Undergraduate Research

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Beckman Scholars

Beckman Scholars Program

The Beckman Scholars Program (BSP) is a 15-month mentored research experience for outstanding undergraduate students majoring in chemistry or the biological sciences including biology, biochemistry and biophysics. It includes 2 full time summer research experiences, and a full year, 10-hour per week research commitment. Students must work with a USD Beckman mentor, so if you haven't yet identified a mentor, please reach out to a faculty member before completing this application -- we will be happy to hear from you! Eligible students will be in pursuit of a PhD, MD, MD/PhD or other scientific pursuit.

Candidates must also hold US citizenship, permanent residency or DACA recipient status. For additional program details, please visit the Beckman Foundation website, or contact Dr. Lauren Benz.

Click here to watch a USD Alumna Beckman Testimonial.

Update 2/3/26

The 2026 Beckman Scholars Program application is now closed.

Benefits and Eligibility

As a Beckman Scholar you will:

  • Receive a $18,200 stipend ($6,800 during first summer, $4,600 during academic year, and $6,800 during second summer)
  • Receive $2,800 for professional development, research supplies and travel funds
  • Get 50% off summer housing ($20/day)
  • Attend and present your work at the Annual Beckman Symposium
  • Attend and present your work at a national conference

To be eligible for the Beckman Scholars Program you must:

  • Be a full-time USD undergraduate in good academic standing
  • Be a Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, or Chemistry major
  • Be capable of completing a 15-month research experience
  • In pursuit of a Ph.D., M.D., M.D./Ph.D.; or other specific pursuits
  • Be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident or its possessions, or hold DACA recipient status

Application Process

Program Contact

Dr. Lauren Benz

laurenbenz@sandiego.edu
619-260-4117

Meet the Mentors

Click on the dots or arrows below to see the list of USD Beckman research mentors. You must identify a Beckman research mentor from this list to be eligible for the Beckman Scholars program. Click the video links and read about the mentors' work to learn more. Please reach out to the Beckman mentor(s) you are interested in working with at least one month prior to application.

anthonybell@sandiego.edu

Anthony Bell, Ph.D.

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

The Bell lab is developing nucleic acid ligands against the DNA-binding cytokine, HMGB1 (High Mobility Group B1). HMGB1 was originally classified as a highly abundant (106 copies/cell) architectural nuclear protein. In this capacity, HMGB1 binds cruciform DNA with high affinity to remodel chromatin. It is now clear that HMGB1 can also function in the extracellular matrix (ECM). In disease states such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, necrotic cells passively release or “leak” HMGB1 into the ECM. In this capacity, HMGB1 functions as a proinflammatory cytokine that drives chronic inflammation.

laurenbenz@sandiego.edu

Lauren Benz, Ph.D.

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

The Benz lab studies solid state materials using physical instrumentation. Currently, we are investigating the surface properties of highly porous metal-organic frameworks, a relatively new class of materials that hold exciting promise for the capture and storage of greenhouse gases, among many other applications in sensor technology and medicine.

http://lauren-benz.squarespace.com/

clarkt@sandiego.edu

Tim Clark, Ph.D.

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

The Clark lab focuses on the development of metal catalysts to mediate organic reactions, especially those that incorporate boron into organic compounds. Boron is both versatile and has found recent success as a component in pharmaceutical drugs. Students working in the Clark lab will learn contemporary organic chemistry techniques with the goal of developing new reactions that may be used in pharmaceutical or materials discovery.

https://home.sandiego.edu/~clarkt/index.html

ddehaan@sandiego.edu

David De Haan, Ph.D.

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

The De Haan lab studies atmospheric chemistry, in particular that of aerosol particle formation and aging. Current interests include the chemical aging of smoke aerosol produced by wildfires and biomass combustion, and how the aging process is changed by the interaction of smoke with cloud chemistry.

aflemingdavies@sandiego.edu

Arietta Fleming-Davies, Ph.D.

Department of Biology

The Fleming-Davies lab uses field, lab, and quantitative approaches to investigate the ecological processes that maintain diversity within an insect viral pathogen. In addition, we are currently studying pathogen evolution in a wild bird disease system.

sites.sandiego.edu/flemingdavies

josephprovost@sandiego.edu

Joseph Provost, Ph.D.

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Students working in the Provost lab will investigate how cancer cells hijack normal cellular metabolism to feed growing tumor cells and how metabolism is dysregulated in other diseases. Students will work with cultured cells, mutate genes and measure protein function.

rmcgorty@sandiego.edu

Ryan McGorty, Ph.D.

Department of Physics and Biophysics

The McGorty lab studies soft condensed matter – aka “squishy physics.” Soft or squishy materials include many daily encountered substances such as hair gel and yogurt. Most living things are soft or gooey. To study the structure and mechanics of these complex and fascinating living and non-living materials, we develop novel rheological, optical, and computational methods.

https://rmcgorty.github.io/.

randerson@sandiego.edu

Rae Anderson, Ph.D.

Department of Physics and Biophysics

The Anderson lab studies the mechanics and dynamics of soft and active biological matter. We design and engineer active biological fluids and gels using biopolymers, molecular motors and enzymes. We use novel optical tweezers and fluorescence microscopy techniques to see single biopolymers within these materials and measure the forces they exert to resist stresses and strains.

http://www.biospotlab.com/

cawatran@sandiego.edu

Cawa Tran, Ph.D.

Department of Biology

The Tran lab uses the tropical sea anemone Aiptasia (a cnidarian, like corals) as a laboratory model to study the intricate interactions that occur between the animal host and its microbial symbionts, integrating aspects of microbial ecology, physiology, cell biology, and microscopy. We harness the power of this model system to better understand coral symbioses impacted by global climate change.

usdtranlab.wixsite.com/symbiosis

FAQs

See Beckman Scholars Program FAQs.

Read below for USD-related FAQs: