Joseph Serio, a biological sciences major at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM), has been named a 2025 Goldwater Scholar, one of the nation’s most esteemed honors in the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics.
Serio, originally from O’Fallon, Mo., is the first USM biological sciences student to earn this distinction and the 29th recipient in the university’s history—solidifying Southern Miss’s lead in the state.
A member of the USM Honors College, Serio plans to pursue a Ph.D. in molecular genetics with a focus on gene therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. He credits USM faculty mentors Drs. Kaitlin Baudier and Alex Flynt for their critical support and guidance throughout his undergraduate research journey.
