Jacob Torres

One of the factors that made me feel confident enough to pursue the last part of my education, getting a PhD was a daydream that if I became a student again, I could apply for Jose’s scholarship, Headbang For Science. I was blessed with this amazing scientist job that resulted through an NASA internship in 2018. Five years in and I hadn’t returned to fulfill my PhD. But there is nothing that I wanted to do more. So I left the lab in 2023 and it turned out to be really scary and humbling. I went from a well respected professional position back to being a plain old student. Academia is pretty rough and almost nobody cares what I did in the past. I have my own vision for my PhD research. Most students join a professor who is funded and piggy back on their work to write a dissertation, but I am from a hard hit, largely minority community in Northern New Mexico. Very few do great things and go back there to try and make things better. I want my research to include them while accomplishing something incredible, so we’re working to help NASA grow the first crops on the moon. The reality is, to chart your own path leads to a great financial burden. Getting funding is really really hard. I listened to Liquid Metal throughout my entire academic career. Getting this scholarship is not only the hugest shot of encouragement for me to continue this path, but it is providing enough grace with the school financially for me to keeping my research dream alive! Like if this happens, it will be because I got help from this scholarship at a key moment. Receiving this scholarship is a dream come true. It’s a sign that the plan swirling in my head could become real if I keep pursuing it! It’s given me energy to work harder and I am soo stoked to know that I have support from my hero’s in the metal community! Thank you Headbang for Science! Thank you Jose Mangin! Strap in. Stay tuned. We’re going on a metal fueled mission to accomplish some awesome science!!

Christine Federico

I cannot thank the Headbang For Science team enough for seeing my potential and gifting me this incredible scholarship opportunity. I am grateful that there are so many like-minded individuals who want to make the world a better place, while listening to heavy metal music. The connections I have made while being part of this unbelievable community have never ceased to amaze me. I am excited to put this money towards continuing my college career in diagnostic imaging and radiological sciences. With this money, I can pay for the college credits required to make my professional goals a reality and continue to represent the music I love on my radio show.

Zanon Gamache

I'd sincerely like to thank you for giving me this fantastic opportunity. As soon as I saw this scholarship I knew it was the perfect one for me. As I said in my essay, metal and science are the most important aspects of my life, and to be recognized for my achievements concerning them is an amazing feeling. I can't begin to express how grateful I am. This money will immensely help with my tuition and put me through an entire semester that I wouldn't have been able to do alone. You've given a large portion of money towards my success and I can only show you with my actions that you made the right choice. I promise to learn, excel, and outshine my peers as proof that I deserved this scholarship. Thank you so much, and rock on!

Nathalia Gonzalez

Thank you so much for awarding me this scholarship! It was lovely meeting Jose Mangin at Welcome to Rockville 2024 and having everyone on the board reach out to say hi and congratulate me. So thankful for this award and I’m looking forward to what other avenues and opportunities heavy metal brings to my journey of becoming a physician and researcher.