USD Awarded Undergraduate Research Funding from Beckman Scholars Program
The University of San Diego (USD) has been awarded the 2024 Beckman Scholars Program, a highly-competitive institutional award given to only 14 schools out of over two hundred invited to apply. The award provides funding to support undergraduate student research. The rigorous application process was led by Professor of Chemistry Lauren Benz, PhD, and closely involved eight additional outstanding faculty research mentors across three departments in the College of Arts and Sciences.
The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation carefully selects award recipients based on the institution’s dedication and commitment to undergraduate research in the fields of chemistry, biology and related interdisciplinary sciences. This is the third time USD has received this award.
As part of the foundation’s mission to support young scientists, the Beckman Scholars Program provides funding for six Scholar-Mentor pairs to conduct a 15-month research experience.
Dr. Benz wrote the proposal because she knew what an amazing opportunity it would be for students. “Having that long duration of research experience really propels them into a scientific career,” says Benz.
As part of the application procedure, USD faculty members applied to become mentors for the program. After an internal selection process, the mentors were chosen before the proposal was submitted. Nine faculty members from the Department of Biology, the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Department of Physics and Biophysics will serve as mentors for the program. Each student will have a research mentor and a supporting professional development mentor.
“Whether they are going to go to medical school, whether they want to become industrial scientists, or they decide to go to graduate school and pursue a PhD, having that continuous 15-month research experience with two mentors in their field is really going to help them develop as scientists,” says Benz.
Each undergraduate researcher will be provided with a $18,200 stipend and an additional $2,800 to be used for professional development, research supplies and travel. They will get the opportunity to write formal research reports and share their research with a broader audience.
“Students get to participate and present at a national conference in their field where they have the opportunity to network with peers and potential employers. This exposure can help pave the way to their next steps following graduation from USD,” says Benz. She is thrilled that these students will be able to dive into research early on. “Two full summers plus ten hours per week during the academic year is a lot of research. This program gives students an opportunity to learn to speak and write about their own research and forms them as independent scientists as they progress at USD.”
Students can learn more about eligibility and how to apply to become a Beckman Scholar by visiting the University of San Diego Beckman Scholars web page.
2024 University of San Diego Beckman Mentors:
- Rae Anderson, PhD | Physics and Biophysics
- Anthony Bell, PhD | Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Lauren Benz, PhD | Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Timothy Clark, PhD | Chemistry and Biochemistry
- David De Haan, PhD | Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Arietta Fleming-Davies, PhD | Biology
- Ryan McGorty, PhD | Physics and Biophysics
- Joseph Provost, PhD | Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Cawa Tran, PhD | Biology
— USD News Center