Colorado School of Mines receives funding for prestigious Beckman Scholars Program

Colorado School of Mines has been selected to participate in the 2025 Beckman Scholars Program.

Funded by the Arnold & Mabel Beckman Foundation, the highly selective program supports exceptional undergraduate students for a 15-month mentored research experience in chemistry, biological sciences and related interdisciplinary fields.

This year marks the first time that Mines has been chosen to participate in the program, one of just 14 institutions nationwide selected in 2025. The institutions were selected after a rigorous application process that included a two-part review led by a panel of scientific experts.

The award will support six student scholars at Mines over a three-year term, with two scholars named per year. Undergraduate students majoring in chemistry, chemical and biological engineering and quantitative biosciences and engineering are eligible to apply. 

“Receiving this award underscores Mines' commitment to undergraduate research and highlights our exceptional faculty and students who are poised to make significant contributions to the fields of chemistry and biology and related interdisciplinary sciences,” said Lakshmi Krishna, director of undergraduate research at Mines.

Krishna will lead the Beckman Scholar Program at Mines, with faculty mentors from the Departments of Chemistry, Chemical & Biological Engineering, Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.

Student scholars will conduct research for 15 months, including two summer semesters, with one of the faculty mentors. In addition to the time spent on campus conducting research, scholars will also have the opportunity to present their findings at the annual Beckman Symposium and connect with other scholars and scientists. 

“This award is both exciting and thoughtfully structured, exemplifying all the key elements of a successful undergraduate research opportunity,” Krishna said. “It provides financial support for students conducting research over two summer semesters and an academic year, which is essential as research requires dedicated time. This sustained funding ensures that our students receive the training and mentorship necessary to propel them forward in their chosen scientific careers. Additionally, the award includes funding for research supplies and mentor stipends, recognizing that conducting research requires resources.” 

Mines’ first Beckman Scholar pairs will be named in Spring 2025, with the students officially conducting research supported by the program starting Summer 2025. 

The Beckman Scholar Program mentors at Mines are:

• Cecilia Diniz Behn, associate professor of applied mathematics and statistics, mathematical modeling of biological systems
• Kevin Cash, associate professor of chemical and biological engineering, optical nanosensors for biological systems
• Matthew Crane, assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering, colloidal nanomaterials
• Dylan Domaille, associate professor of chemistry, chemical sensing in biological systems
• Nikki Farnsworth, assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering, biomaterial scaffolds for Type 1 Diabetes
• Andrew Herring, professor of chemical and biological engineering and vice provost of strategic initiatives, polymer electrolytes for renewable energy 
• Melissa Krebs, associate professor of chemical and biological engineering, biopolymers for drug delivery
• Ramya Kumar, assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering, polymeric biomaterials
• Stephanie Kwon, assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering, heterogeneous catalysis
• C. Michael McGuirk, assistant professor of chemistry, synthetic organic and inorganic chemistry
• Svitlana Pylypenko, associate professor of chemistry, surfaces and interfaces of materials
• Anne Silverman, Rowlinson associate professor of mechanical engineering, functional biomechanics
• John Spear, professor of civil and environmental engineering, environmental microbiology
• Brian Trewyn, associate professor of chemistry, multifunctional organic and inorganic materials 

An information session for Mines students to learn more about this opportunity will be scheduled soon. Interested students can contact Dr. Krishna at lkrishna@mines.edu for more details.