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Beckman Scholars

The Beckman Scholars Program is a 15-month mentored research experience for exceptional undergraduate students in chemistry, biological sciences, or interdisciplinary combinations thereof.

Beckman Scholars

The College of Science is proud to bring the Beckman Scholars Program, supported by the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, back to the University of Utah!

The Beckman Scholars Program is a 15-month mentored research experience for exceptional undergraduate students in chemistry, biological sciences, or interdisciplinary combinations thereof.

This generous institutional award, provided by the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation to the University of Utah College of Science, spans three years (2020 – 2023), and will enable the funded support of six scholar–faculty mentor pairs. Each internally selected scholar will receive a $21,000 research stipend to facilitate 15-months of mentored research (nine academic calendar months, two three-month summers), in addition to $5,000 provided for the mentor-directed research.

 

Utah's Beckman Scholars

Mina Done

Maxwell Austin

Rachel Jones

Sahar Kanishka

Sonia Sehgal

Rory Weeks

Ming Hammond

APPLICATION Timeline

January 28, 2022 - Information Meeting and Solicitation

2022 Information Meeting in CSC #206 from 3:00-4:00 pm MST
Zoom Option Also Available:
https://utah.zoom.us/j/97092420726
Meeting ID: 970 9242 0726
No Passcode

2022 Program Information Slides

March 31, 2022 - Application Deadline

>> Application Form << - Apply by March 31, 2022 at 6:00 pm MST

April 2022 - Selection

Committee to conduct interviews with selected candidates (mid-April 2022)
Committee to select final candidates (May 1, 2022)
Formal disclosure of two UoU Beckman Scholars (May 15, 2022)

June 2022 - Scholars Begin

University of Utah Beckman Scholars initiate independent research projects

Eligibility

Prospective scholars must apply with one of fifteen internally selected UoU Beckman Scholars Program mentors. For participating faculty research mentors, see below.

College of Science faculty mentors for the Beckman Scholars Program.

In addition, prospective scholars must:

  • Be a full-time student and a declared science major;
  • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident;
  • Be a freshman, sophomore, or junior;
  • Commit to a research project that will last two summer semesters and the the entire academic year in between.
  • Please email roberts@chem.utah.edu with any questions.

2023 Beckman Scholars

The University of Utah has awarded two students the prestigious Beckman Scholars Award for 2022-2023. Mina Done and Maxwell Austin will work with faculty mentors, Cynthia Burrows and Andrew Roberts, respectively, from June 2022 to August 2023 in their labs.

Done's project, "Comparative Quantification of Oxidative Damage in the Genome, Telomere, and mtDNA using qPCR," aims to better understand where oxidative stress is most felt in the cell in order to better understand mutations that can contribute to cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and aging. Austin's project, "Antimicrobial Peptide Stabilization and Natural Product Scaffold Mimicry Using Triazolinedione-Based Cyclization Methods," aims to develop selective cyclization reaction to stabilize and mimic the cyclic structures of these bioactive peptides with the goal to expand future access to stable peptide therapeutics.

The Beckman is an unprecedented opportunity, perhaps found nowhere else, in which an undergraduate researcher can hone their craft at the bench and under extraordinary mentorship. Funded by the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, the program is a 15-month, mentored research experience for exceptional undergraduate students in chemical and biological sciences. Each scholar receives a $21,000 research stipend to facilitate nine academic calendar months and two three-month summers of research experience. Recipients from around the nation also participate in the annual Beckman Symposium.