Research @ Pace
A newsletter highlighting faculty research & scholarship
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Camila Bustos, JD (Elisabeth Haub School of Law) works on climate displacement, human rights, and climate law. In 2023, she published a co-authored article, "Climate Migration and Displacement: A Case Study of Puerto Rican Women in Connecticut" in the Connecticut Law Review (576). This Article provides the first ethnography of Puerto Rican women who relocated in Connecticut in the aftermath of the hurricane, discussing the ways in which federal law and policy have failed to meet the needs of Puerto Ricans and other climate-displaced people
Earlier this year, Professor Bustos also published "Climate Change and Internal Displacement in Colombia: Chronicle of a Tragedy Foretold" in the Case Western Reserve Journal International Law (56.1, 2024). Given the inexorability and foreseeability of climate displacement, this article argues that states have an obligation to recognize climate displacement, plan ahead to protect their populations’ rights, and implement best practices under international human rights law throughout relocation and resettlement processes. Irrespective of the driver of displacement, displaced individuals should not be subject to a bifurcated regime of protection that treats displacement due to civil disruption, violence, or armed conflict distinctly from displacement in the context of climate change and environmental disasters.
Currently, Prof. Bustos is working on a forthcoming publication for the NYU Environmental Law Journal titled "Representing Climate Wreckers." The article focuses on the intersection of legal ethics and climate change. It examines how professional responsibility rules and principles in the United States should be interpreted in the Anthropocene Era, particularly in the context of attorneys representing so-called “climate wreckers” (fossil fuel corporations that have engaged in public disinformation campaigns to stall climate action and sow doubt regarding climate science) in civil matters.
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JV Mercanti, MFA (Sands College of Performing Arts) is a tenured professor in the Musical Theatre BFA program and the Associate Program Head of Musical Theatre. He has worked as a casting director for the Broadway productions of The Hills of California (directed by Sam Mendes, with Tony Award winning team Sam Mendes and Jezz Butterworth), currently on Broadway, Cyrano de Bergerac (starring Kevin Kline and Jennifer Garner) Romeo & Juliet (starring Orlando Bloom and Condola Rashad). He was the associate director on the 2022 Emmy-winning TV production of Jesus Christ Superstar Live and the recent Britney Spears jukebox musical Once Upon a One More Time on Broadway. He is also editor of the monologue series “In Performance,” published by Applause Books.
His book Musical Theatre Acting: A Practical Guide is being released in November (Rowman & Littlefiled). The book serves as a guide to the musical theatre artist, student, or professional who needs a refresher on how to hone and sharpen their skills while honoring their interpretation of the material. It presents a short and accessible roadmap for the performer who knows that success in musical theatre means being part of storytelling that is wholistic and incredible. Prof. Mercanti received the Book and Performance Completion Award for this project.
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Professor Smita Narula’s, JD (Elisabeth Haub School of Law) article, "Realizing the Right to Food in Maine: Insights from International Law," was published as the lead article in a Maine Law Review issue (76.165, 2024) dedicated to examining Maine’s historic 2021 constitutional amendment affirming the right to food. The article notes that in November 2021, Maine made history as the first U.S. state to constitutionally recognize the right to food. Maine's right to food amendment—which sought to address widespread food insecurity and corporate control of the food supply—proclaims food as a "natural, inherent and unalienable right," and empowers Mainers to grow and consume food of their own choosing, affirming their right to food sovereignty. This article makes three key contributions to scholarly examinations of this historic amendment. First, it situates the amendment within the broader landscape of domestic and global struggles for the right to food and food sovereignty. Second, the article considers how the right to food framework under international human rights law can help define the normative content of Maine's newly affirmed constitutional right, and the state's corresponding obligations to uphold that right. Third, the article proposes legislative and policy reforms to help realize the right to food in Maine, while also considering potential challenges. The article concludes that despite these challenges, the right to food amendment carries the potential to ensure lasting food security in Maine, while shifting the balance of power in the food system.
