Stories

Rob Cady ’23, a physics and math double major, won a Goldwater Scholarship, awarded to outstanding undergraduate students majoring in the natural sciences, engineering, or mathematics who intend to pursue research careers in these fields. He will receive $7,500 to support undergraduate tuition, room and board, books and fees.

Cady grew up in Pleasanton, Calif., homeschooled by his parents, Curtis and Barbara.

As a high school junior, he attended Quantum Camp and got hooked on the vast—and as-yet unfulfilled—promise of quantum computing to help researchers from fields like cybersecurity or biomedics accomplish giant computational feats necessary for major innovations.

At SCU, Cady has worked with physics Associate Professor Guy Ramon on research that aims to make quantum computing more accessible to researchers. They have worked to identify “two level fluctuators” that can cause quantum computing to be unreliable by creating “noise” at the subatomic level.

Cady won the physics department’s Carl H. Hayn Physics Prize for the most outstanding student in Physics for Scientists and Engineers.

“Since meeting Rob over a year ago, he has not ceased to impress me with his academic capabilities, strong motivation, work ethic, and overall personality,” said Ramon. “He demonstrates original thinking, sees the ‘bigger picture’ in ways beyond his years, and leaves no stone unturned until he solves the hardest of problems.”

Cady says he chose Santa Clara in part because the University made it easy for him to double major by accepting so many of the community college credits he earned while being home schooled.

In addition to loving the challenge of math courses like linear algebra, Cady says he’s grateful for faculty including Ramon and physics department chair and Professor Betty Young. Such professors “have been awesome in making me aware of opportunities and really helping me go for them.”

About the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation

Established by Congress in 1986, the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation recognizes the nation’s top college sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics. Learn more here.