Duke junior earns Goldwater Scholar award

A Duke junior was named a Barry M. Goldwater Scholar in Science, Mathematics and Engineering, the University announced Tuesday.

Vivek Bhattacharya, an A.B. Duke Scholar from Cary, North Carolina, won the award in recognition of his undergraduate research in physics and economics, according to a Duke news release. Through the national award, he is eligible for up to $7,500 toward annual tuition and expenses.

Bhattacharya has conducted physics research with Steffen Bass, associate professor of physics, using computer skills to model the extremely hot sub-atomic molecules that existed millionths of a second after the Big Bang.

Bhattacharya’s economics research models simulate bidding behaviors in online auctions, which might “help us design tools to increase government revenue and reduce government costs” when trying to sell a contract or product, he said in the release. Bhattacharya has worked on this research with Andrew Sweeting and James Roberts, both assistant professors of economics.

Bhattacharya is president of the Math Union and a teaching assistant for economics, the field in which he will apply for graduate school.

Duke has had a total of 70 Goldwater Scholars since the program began in 1988. This year, two other students—juniors Daphne Ezer and Farzan Beroz—were among the award’s honorable mentions.