Beckman Scholars Program
Wellesley College 2013 Beckman Scholars Application
Sophomores and juniors are encouraged to apply for the 2013 Beckman Scholars program. The Beckman Scholars program is designed to enhance research opportunities for students who have demonstrated a strong background in their science courses and show exceptional promise for independent research.
A student chosen as a Beckman Scholar in 2013 will receive stipends ($6,000/summer) to perform ten weeks of research at Wellesley during Summer 2013 and Summer 2014. The Scholar will also receive a stipend ($4,000/academic year) to perform research during the 2013-2014 academic year. In addition to working in the lab during these times, Scholars will be expected to complete the honors thesis program and present their findings in presentations on and off-campus. To support these expectations, Scholars will receive funding for research supplies and for travel to present their work at national research conferences. Please note that the Beckman Foundation requires that all scholars must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions.
Beckman Scholars must work in the research lab of one of the following faculty research mentors: Chris Arumainayagam (chemistry), Barbara Beltz (neuroscience), Dora Carrico-Moniz (chemistry), Bevil Conway (neuroscience), David Ellerby (biological sciences), Don Elmore (chemistry), Nolan Flynn (chemistry), Andrea Sequeira (biological sciences), Yui Suzuki (biological sciences), Marc Tetel (neuroscience).
If you are interested in applying for the 2013 Beckman Scholars program, you should contact one of these mentors to discuss potential projects. In addition to working directly in her mentor’s research lab, a Beckman Scholar will also be assigned an alumna mentor who previously participated in the program.
Applications for 2013 Beckman Scholars will be due on Friday, March 1. All applicants should submit the following materials as part of their application:
1) A research proposal (2-3 pages) describing your proposed research in one of the faculty mentor’s lab. This proposal should include literature references (not included in the page count).
2) A personal statement (1 page) outlining previous research experience and how participating in the Beckman Scholars Program would support your future plans. We hope to make the Beckman Scholars Program representative of the diverse economic, ethnic, and occupational backgrounds of families in the United States. If you wish, your personal statement can include any characteristics or other personal information about yourself that you wish to share with the review committee.
3) An unofficial transcript (obtained through Banner).
4) Two letters of recommendation from faculty members. One of these letters must be from your proposed Beckman Scholars mentor.
These materials should be submitted as .pdf attachments to beckman-scholars-applications@wellesley.edu by Friday March 1. Students should include items 1-3 as attachments to a single message, while faculty should submit letters of recommendation directly to this address. Applications will be evaluated by members of the Beckman Advisory Committee (Nancy Kolodny, Kaye Peterman, and Adele Wolfson), who will invite selected applicants for interviews. Final Beckman Scholar selection will occur by mid-March.
If you have any questions about the Beckman Scholars Program or the application process, please contact Don Elmore (delmore@wellesley.edu).
