Overview:
The Beckman Scholars Program (BSP) gives high-performing undergraduate students in the fields of biomedical sciences, biology, chemistry, and neuroscience the opportunity to conduct independent laboratory research under the mentorship of select, expert faculty mentors. Beckman Scholars will benefit from additional professional development opportunities and will be well-positioned to pursue their graduate education and a career in science.
Starting in Spring 2026, two Beckman Scholars will be selected at Penn each year for three years. Competitive candidates for the BSP will have consistently demonstrated academic excellence and a strong interest in pursuing an advanced degree in the sciences. Beckman Scholars will receive $18,200 over 15 months ($6,800 for each of two summers and $4,600 in the intervening academic year), and $2,800 to support current research activities. BSP faculty mentors will receive $4,800 to support execution of their scholar mentorship plan.
Eligibility:
- First-, second-, or third-year, full-time, regularly enrolled undergraduates in good academic standing. While prior research experience is not required, competitive candidates must be deeply curious, motivated, and eager to develop their STEM knowledge and skills. Top candidates will also demonstrate evidence of leadership, maturity, and perseverance.
- Majoring (or intending to major) in Bioengineering, Biology, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Sciences, or Neuroscience
- Intending to pursue an advanced science or engineering degree (PhD, MD, or MD/PhD) and a research-focused career
- United States citizens, permanent residents of the United States or its possessions
- Committed to conducting research full-time (40hrs/week) during two consecutive summers and part-time (~10hrs/week) during the intervening academic year
The Beckman Foundation intends to remove barriers to participation for prospective Beckman Scholars and to encourage student applicants from a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and opportunities, including those who may not have had access to STEM resources or role models during their K-12 education.
Scholar Expectations:
In addition to committing to conduct research full-time during two summers and part-time during one academic year, Scholars will be expected to:
- Attend a Beckman Scholars Program research conference
- Meet with Penn’s BSP administrator once per semester to discuss their ongoing research and the feasibility of submitting at least one national fellowship or scholarship application
- Present at CURF’s annual Fall Expo or Spring Symposium at least once
- Remain in good academic standing
- Provide required biography and photograph after selection notification
- Demonstrate a strong commitment to exemplary scientific and academic ethics as set forth in Arnold O. Beckman’s Rules for Success
Application instructions:
To apply for Penn’s BSP, applicants will provide the information detailed below through the online BSP application:
- General student information and confirmation of eligibility criteria
- Read through the profiles and research interests of the 15 Penn BSP mentors. You do not need to contact potential mentors before applying. However, if you are already working with a potential mentor, please note this in your application. Applicants with or without a relationship with their indicated potential mentors will be given equal consideration. In one page (500 words or less), describe why you would like to conduct research with this BSP mentor. You should be specific about the origin of your interest in this field and explain what you hope to learn by participating in this research. Applicants should demonstrate how their research interests or experiences align with those of the participating mentor and outline compelling goals for their independent research.
- In one page (500 words or less), detail your post-Penn educational and career goals, describe how the BSP might help you achieve those goals, and address ways you will benefit from and contribute to Penn’s BSP core values of inclusion, mentoring, and research excellence.
- Select one of Dr. Beckman’s rules for success (see below) and explain how the rule applies to you as a developing scientist in 350 words or less:
- There is no satisfactory substitute for excellence.
- Absolute integrity in everything.
- Everything in moderation, including moderation itself.
- Hire the best people—then get out of their way.
- Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. If you’re not making mistakes, you’re probably not doing very much.
- Acquire new knowledge and always ask why.
- Don’t take yourself too seriously.
- Unofficial current transcript. While GPA will not be a primary determining metric for applicant selection, the alignment of the completed coursework with the desired field of research will be considered.
- Resume/CV -- no more than 2 pages
- 1 letter of recommendation—can be from anyone who can speak to the applicant’s potential as a scientific researcher. The letter should come from a potential BSP Mentor if the student is already doing research with them, but this is not a general expectation. Letters should address:
- In what capacity does the recommender know the applicant?
- How has the applicant demonstrated an interest in pursuing advanced STEM research?
- How will the applicant benefit from and contribute to the BSP?
- What characteristics does the applicant have that make them a strong candidate for the BSP?
After a written review of applications, finalists will be invited to interview with the Penn BSP committee. Scholar selection is expected to occur in late February or March 2026.
BSP mentors:
Learn more about BSP mentors for the 2026 application cycle below.
- Juan Alvarez, Cell and Developmental Biology
Juan Alvarez, Assistant Professor in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, investigates how biological rhythms shape the functional maturation of differentiated cells. His lab uses genetic and engineering tools to chart, navigate, and control how cell, molecular, and functional states synchronize and evolve during maturation, leveraging mice and human organoid models.
