By Steve Vivona
Last August St. John’s University was invited to apply for the
Beckman Scholars Program, a prestigious invitation-only program for
accredited universities and four-year colleges in the United
States. Set up by the Beckman Foundation, its goal is supporting
undergraduate science programs that make significant contributions
in advancing the education, research training and personal
development of select students in chemistry, biochemistry and the
biological and medical sciences.
Approximately 200 colleges and universities are invited
annually, and 12-13 are chosen. Institutions such as Yale,
Princeton, Stanford, Carnegie-Mellon and Boston College have been
awarded Beckman Scholarships in the past. The competition is fierce
but the fact that St. John’s was invited to participate is
significant, according to Special Assistant to the Provost Erin
Lothes-Biviano.
“We didn’t solicit this (scholarship) in any way,” Ms. Biviano
observed. “Someone noticed us. I think it’s a great sign.” She
added that even if St. John’s is not chosen it’s crucial for the
University to show its interest by applying. “If we don’t apply
they won’t ask us again,” she stressed, adding that “it’s a great
distinction. There’s a lot of energy and enthusiasm within St.
John’s to respond.”
Dr. Jay Zimmerman of the Biological Sciences Department modeled
the grant proposal on St. John’s very successful Initiative for
Minority Student Development, which promotes student research.
The scholarship provides students with two summers of paid
research time as well as a stipend during the academic year. Should
St. John’s be selected a committee would be appointed, composed of
the various science department chairs, to select worthy candidates
and an application process devised for sophomores to submit essays
and letters of recommendation.
“Beckman wants to see that these students are encouraged to be
independent researchers, not lab technicians. We’re trying to train
them to be independent scientists,” Ms. Biviano said, noting that
students receive about $5,000 each summer and slightly less during
the academic year. “They have some money for travel, housing and in
the second summer they are all expected to attend a Beckman
Scholars Conference.”
Ms. Biviano observed that St. John’s is already “catching the
wave” of undergraduate research, and there are many opportunities
for them to go beyond traditional classroom instruction.
“Undergraduates are now being called upon to perform at a higher
level, and be like mini-faculty members.”