Dr. Deborah Sauder has been awarded a Jean Dreyfus Lectureship for Undergraduate Institutions for 2021 by the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation. The grant will fund a campus visit by a distinguished chemistry professional in the spring and summer undergraduate research opportunities for two UMES students—all related to chemistry.
UMES’ award of $18,500 will provide for a two-day visit to campus Dr. Kimberly Jackson, chair and professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Spelman College. She will give a technical talk for the STEM community on campus along with a presentation for the public, including the neighboring higher educational institutions. In addition, she will meet with UMES students to discuss chemistry-related careers and UMES faculty to discuss research collaborations.
“Dr. Jackson is well known in the chemistry community for both her research accomplishments and her efforts to provide excellent mentoring to encourage underrepresented students to complete their undergraduate studies and continue to graduate studies in both chemistry and biochemistry. We are delighted she has agreed to visit UMES and believe her message will inspire and encourage students to persevere in their studies,” Sauder said.
The award will also fund an opportunity through the Department of Natural Sciences for two UMES students to pursue chemistry research at the university during the summer of 2022. It will be awarded, Sauder said, following a competitive applications process that will be conducted in February. Each summer intern will receive a stipend of $4,500 in addition to room and board for the duration of their internship along with a $1,000 award to defray the costs of attending a meeting the following fall to present the results of their research. The interns will also benefit from professional development support in collaboration with other summer research programs offered through UMES’ Department of Natural Sciences.
“Undergraduate research experiences have been shown to support students in completing undergraduate STEM programs. The opportunities for hands-on experiences, and the ability to share their results and learn about other research projects underway by their colleagues can really broaden a student’s understanding of what scientific research really is – and how it drives the development of new understanding of our world and our role in it,” Sauder said.
Gail Stephens, agricultural communications, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, gcstephens@umes.edu, 410-621-3850.