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Mirjana Pantic, PhD (Media & Communication Arts, PLV, Dyson College of Art and Sciences) presented a study titled, "Generation Z in the Workplace" at the research escalator session at the annual International Communication Association conference that took place this summer in Gold Coast, Australia. This study has been produced in collaboration with graduate students Penelope Arias, Rachel Hutchings, Tasha Lee, Lucy Mitchell, and Diane Ragin in Communications Research course. The study explored how Generation Z (born between 1997-2012) navigate the professional world and how they communicate intergenerationally. Data derived from focus groups show that members of this generation have a preference for a relaxed, comfortable environment with easy communication, place an importance on in-person interactions for receiving feedback, and embrace collaboration in the workplace. They also emphasized the importance of work-life balance and opted for a hybrid work environment.
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Melvin Williams, PhD (Communication and Media Studies, NYC, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences) was recently featured on CBC: Your Morning, Canada's national morning show. The August 20, 2024 televised interview analyzed the impacts and dangers of celebrity endorsements in the 2024 US Presidential Election. Professor Williams was also featured on CBS News: The Daily Report for an in-studio interview. The August 22, 2024, televised interview analyzed celebrity culture, politics, and the 2024 Democratic and Republican National Convention. Prof. Williams' September 15, 2024 television feature on Lithuanian TV entitled, Trumpas nesureikšmina Swift palaikymo Harris, bet turi klastotę su atlikėjos palaikymu jam (translated in English to "Trump doesn't make light of Swift's support for Harris, but has a faux pas with the artist's support for him") examined the implications of Taylor Swift's recent endorsement of Harris/Walz in the 2024 US Presidential Election and further implications of celebrity endorsements in US Presidential elections. | |
Christen Copper, EdD, RDN (Nutrition, PLV, College of Health Professions) published “Registered Dietitian Nutritionists’ Knowledge, Confidence, and Experiences with Treating Trafficked Individuals: A Call for Interprofessional Continuing Education” in the Journal of Dietetic Education (2.2 July, 2024). Victims of human trafficking (HT) frequently face malnutrition, dehydration, low food security, and infections. When identified, victims of HT are normally treated with interprofessional team (IPT) care that often excludes Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs). Although RDNs are trained to treat these conditions, they may lack knowledge, confidence, and skills, for working with this population, as well as the opportunities to work on such IPTs. To date, no study has explored RDNs’ knowledge of or work with individuals who are trafficked. The study results indicated that RDNs desire more training on HT individuals and would prefer training in an online format. | |
Professor Cooper also published an article with her M.S. student, Vida Velasco, who graduated with her M.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics who was awarded a department award for outstanding performance, “The Role of Food and Nutrition in Treating Bipolar Disorder: A Narrative Review for The Allied Health Professions” Medical Research Archives (6.12, June 2024). This narrative review analyzes the body of literature on known physiological mechanisms impacting bipolar disorder (BD) and how patient-centered nutrition in conjunction with prescribed medications may positively impact patient health outcomes. Additional topics include understanding the current state of research on nutrition and BD, impact of specific micronutrient imbalances on BD, dietary tendencies including current research on whole dietary patterns and potential applications for patients with BD. The totality of research included in this review indicates that inflammatory processes play a central role impacting health outcomes in patients with BD which can be addressed with not only medication, but also with targeted nutrition therapy.
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Jeanmaire Molina, PhD (Biology, NYC, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences) has recently taught the local community in Bukidnon, Philippines, how to propagate Rafflesia schadenbergiana, the world’s second-largest flower, measuring 0.8 meters in diameter. This species was believed to be extinct until its rediscovery in 2006, and currently, only six individuals are known to exist. This work was recently featured in Philippine news (August 2024).
