Mount Holyoke selected to join Beckman Scholars Program
For the first time in its history, Mount Holyoke College has been selected as a Beckman Scholars Program awardee by the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation. The foundation chose the College after a rigorous application process.
For the first time in its history, Mount Holyoke College has been selected as a Beckman Scholars Program awardee by the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation. The foundation chose Mount Holyoke College and 83 other institutions after a rigorous application process, which included a two-part review led by a panel of scientific experts.
The program recognizes colleges and universities with outstanding science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) credentials and the excellence of their faculty as both researchers and mentors.
“Mount Holyoke College being selected to participate in the Beckman Scholars Program is thrilling news. It confirms how talented our faculty mentors are as well as how robust our undergraduate research is,” said Provost and Dean of Faculty Lisa Sullivan. “The program will allow students to advance their knowledge and skills and to prepare for rewarding careers in the sciences.”
The grant of $156,000 supports three cohorts of two undergraduates each as Beckman Scholars, providing them with 15-month mentored research experience in chemistry, biological sciences or interdisciplinary combinations with either of the two fields. Students will be selected through a competitive process beginning in spring 2023. Scholars work on a one-on-one mentored research project with the available faculty mentor in their field. Selected mentors also receive a stipend from the grant.
The College’s Beckman Scholars Program has been designed to emphasize equity, access and inclusion. In alignment with the Foundation's focus on inclusion, Mount Holyoke will make special efforts to ensure that students who are underrepresented in STEM are encouraged to apply.
“I am delighted that Mount Holyoke College has been awarded its first Beckman Scholars Program grant,” said Jared Schwartzer, associate professor of psychology and education and director of the Science Center. Schwartzer is the project director for the program. “This welcome recognition for undergraduate research and faculty mentorship in STEM fields will allow the College to support more mentored student research, especially for students from historically underrepresented backgrounds.”
News of this selection comes soon after Mount Holyoke was awarded a $529,500 grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to support the development of more-inclusive STEM curricula.
Available faculty members for the Beckman Scholars Program include Schwartzer, Associate Professor of Biochemistry Katie Berry, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Patricia Brennan, Associate Professor of Chemistry Kyle Broaders, Professor of Biological Sciences Renae Brodie, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Amy Hitchcock Camp, Marilyn Dawson Sarles, M.D. Professor of Life Sciences and Professor of Chemistry Wei Chen, Associate Professor of Neuroscience and Behavior Kenneth Colodner, Elizabeth Page Greenawalt Professor of Chemistry Maria Alexandra Gomez, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Rebeccah Lijek, Associate Professor of Chemistry Kathryn McMenimen, Assistant Professor of Computer Science Yun-Hsuan (Melody) Su and Christianna Smith Professor of Biological Sciences Craig Woodard.