- Dustin Brisson, Biology
Dustin Brisson, Professor in the Department of Biology and the director of Disease Ecology and Evolution at Penn (DEEP) laboratories, focuses on the causes and public health consequences of host-parasite interactions by integrating across levels of biological complexity to address fundamental questions in the ecology and evolution of parasites.
- Modupe Coker, Basic and Translational Sciences, Dental Medicine
Modupe Coker is a dentist-scientist and Associate Professor at Penn Dental Medicine, where she also serves as Director of the Center for Clinical and Translational Research. She has led studies focused on oral health, HIV, microbiome science and translational research.
- Russell Composto, Materials Science and Engineering
Russell Composto is a Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, in addition to his role as Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education. His research utilizes principles of polymer physics and chemistry to understand the thermodynamics and dynamics of soft matter.
- Crystal Conn, Radiation Oncology
Crystal Conn, Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology, investigates molecular mechanisms that regulate the proteome, how these signaling events are rewired for survival in disease, and how specific components can be targeted to improve diagnostics and therapeutics.
- Zahra Fakhraai, Chemistry
Zahra Fakhraai, Professor of Chemistry, studies the effect of nano-confinement and interfacial interactions on the structure, dynamics, and other properties of nanostructured materials.
- Joseph Francisco, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Chemistry
Joseph Francisco is the President's Distinguished Professor of Earth and Environmental Science and Professor of Chemistry. His research focuses on basic studies in spectroscopy, kinetics and photochemistry of novel transient species in the gas phase, in aerosol, and at the ice-quasi liquid layer.
- Joshua Gold, Neuroscience
Joshua Gold, Professor of Neuroscience, researches how the brain performs inference and learning to support flexible perceptual and reward-based decision-making with the aim of revealing the neural mechanisms underlying complex learned behaviors and informing approaches to treating disorders of learning and cognition.
- Kelly Jordan-Sciutto, Pathology, Oral Medicine
Kelly Jordan-Sciutto is a Professor in the Department of Pathology at Penn Dental Medicine, in addition to serving as Vice Provost for Graduate Education. Her research focuses on the cellular and molecular responses to inflammation in the brain, especially how these mechanisms can be used therapeutically to advance new treatments for preventing cognitive changes in people with HIV, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Parkinson’s Disease.
- Bomyi Lim, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Bomyi Lim, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, researches the regulation of chemical kinetics in biological systems, especially in understanding how inherently stochastic gene expression dynamics are “tamed” to produce reliable cellular outcomes. Her lab focuses on characterizing the normal range of gene expression kinetics that ensures normal development, using a combination of genome editing, quantitative live imaging, and mathematical modeling.
- Monica McCallum, Chemistry
Monica McCallum, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, uses synthetic chemistry to access complex secondary metabolites (aka natural products) and their biosynthetic precursors to discover enzymes that perform novel chemical reactions. By understanding the biogenic origins of natural products, her lab aims to elucidate the role these natural products play in cell-to-cell communication and their impact on microbial community structure.
- Daniel Mindiola, Chemistry
Daniel Mindiola is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry. The Mindiola research program entails the synthesis of transition metal complexes that possess interesting coordination environments, reactive ligand scaffolds, and unusual electronic and magnetic features. Most of his group’s efforts are devoted to the synthesis of early- and mid-transition metal complexes, especially systems that are unsaturated and reactive.
- Andrew Modzelewski, Biomedical Science
Andrew Modzelewski, Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology, studies why retrotransposons—ancient genetic elements that make up nearly half of the human genome—reactivate during early development and how this reactivation contributes to essential biological processes. Using CRISPR-based zygote editing to create retrotransposon knockout mouse models, the lab uncovers roles for these elements in development, fertility, stress responses, and evolutionary innovation, while also investigating how their unintended reactivation contributes to aging, disease, and cancer.
- Sunny Shin, Microbiology
Sunny Shin is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology. Her research focuses on defining fundamental mechanisms of innate immunity against bacterial pathogens and in turn, how bacteria evade innate immune defenses to cause disease.
- Andrew Tsourkas, Bioengineering
Andrew Tsourkas, Professor of Bioengineering, is interested in creating novel targeted imaging and therapeutic agents for the detection and/or treatment of diverse diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disease, and infectious diseases. This includes the development of both targeted nanoparticle formulations and antibody and protein-based agents.
Details:
Research Offering Type
Independent Research
Location
USA
Undergraduate School
College, Engineering, Nursing, Wharton
Source
CURF-Administered