Gerard Lorio was born an LSU fan and grew up watching those fighting tigers in Death Valley with his family. Today, he is fighting cancer right here on LSU’s campus.

Lorio is a junior in biological engineering, and he has taken the challenge to study cancer cells through a new perspective.

“Whenever they do cancer studies, they will do them on a 2 dimensional surface but that is not very true to what is going on in the body. That is the whole point of our research,” Lorio said.

What makes his study different from the rest is how he looks at cancer cells within immersive 3D simulations. This gives more insight to how these cancer cells react and live within the body.

His work has been recognized not just on LSU’s campus but nationally. Lorio was one of just 441 students nationwide to be recognized for their innovative research and receive the title of Goldwater Scholar.

A Goldwater Scholarship is one of the nation’s most prestigious and competitive scholarships for undergraduates pursuing research careers in science, mathematics, and engineering.

“I got Goldwater, which is national recognition, which is something I would have never dreamed of,” Lorio said.

Lorio has been on an academic journey to receive this national title. He notes that there’s no need to look any further than LSU to receive opportunities that can bring you to where he is today.

“LSU can do so much for you. There are amazing and prestigious professors in every department. You don’t have to go elsewhere to have these opportunities. You can get them here very easily at LSU,” Lorio said.

From walking campus as a child to making groundbreaking strides in cancer research, Lorio’s story shows that big dreams can start—and grow—right here at LSU.