Julia Amoroso ā24 (top left), Molly F. Lazarus ā22 (top right), Eliyah Rose Stern ā25 (bottom left), and Claire Eva Benjamin ā23 (bottom right)
By Kendra PintorĢż
- Four Scripps alumsāJulia Amoroso ā24, Claire Eva Benjamin ā23, Molly F. Lazarus ā22, and Eliyah Rose Stern ā25āreceived prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program awards, highlighting the Collegeās strength in undergraduate research, faculty mentorship, and preparation for advanced STEM study.
- Sternās journey from undergraduate neuroscience research at Scripps to a PhD program at Cornell illustrates the transformative impact of mentorship, hands-on research opportunities, and philanthropic support on emerging STEM leaders.
Scripps College is proud to share that several alumsāJulia Amoroso ā24, Claire Eva Benjamin ā23, Molly F. Lazarus ā22, and Eliyah Rose Stern ā25āhave received award offers from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP).Ģż
The Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
Established in 1952, the GRFP is among the nationās most prestigious fellowships for students pursuing advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The program supports outstanding graduate students engaged in research-based masterās and doctoral programs and helps strengthen the nationās scientific workforce.Ģż
This yearās Scripps honoreesĢżrepresentĢża range of disciplines across the natural and social sciences, reflecting the Collegeās longstanding commitment to undergraduate research, faculty mentorship, and academic excellence.Ģż
Eliyah Rose Stern ā25
For Eliyah Rose Stern ā25, receiving the fellowship marks an important milestone in a journey that began with a curiosity about the relationship between the brain, behavior, and human development.Ģż
Stern, who was a Neuroscience major at Scripps, will begin a PhD in Psychological Sciences and Human Development at Cornell University this fall, where she plans to study behavioral neuroendocrinology, with a particular focus on vocal communication and social bonds.Ģż
Research became a defining part of Sternās Scripps experience early in her undergraduate career.Ģż
āWhen I first started research, it was like a switch had flipped in my mind, and I discovered how exciting it was to go from performing experiments in class with expected results to asking,ĢżāWhat novel question do we want to examine? How do we want to go about it?āā says Stern.Ģż
That experience helped clarify her long-term goals. Combining her love of research with a passion for teaching and mentorship, Stern began envisioning a future in academia.Ģż
āWorking towards a position as a professor, in which Iād be able to both teach, mentor, and continue with research, seemed like the natural conclusion for me,ā she says.Ģż
The GRFP application process itself proved transformative. āWriting my proposal for the GRFP was an incredibly valuable processānot only for skill development, but also in that it led me to be introspective on the kind of scientist I aim to be,ā says Stern.Ģż
Stern credits much of her growth to the mentorship she received at Scripps, particularly from ProfessorĢżTessa Solomon-Lane and working at the .Ģż
āProfessor Solomon-Lane has not only been the reason for my interest in research and neuroendocrinology through my experience in her lab and classes, but she has also been the driving force for my sense of confidence, belonging, and excitement in this field,ā says Stern.Ģż
Looking Ahead
At Cornell, Stern is eager to explore questions that bring together several of her academic interests.Ģż
āIām incredibly excited to be investigating the relationships between hormones, vocal communication, and social bonds,ā she says. āI believe that making science accessible and engaging is so incredibly important and beneficial for all, and I aim to embody that goal in my future endeavors.āĢż
Stern encourages current students to seek guidance and mentorship whenever possible.Ģż
āIf thereās one piece of advice that I always like to give students who are at all curious about these kinds of things, itās that it never hurts to reach out for advice,ā says Stern. āThere are so many people who have done these things before you and want to see you succeed, and there is zero shame in needing to ask.āĢż
Stern alsoĢżremainsĢżdeeply grateful for the community that helped shape her future.Ģż
āMy experience at Scripps is most certainly the reason why I am pursuing the path that I am today,ā she says. āWhen I thought about what work I really want to do and who I really want to do it with for the next five years, I felt confident that this [pursuing graduate education as a part of this new lab] was the right choice for me.”
Additional Scripps GRFP HonoreesĢż
- Julia Amoroso ā24Ģżgraduated with a degree in Life Sciences and a concentration in Evolutionary Biology. She received an award offer to pursue graduate research at the City University of New York, where she will continue exploring the processes that shape biodiversity and evolution.Ģż
- Claire Eva Benjamin ā23, who studied Physics and Astronomy with a focus on Condensed Matter Physics, received an award offer to continue her research at the University of California, Irvine. Her academic journey highlights the strength of Scrippsā interdisciplinary approach within The Claremont Colleges.
- Molly F. Lazarus ā22, a Psychology major specializing in Cognitive Neuroscience, received an award offer to pursue graduate study at Harvard University. Her work explores the complexities of the human mind at the intersection of psychology and neuroscience.Ģż
The achievements of this yearās NSF GRFP recipients reflect the impact of a Scripps education and the strength of a community that supports students long after graduation. Scripps alums persist in STEM careers at significantly higher rates than their peers, withĢżnearly 84 percentĢżremainingĢżin the field, compared to broader national trends.Ģż
Philanthropic support plays a vital role in making these outcomes possible. Investments in undergraduate research, faculty mentorship, and scholarship aid help ensure thatĢżScrippsĢżstudents can fully engage in transformative academic experiencesāpreparing them not only to compete for opportunities like the GRFP, but to become leaders in their fields.
We are proud to announceĢżScripps Forward: The Centennial Campaign for ScrippsĢżCollege. Over the next three years, our goal is to surpass $100 million in donor support toĢżsecure a future of infinite possibility for the next century.ĢżAs we continue to attract a growing pool of top talent, your support ensures that these studentsāregardless of their financial circumstancesācan fully engage in Scrippsā academic and co-curricular life.ĢżĢżThank you for your generosity!