. In my free time, I love being outside, whether that's hiking, snowboarding, fishing, or simply enjoying nature! I also really enjoy checking out live music in downtown Tucson.  

I hope to become a physician-scientist who develops and optimizes therapeutics for patients with rare diseases. I see myself working at an academic medical institution where I can run a lab studying the molecular basis of disease and translate those findings to patients in the clinic." ~ Natalie Rawlings.