Lydia Delk, a biological sciences major with a minor in environmental studies at NIU, has received a 2026 Barry M. Goldwater scholarship, awarded to students planning research careers in the sciences, engineering and mathematics.
She is among the 454 students named Goldwater Scholars, out of more than 5,000 nominees by 482 academic institutions in the United States, according to the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. Each scholarship provides up to $7,500 per year for up to two years of undergraduate study.
Delk applied for the Goldwater Scholarship with assistance from Connie Storey, NIU’s national fellowship advisor. This is the second year in a row that NIU students have been recognized with this prestigious scholarship. Hannah Havel earned a Goldwater Scholarship in 2025.
Delk plans to pursue a Ph.D. in biology with a focus on ecology. She has built an impressive record of undergraduate research, beginning with a project under Bethia King, professor in NIU’s Department of Biological Sciences, examining how the parasitic wasp M. raptor responds to a bittering agent in fly baits. This year, Delk is working with Jennifer Koop, associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, on a parasite–host system involving trematodes, snails and waterfowl.
Beyond her research, Delk serves as a content tutor in the Huskie Academic Success Center, supporting students in organic chemistry and introductory biology. She is an active member of the biology honors society Phi Sigma, where she serves as vice president, overseeing recruitment and coordinating events.
Delk is committed to outreach and experiential learning. She volunteers annually at STEM Fest, helping inspire younger students to explore science, and participates in small mammal trapping projects to deepen her experience in ecology. She has presented research at NIU’s Conference on Undergraduate Research and Engagement and at the Phi Sigma Research Symposium, where she earned second place.
Delk’s academic excellence has been recognized through several awards, including the Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award—Honorable Mention, the Donald and Linda Shearer Honors STEM Scholarship, and the Jerrold H. Zar Endowed Scholarship.
Contact Storey at 815-753-9505 or CStorey2@NIU.edu for more information.
