This prestigious award recognizes early-career scientists who excel in both research and teaching.
Impactful Research
“The work supported by this award has the potential to substantially change how scientists study chemical reactions inside living things,” said Busta.
Busta's research focuses on combining chemistry and genomics in plants to explore natural solutions for things like drought-resistant plants and discovering new chemical reactions. The project supported by the Cottrell Scholar award aims to develop methods by which researchers can make accurate predictions about chemical reactions inside plants. This is done by first conducting experiments to determine which exact chemical reactions are catalyzed by more than 100 different DNA fragments, then those results are analyzed using artificial intelligence to make predictions about DNA sequences that have not yet been tested.
“While conducting lab experiments, I will also develop and evaluate teaching tools and instructional modules to teach students about the strengths, weaknesses, and applications of artificial intelligence,” said Busta. “My plan is to share these teaching tools and findings with the scientific community so others can take advantage of the results in their work.”
Career Success
Busta came to UMD in 2020. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia and completed a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology at the University of Nebraska.
Dean Wendy Reed of UMD’s Swenson College of Science & Engineering said, “Luke has distinguished himself at UMD as a great teacher and dedicated researcher. He has inspired many students and provides a supportive lab environment that encourages undergraduate and graduate students to pursue research in the hope of improving the world around us.”
The Cottrell Scholar Award, established in 1994, provides $120,000 to each recipient and fosters a community of more than 500 scholars from various institutions across the United States and Canada. Sixteen people were selected as 2025 awardees through a rigorous peer-review process that evaluates candidates’ research and educational proposals. The award is named for educator, inventor, and scientist Frederick Gardner Cottrell, who founded the Research Corporation for Science Advancement in 1912. As a Cottrell Scholar, Busta will have the opportunity to attend the annual Cottrell Scholar Conference and collaborate with fellow scholars to contribute to projects with national impact.