Image
Photo of chemist St. Elmo Brady
Photo of chemist St. Elmo Brady.

A 10-week summer research program to increase the percentages of traditionally underrepresented students of color (African American, Hispanic, Native Americans) from Historically Black Colleges and University (HBCUs) to the Illinois Chemistry Ph.D. program immersing students in rewarding undergraduate summer research.

In February 2019, Illinois Chemistry celebrated the dedication of an American Chemical Society (ACS) National Historic Chemical Landmark in honor of Illinois alumnus St. Elmo Brady, who, in 1916, became the first African American to receive a Ph.D. in chemistry in the United States. Central to the celebration were students and faculty representatives from Tougaloo College, Howard University, Fisk University, and Tuskegee University—4 HBCUs whose chemistry programs Brady founded after leaving Illinois. In summer 2019, we initiated the St. Elmo summer research program, a partnership between the St. Elmo Brady HBCUs and the Illinois Chemistry.

At least 4 top HBCU students, nominated by their home institution faculty will participate in the program. Each student will receive a

  • $5000 stipend, 
  • $750 for research expenses,
  • $700 for travel to/from Urbana,
  • $2500 for housing and meals plus supplies for academic workshops.

Cohorts

2023 Cohort

Nyah Rowell

 

Host Lab: Scott Denmark
Undergraduate Institution: Tuskegee University

 

 

 

 

 

2022 Cohort

Kaya Moody

 

Host Lab: Jeff Chan
Undergraduate Institution: Howard University

 

Alexis Duncan

 

Host Lab: Liviu Mirica
Undergraduate Institution: Howard University

 

Kyla Duke

 

Host Lab: Angad Mehta
Undergraduate Institution: Howard University

2021 Cohort

Taylor Curry

 

Host Lab: Josh Vura-Weis 
Undergraduate Institution: Spelman College

 

 

Micah Robinson

 

Host Lab: Lisa Olshansky
Undergraduate Institution: Tougaloo College

 

 

Jalen Spain

 

Host Lab: Wilfred van der Donk
Undergraduate Institution: Tuskegee University

 

 

 

2020 Cohort

Romans Grant

 

Host Lab: Jonathan Sweedler
Undergraduate Institution: Tougaloo College

2019 Cohort

Enleyona Weir

Host Lab: Paul Hergenrother
Undergraduate Institution: Tougaloo College
 

 

Body


St. Elmo Brady Summer Research Scholar Program in the News

Three St. Elmo Brady Scholars doing research at UIUC – chemistry.illinois.edu/news/2021-06-11/three-st-elmo-brady-scholars-doing-research-uiuc

HBCU summer research partnership continues the legacy of St. Elmo Brady – chemistry.illinois.edu/news/2019-09-10/hbcu-summer-research-partnership-continues-legacy-st-elmo-brady