KU undergraduate from Shawnee named Astronaut Scholar for 2025-2026

LAWRENCE — Alexa Magstadt is the University of Kansas’ most recent Astronaut Scholar, an award that provides a scholarship up to $15,000 and access to an Astronaut Scholar conference, mentorship, professional development, networking and recognition.

Astronaut Scholarships are awarded to students in their junior and senior year of college studying science, technology, engineering or mathematics with the intent to pursue research or advance their field upon completion of their final degree. Astronaut Scholars are among the best and brightest minds in STEM who show initiative, creativity and excellence in their chosen field.

Magstadt, who just completed her junior year at KU, is majoring in molecular, cellular & developmental biology and minoring in Spanish. She aspires to obtain a dual M.D./Ph.D. in cancer biology and practice as a physician-scientist and medical oncologist.

As an Astronaut Scholar for the 2025-2026 academic year, Magstadt is presented with opportunities including presenting her research and representing KU at the Scholar Technical Conference, a paid trip to Houston for the Innovators Gala, mentoring and more.

“I am extremely grateful for the impactful mentorship and career-development experiences offered by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation Community,” Magstadt said. “Presenting my work to astronauts, industry leaders, foundation supporters and fellow scholars at the Astronaut Scholar Technical Conference is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Additionally, the guidance of an Astronaut Scholarship Foundation mentor through the ASF mentorship program will be invaluable as I conclude my undergraduate studies.”

Magstadt is the daughter of Dave and Amy Magstadt and a graduate of Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. In April, she was named KU’s 80th Goldwater Scholar.

As KU student, Magstadt was selected as a K-INBRE Summer Scholar, after which she conducted an independent project with faculty researcher Dan Dixon that centered on drug discovery in colorectal cancer, specifically inhibiting oncogenic KRAS mutations with small molecule therapeutics.

In April, she presented a poster of results from the final phase of her project with Dixon that explored the impact of mutant KRAS — a prevalent mutation in colorectal cancer — in colorectal cancer metastasis. A University Honors Program Honors Opportunity Award supported travel to the 2025 American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting in Chicago.

Magstadt also has performed research related to the impact of metabolic syndrome on the progression and metastasis of colorectal cancer with Jennifer Davis at KU Medical Center in the Department of Cancer Biology. Magstadt was selected as a 2025 K-INBRE Star Trainee, an award that supports her project with Davis exploring the impact of KRAS mutations and tirzepatide, a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist, on colorectal cancer metabolism.

Throughout the summer, Magstadt continues to progress her work with Davis and volunteers weekly at the University of Kansas Cancer Center’s Northland Infusion Suite.

Magstadt is the vice president of the KU club waterski team, an Honors Program ambassador, a member of Phi Delta Epsilon Pre-Medical Fraternity, a member of Phi Kappa Phi Academic Honor Society and a volunteer at the University of Kansas Cancer Center.

The Astronaut Scholarship was founded in 1984 by the six surviving members among the seven astronauts who were part of the Mercury program as a means to encourage students to pursue scientific endeavors. Astronauts from the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab and Space Shuttle programs have also joined the foundation.

This year, the Astronaut Scholar Foundation awarded 74 scholarships to students from 51 universities across the nation.