UAlbany Junior Parmesh Thakoordial Named a Phi Beta Kappa Service Scholar
By Mike Nolan
ALBANY, N.Y. (May 12, 2026)— The Phi Beta Kappa Society has named University at Albany junior Parmesh Thakoordial a 2026 Key into Public Service Scholar.
Thakoordial was one of only 20 students selected from nearly 800 applicants nationwide for the honor, which recognizes undergraduates who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement in the arts and sciences alongside a sustained commitment to public service and civic engagement.
In celebration of Phi Beta Kappa’s 250th anniversary, each scholar receives a $7,600 undergraduate scholarship and will participate in an in-person conference in Washington, D.C., this June. The program provides training, mentorship and structured reflection on pathways into local, state and federal public service careers.
“As a first-generation college student, you really don’t know what you don’t know. I applied for this scholarship ... never with the intention of winning, but with the idea of what would happen if I did end up being selected,” Thakoordial said.
“I would like to pursue an MD/PhD and contribute to the development of therapeutics for cardiovascular diseases, while ensuring these treatments remain accessible to all who need them, a goal shaped by my family history with cardiovascular disease. This scholarship, specifically, will allow me to become a better advocate for my patients.”
At UAlbany, Thakoordial is a biochemistry and molecular biology major with a second major in psychology and a minor in Spanish. He has spent his time at UAlbany integrating intensive biomedical research in the Department of Biological Sciences and the RNA Institute with leadership and service initiatives across campus and throughout the Capital Region.
“My most influential experience at UAlbany would have to be my research,” Thakoordial said. “Likewise, giving back to the UAlbany community has been extremely rewarding, as I am able to help mentor undergraduate pre-health students, share information about research internships, and how to be successful during your time here.”
His work has earned numerous academic honors and competitive recognitions, including the 2024 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence while a student at SUNY Schenectady; the Capital District Leadership Scholarship; and election to Phi Beta Kappa’s Alpha Alpha Chapter of New York, where he also received the Prize for Academic Excellence.
Nationally, he has been selected for highly competitive programs including the NIH-MARC Fellowship, the Amgen Scholars Program at Yale University, Harvard/MIT Early Access to Research Training (HEART/SHURP), and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Cech Fellows Program.
Last fall, Thakoordial earned the Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service, a prestigious national program created by former President Barack Obama, former First Lady Michelle Obama and Airbnb co-founder Brian Chesky to support students committed to careers in public service.