Bowdoin is one of fourteen institutions receiving a total of more than $2.1 million in science funding for undergraduate researchers.
The Beckman Scholars Program provides fifteen-month mentored research experiences for exceptional undergraduate students in chemistry, biological sciences, and interdisciplinary combinations thereof.
“It is a great honor to be selected for a Beckman Scholars Program grant,” said Danielle Dube, Bowdoin’s Norma L. and Roland G. Ware Jr. Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry and chair of the chemistry department.
“This award is an endorsement of Bowdoin's student-centered mentored research model and will directly help support six high-level, in-depth research experiences.”
Dube says Bowdoin's Beckman Scholars Program will focus on identifying students based on their potential, connecting them with a mentoring network, fostering their growth, and helping them to develop as professionals and realize their potential.
“Given the tremendously talented and engaged students we have at Bowdoin coupled with faculty and staff who are dedicated to cultivating student growth, I expect that this award will foster transformative experiences,” Dube said.
Dube helped develop Bowdoin’s proposal with a small steering committee that also included faculty members Hadley Horch, Norma L. and Roland G. Ware Jr. Professor of Biology and Neuroscience and chair of biology department; Kana Takematsu, Viola Ward Brinning and Elbert Calhoun Brinning Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry; and Barry Logan, Samuel S. Butcher Professor in the Natural Sciences and director of biochemistry program; two project coleaders, lab managers Karen Moulton and Lisa Ledwidge; and Associate Director for Grants Megan Hamilton. This Bowdoin-based group will be the steering committee for the program moving forward.
The institutions were selected after a rigorous application process, which included a two-part review led by a panel of scientific experts.
“Fostering undergraduate researchers and inspiring them to explore new ideas and experiences through mentoring is central to our Beckman Scholars Program,” said Dr. Anne Hultgren, executive director and CEO of the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation.
Each awardee institution will receive funding to support six scholar-mentor pairs, with two scholars named per year for the three-year award term. This year’s total award comprises more than $2.1 million in funding for 84 undergraduate Beckman Scholars at the following fourteen institutions:
Binghamton University, State University of New York
Bowdoin College
Butler University
Emory University
Harvey Mudd College
Pomona College
San Jose State University
St. Olaf College
Syracuse University
University of Arkansas
University of California, Los Angeles
University of Cincinnati
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
University of Pennsylvania
