The Office of Fellowships and Scholar Programs is excited to announce that Ryan John Geiser has been named a Whitaker International Fellow. From 1975 until 2006, The Whitaker Foundation supported the development and enhancement of biomedical engineering in the United States, contributing nearly $700 million to universities. Since 2006, The Whitaker Foundation committed its remaining funds to the Institute of International Education to create the Whitaker International Fellows and Scholars Program. The Program's goal is to enhance international collaborative ties between the emerging leaders in the U.S. biomedical engineering community and their counterparts abroad through supporting up to one academic year of study anywhere outside of the U.S. and Canada. Approximately fifty awards are given annually.

Geiser will graduate in May 2017 from the South Carolina Honors College, with a major in Biomedical Engineering. In 2016, Geiser was named a Barry M. Goldwater Scholar and a Magellan Scholar. He is a two-time Science Undergraduate Research Fellowship recipient. During his time as an undergraduate, Geiser has actively been involved with Alzheimer's research, as well as work at the Centers for Disease Control and Palmetto Health Children's Hospital. Geiser worked as a Resident Mentor in the Honors Residence Hall and Preston Residential College, served as a Senator in the Student Government Senate and President of the Biomedical Engineering Society. In addition, Geiser has served as the Vice President of the Society of Physics Students, Treasurer in the Methodist Student Network, Class Standards Chair for Theta Tau, and a Carolina Creed Ambassador in the Carolina Judicial Council. Geiser has been committed to volunteering since growing up in the Boy Scouts of America, where he ultimately reached the rank of Eagle Scout. Geiser plans to pursue a Master of Philosophy in Chemistry at the University of Cambridge, while being active within St John's College. He will be conducting research within the Centre for Misfolding Diseases under the supervision of Professor Christopher Dobson. He also hopes to eventually earn a MD/PhD and be a Medical Scientist.

Geiser was assisted by the University's Office of Fellowships and Scholar Programs (www.sc.edu/ofsp ) which provides advisement and support to students competing for national fellowships.