NC State engineering student receives Goldwater Scholarship

A North Carolina State University engineering student has received the prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship for the 2013-2014 academic year.

Eric Whitmire, a junior double majoring in biomedical engineering and computer science, was awarded the scholarship for exceptional achievement and potential in his fields of study. The scholarship covers the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.

Whitmire currently works with insect biobots, specifically cockroaches, in the iBionicS Lab at NC State. Researchers in the lab use electrical stimulation techniques to control the movement of cockroaches to help first responders in emergency situations in which human access might be dangerous or impossible. Whitmire has developed a computer vision platform that automatically tracks the cockroaches and directs them toward a target.

Whitmire plans to pursue a PhD to study brain-computer interfaces and other sensing devices that enrich the interaction between humans and technology.

Whitmire was selected for the scholarship from a competitive field of mathematics, science, and engineering students nominated by the faculties of colleges and universities nationwide. The scholarship program, which honors former Senator Barry M. Goldwater, was designed to encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering.