Set up at the request of Sir Winston Churchill, the Churchill scholarship helps to fulfill the famous Prime Minister’s vision of a US-UK scientific exchange that promotes the advancement of science and technology on both sides of the pond. This year, for the third year in a row, a UNC Student has been awarded the Churchill.

Benjamin Kompa – a 22-year-old, fourth-year student at UNC – has been named a recipient of the prestigious award. One of only 15 selected, Kompa plans to graduate this May with a double major in mathematics and computational science, as well as a minor in biology from the College of Arts & Sciences. A Colonel Robinson Scholar, Phi Beta Kappa member and Honors Carolina student, Kompa worked in biology labs in high school and is also a two-time national champion Bridge player.

“Receiving a Churchill Scholarship is an incredible opportunity for a young scholar and Benjamin is so deserving of this prestigious award,” said Chancellor Carol L. Folt. “He is focused on applying his significant skills in computer science and statistics to solve challenging, global biomedical problems. We are very pleased for Benjamin and know his studies at Cambridge will help pave the way for him to make life-changing impacts in the fields of computational biology and bioinformatics.”

The scholarship provides funding to outstanding American students for a year of master’s study in science, mathematics and engineering at Churchill College, based at the University of Cambridge in England. Those considered must display proven talent in research, possess extensive laboratory experience and have significant involvement in personal activities outside of academia.

Kompa is the seventeenth recipient of the Churchill Scholarship to attend UNC and has worked on research pioneering computational research modelling chromosomes. He also spent a summer at Harvard Medical School studying methods of artificial intelligence neural networks and their application to analyzing MRIs.

Kompa holds a deep interest in the application of computer science, mathematical techniques and statistics to biomedical problems. He plans to use the Churchill scholarship to pursue an M. Phil. in computational biology at the department of applied math and theoretical physics with the goal of conducting research on disease comorbidities with Dr. Pietro Lio. Hopefully, this work will move Kompa toward the completion of his Ph.D. and a career in bioinformatics research.

“We are thrilled to see the Churchill go to such an exceptional and worthy student, “ said Inger Brodey, director of Carolina’s Office of Distinguished Scholarships.

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