The Beckman Scholars Program is suspended for 2025-26. Applications are not being accepted. Stay tuned for 2026-27.
Who's Eligible?
Eligible Students are:
- A full-time ßÙßÇÂþ» student with good academic standing
- In the first four semesters of college (including transfer credits transfer credits from another four-year college, but not Advanced Placement or other pre-college credits)
- A citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. or its territories and possessions
- A major in biochemistry, biological sciences, biomedical engineering, chemistry, or integrative neuroscience
What Does the Program Look Like?
Selected participants:
Undergo a 15-month (May 2025-Sept. 2026) mentored research experience and receive $21,000 to support their development and research endeavors.
All second-summer scholars will be asked to exhibit their research through poster presentation at the annual Beckman Symposium. If in-person, travel and hotel accommodations for the symposium are provided by the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation.
Funding Breakdown:
- Student Stipend $18,200; distributed as follows:
- First Summer - $6,800
- Academic Year - $4,600
- Second Summer - $6,800
- Student Scientific Supply and Travel $2,800; distributed as needed, to support current research activities.
What Kinds of Research Can Scholars Expect?
Accepted students can expect to gain hands-on research in their field while working with respected faculty in their department of choice. Projects vary from mentor to mentor, but Beckman Scholars can look forward to projects such as:
- Designing and synthesizing new molecules to detect cell viability
- Tissue harvesting and biochemical assay training
- Microscopy and microfluidic device design
- DNA barcoding, field sample collection, and genomics
- Shared mechanisms that underlie the effects of alcohol and stress in the medial prefrontal cortex
What does the application require?
Applicants must provide:
- The names of 3 mentors ranked in order most preferred (mentor information can be found below and in the selection packet)
- A current resume
- A copy of their unofficial transcript, including the current semester
- Two letters of recommendation, one from a ßÙßÇÂþ» faculty member familiar with applicant’s academic work and one additional letter from a supervisor, faculty member, coach, or other person with knowledge of the applicant’s character, work ethic, motivations, or other relevant factors. Recommendations should be emailed directly from the recommender to sortiz@binghamton.edu.
- One essay (500 - 750 words) in which you identify two or three of Arnold Beckman's 7 Rules for Success that most resonate with you and explain in depth how you connect your lived experiences to them. (See the Beckman brochure for the 7 Rules for Success.)
Materials Submission:
Deadline: Applications are not being accepted for 2025-26. Stay tuned for 2026-27.
(You and your recommenders) submit materials to the following email:
- sortiz@binghamton.edu
- Subject Line: "Beckman Scholars Application"
Susan Bane
Professor; Biochemistry Program Director
Research Interests
Christopher R. Bishop
Professor/Director of Undergraduate Integrative Neuroscience Program
Research Interests
- Parkinson's Disease
- Neuroplasticity
- Drug Development
Terrence Deak
Vice Provost and Dean of The Graduate School; Professor
Research Interests
- Stress responsive systems
- Neuroendocrinology
- Neural-immune interactions
- Alcohol
- Developmental neurobiology and brain aging
Christof T. Grewer
Professor; Department Chair
Research Interests
- Biophysical chemistry
- Dynamics of the transport process
- Development of pharmacological tools
- Inhibitor synthesis and characterization
- Computational studies
Research Interests
- Adolescent stress and drug exposure
- Drug abuse vulnerability
- Kappa opioid receptors
- Dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin
- Alcohol use disorder
- Cocaine addiction
- Opiate abuse
Research Interests
- Organ-on-a-chip technology
- Tissue engineering
- Nanotoxicology
Research Interests
- Microbiota in Infection and Immunity
- Clostridioides difficile and Enterococcus faecium
- Bile acid metabolism
Research Interests
- Community ecology
- Species interactions
- Environmental change
Research Interests
- Biofilm development and resistance
Research Interests
- Genomics
- Evolution
- Transposons
- Polyploids
Research Interests
- Spectroscopy
- Organometallic Chemistry
- Materials Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Photochemistry and Photocatalysis
- Photoredox Catalysis
Research Interests
- Alcohol use disorder
- Stress
- Cognitive function
- Synaptic transmission
- Neuroimmune signaling
- Sex differences
Kaiming Ye
SUNY Distinguished Professor and Chair
Research Interests
- Advanced biomanufacturing
- 3D bioprinting
- stem cell and regenerative medicine
- nanomedicine
- cell engineering
- vaccine development
- single molecular imaging
- biosensors