Mercer Times

Ravi Sangani, a public health major at the college, has been selected as a 2025 Goldwater Scholar, a national honor for undergraduate students in mathematics, science, and engineering. He was chosen among 1,350 faculty-nominated students from 445 institutions. The scholarship offers up to $7,500 to assist with academic costs.

Sangani is advancing his research in ophthalmology at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University. His research focuses on how glucose transport in the retina affects visual function and how disruptions may lead to degenerative eye diseases such as macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. Additionally, Sangani is working on a capstone research project at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and plans to submit a publication soon.

His commitment to research is driven by both scientific interest and personal history. Sangani was born with papilledema, and a retinal detachment in early 2024 resulted in permanent vision loss in his right eye. "That experience catapulted me into this area of research," he states. "Being both a patient and a researcher gave me a dual perspective and made me realize the impact this work can have on real lives, including my own."

This upcoming summer, Sangani will join a program at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Vision Institute to study retinal regeneration and stem cell therapies. He aspires to further his studies in neurobiology and regenerative medicine, focusing on therapies for underserved communities. "If we can find ways to restore vision, especially in communities without resources, that’s where I want to be," he says.