Student Highlights

Class of 2026 | Chemical Engineering

Meet Gabrielle Kowkabany, a 2025 Goldwater Scholar and senior studying chemical engineering with a biological engineering concentration from Jacksonville, Florida. In the summer of her freshman year, Gabrielle completed a competitive clinical internship at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. She worked directly with surgical oncologist, Emmanuel Gabriel, MD, Ph.D., to study novel approaches in tumor imaging to increase understanding about how the immune system fights cancer and to investigate disparities in patients’ access to cancer care. Post internship, Gabrielle joined Dr. Gabriel’s research team remotely and has since published 12 papers in international journals, including one first-author publication. As a sophomore and junior, she worked in Dr. Bao’s chemical engineering lab at UA, researching the use of natural products to treat cancers and neurodegenerative diseases.

When asked about her favorite moment in RRS, Gabrielle responded, “One of the best parts about RRS is the engagement and accessibility of our program faculty, from our freshman instructor, Darren to the one and only Dr. Randall. They really want to get to know all the students in the program, and to that end there are a lot of social activities planned throughout the school year. My favorite is the ice cream social we have in early Fall. When I was a freshman, having this meet and greet helped me to feel even more welcomed on campus right away. Now, as an upperclassman, I love getting to know the freshman who have just joined our RRS community and helping them get acclimated on campus. RRS has made UA feel like a much smaller place.”

Outside of classes and research, Gabrielle serves as an Honors College ambassador and head case manager of the UA club Dare to Diagnose. She loves to sing soprano in the choir at First Baptist Tuscaloosa. Gabrielle also enjoys outside activities including birdwatching, hiking, and canoeing.

Class of 2026 | Math & Economics

Raeed Kabir is a senior from Biloxi, Mississippi. He is a double major in Math and Economics on the pre-medical track. He will complete two graduate degrees through the Accelerated Master's Program in Mathematics and Economics. He works with Dr. Michael Price in the Economics Department on problems related to economic, health, and environmental uncertainty and how these impact decision-making across domains like charitable giving and investment in programs to mitigate the impact of future pandemics.

In previous summers, he has worked as a research assistant at Harvard University, the University of Chicago, and as a research intern with NOAA and NASA through the Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship.

When asked about how RRS has impacted his academic career, Raeed responded, "There is no door that has remained closed at UA with the help of supportive faculty mentors and staff. Of course, the great friends I have made in this program push me every day to keep shooting higher. I have been fulfilled in this program intellectually, socially, and personally."

Outside of the classroom, Raeed is an Ambassador for the Honors College and the Undergraduate Office of Research. He is also a long-time member of the Judicial Board of the Student Government at UA. He enjoys playing soccer with his Randall classmates and weightlifting.

Class of 2027 | Mechanical Engineering

Jesse Park is a junior from Burr Ridge, Illinois pursuing a master’s degree in mechanical engineering through UA’s Accelerated Master’s Program, along with an MBA through the STEM Path to MBA. His research focuses on additively manufactured metamaterials and nanomechanical characterizations of heat-treated materials. He has also conducted research at Argonne National Laboratory and The University of Wisconsin-Madison. Jesse restarted a chapter of Tikkun Olam Makers at UA, a club that focuses on engineering low-cost, open-source solutions for people with disabilities. In their first year, he led UA to be the only US university to win a grand prize, and one of only two US universities to win multiple prizes in a competition that spanned 33 campuses across 13 countries, including schools like Cornell, Georgia Tech, and The University of Pennsylvania. He hosted the first ever Pitch-a-thon at UA, a 3-hour design sprint in which participants ideated and pitched novel solutions for people with disabilities. He has also won various pitching competitions at the university, state, and global level.

When asked how RRS has impacted his academic career, Jesse says, “The greatest strength of the Randall Research Scholars Program is the people. Being surrounded by the most intelligent, hard-working, and compassionate individuals on campus has defined my experience at UA. Most of my friends are part of RRS and being part of such a brilliant network has allowed me to find success not just in research, but in life as a whole.”

Outside of academics, Jesse serves as an ambassador for both the Honors College and College of Engineering. In addition to playing on the RRS Intramural Soccer team, Jesse enjoys playing the trumpet as a member of the UA Jazz Ensemble and dancing in the HallyUA K-Pop Dance Team. He also likes calisthenics.

Class of 2027 | Aerospace Engineering & Legal History

Elizabeth Owens is a member of the Class of 2027 pursuing a dual degree in Aerospace Engineering and Legal History. Since joining the Randall Research Scholars Program, she has found not just an academic home, but a community that has shaped nearly every part of her college experience.

She spends most days in the Randall Lab, where she’s either studying, writing, or just spending time with friends. Some of her favorite moments in RRS have come from spontaneous late-night conversations with older students who shared their advice on everything from life decisions to research problems. That mentorship, along with the collaborative, curious spirit of the lab, has been one of the most meaningful parts of her college journey and has helped her foster some of her closest friendships.

Elizabeth conducts research on both UAV navigation in GPS-denied environments and the development of sustainable composite materials for cleaner, faster aerospace manufacturing. These experiences have fueled her passion for aerospace policy and regulation, leading her to found the Capstone Society for Innovation Policy and intern with the Mississippi Enterprise for Technology at NASA's Stennis Space Center. Outside of research, Elizabeth is involved in Greek Life, a Research Ambassador for the Office for Undergraduate Research, a Shelby Scholar in UA's Shelby Institute for Policy and Leadership, an assistant editor of JOSHUA and Crimson Historical Review, and is a member of EcoCAR, along with various engineering groups and honor societies. She also works as a TA, office intern, and peer tutor for the College of Engineering.

After graduation, she plans to pursue a JD/MPP to work at the intersection of science, law, and public service through patent litigation and advising legislation in the aerospace sector. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys playing soccer and golf, reading, playing video games, and going to the movies.