Aiden Gray has won a prestigious Goldwater Scholarship for the 2026-2027 year. Gray is a current part-time glider technician and former intern in University of Georgia Skidaway Institute of Oceanography (SkIO) faculty member Catherine Edwards’ lab.
The scholarship, awarded by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, is considered one of the most prestigious national undergraduate awards in the United States for students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. It is awarded annually to students who aspire to be the nation’s next generation of researchers in STEM.
“It is an honor to be recognized among some of the nation’s top-achieving undergraduates,” said Gray, a junior at Washington and Lee University. “Being included in that cohort — the gravity is not left unfelt. It is also validating of the work I put in, both at Skidaway and with other research projects I have ongoing. It motivates me to keep moving in that direction.”
This year, the Goldwater Board awarded 454 scholarships from a pool of over 5,000 undergraduate sophomores and juniors. Award winners receive up to $7,500 annually to go towards tuition, fees, books, room and board.
“The Goldwater Scholarship is one of most highly competitive scholarships available to undergraduates, and given the breadth and depth of his accomplishments in research since joining the lab just two years ago, it’s no surprise that the Foundation has recognized his achievements, drive to succeed, and outstanding career potential,” said Edwards, an associate professor in the Department of Marine Sciences in UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.
Gray’s involvement with SkIO started in the summer of 2024, when he was hired as an intern in the Edwards Lab. His internship evolved into his current position as a part-time research technician in the lab.
Routinely, Gray helps remotely monitor and pilot underwater autonomous vehicles (AUVs) deployed by the Edwards Lab for both hurricane intensity forecasting and monitoring of critically endangered right whales off the coast of Georgia, South Carolina and Florida.
A native of Richmond Hill, Georgia, Gray often also assists with in-person fieldwork. He joins lab members on AUV deployment and recovery missions, and he assists with managing high-frequency radars that the lab operates in Georgia and Florida as part of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) high frequency radar network. Measurements of surface currents are transmitted to the national database in near-real-time and can be used to aid hazardous spill responders, search and rescue operations and navigators.
In the summer of 2025, Gray also worked with Edwards on a research project, which they published and presented at the Marine Technology Society OCEANS 2025 conference, along with another student-authored conference paper on which Gray served as a co-author.
“My time as an intern in the Edwards Lab has helped me realize the world of research opportunities supporting the waters I grew up on,” said Gray. “The opportunity to work with members of the Edwards Lab in the lab and in the field after my first year made me a better scientist and problem solver. Having that experience early was invaluable in getting me to where I am today.”
“From his freshman year to now, Aiden has sought out research experiences that have shaped his view of the world and how he envisions his future in science and engineering,” said Edwards. “The Goldwater Scholarship is proof of his ability to articulate these research and career goals. With his skills, ability to work well within a team, and can-do attitude, Aiden is unstoppable!”
In the summer of 2026, Gray will travel to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he will work in the Lincoln Laboratory as part of the Advanced Undersea Systems and Technology Group under Nicholas Beaird.
About SkIO
The UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography (SkIO) is a multidisciplinary research and education institution located on Skidaway Island near Savannah, Georgia. The Institute was founded in 1967 with a mission to conduct research in all fields of oceanography. In 2013, SkIO was merged with the University of Georgia. The campus serves as a gateway to coastal and marine environments for programs throughout the University System. The Institute’s primary goals are to further the understanding of marine and environmental processes, conduct leading-edge research on coastal and marine systems, and train tomorrow’s scientists. For more information, visit www.skio.uga.edu.