To aid in this effort, Professor Molina enlisted the expertise of horticulturists from Indonesia’s Bogor Botanic Garden—the only institution that has successfully propagated Rafflesia outside its natural forest habitat. They demonstrated their propagation techniques to the local community. Propagating Rafflesia schadenbergiana is extremely challenging due to its parasitic nature; it relies exclusively on its sole host species, Tetrastigma glabratum. As the largest flower in the Philippines and being critically endangered, the conservation of R. schadenbergiana and its host is a top priority for the country. However, natural propagation has been very slow, necessitating human intervention to support the species' recovery in its forest habitat (in situ propagation).
Prof. Molina will continue to collaborate closely with the community in Bukidnon to monitor the success of these propagation efforts and will return next summer to further enhance the in situ propagation strategies. This work is in collaboration with/funded by the U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG) in Washington, D.C.
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Screening at Temporaryfiles.net until the end of August and accompanied by an interview about the work by artist Nung-Hsin Hu, is Jillian McDonald's, MFA (Art, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences) newest video, "Tunnel and Radio Skies".
In "Tunnel and Radio Skies," a woman digs a hole like a portal in her urban backyard and sets off on a journey to find the signal while visual electromagnetic waves animate the landscapes. The video juxtaposes live footage with images created through the use of artificial intelligence text-to-image generators, and the soundtrack features radio signal and interference, artificial intelligence music generators, and sounds recorded on location.
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The work was filmed in Brooklyn and Brunswick in New York, Joshua Tree National Park and Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge in California, Snowmass Village and Crater Lake in the Maroon Bells Wilderness in Colorado, Lost Dutchman State Park and Cave Creek in Arizona, Canmore in Alberta, and on Signal Hill in Newfoundland.
McDonald acknowledges major support from The Canada Council for the Arts, with additional funding from Pace University and the Amelia A Gould Research Assistantship. Parts of the work were made during a Visiting Artist stay at Anderson Ranch in Colorado; during residencies at Wave Farm in New York and Eastern Edge Gallery in St. John's; and during TempFiles Co-op's Season 3.
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Seidenberg School of CSIS AI Lab | |
The Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems' new AI Lab aims to serve as the hub for AI at Pace University, bringing together students, faculty, staff and other members of the Pace community. Led by co-Directors Christelle Scharff, PhD (Associate Dean; Professor, Computer Science, NYC, Seidenberg School of CSIS) and Katie Todd, MS (Assistant Dean of Strategy and Engagement, NYC, Seidenberg School of CSIS), the lab is located in Pace's newest facilities at 15 Beekman Street.
The lab will federate and promote both fundamental research and applied AI, with a particular emphasis on multidisciplinary collaborations. Areas of research include robotics, computer vision, pattern recognition, natural language processing (NLP), algorithms, human-AI interactions, and ethical AI. Areas of applications focus on cybersecurity, education, healthcare, software engineering, sustainability, art, and gaming.
The lab will also influence curriculum changes related to AI and create new experiential learning opportunities. Seidenberg offers a wide range of AI courses from general AI literacy like CIS 101 to technical courses such as Computer Vision and Deep Learning. As Seidenberg's two new master's programs in artificial intelligence get ready to launch, the offerings in and out of the class will increase.
In the summer, the lab focused on three initiatives. The AI Internship Experience provided undergraduate students with an opportunity to gain hands-on experience with AI, machine learning, project management, and pre-professional advancement. Students learned to program classifiers and generative AI networks “from scratch”.
The Seidenberg Summer Undergraduate Research (SSUR) program permitted teams of students to work on research with a faculty advisor and was linked with a national undergraduate research program of the Computing Research Association (CRA) called UR2PHD. UR2PHD emphasizes increasing diversity in research and sustaining interest in research from first experience through graduation.
Finally, the lab hosted several events including the NYC Google Developer Group meetup where the community could get hands-on coding experience with Google Gemini.
Coming up in the fall semester, the lab will expand its offerings for students and colleagues across Pace through hands-on training and other opportunities to get involved in studying and contributing to the field of AI research.
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Seidenberg students and faculty at the AI Summer Internship Experience 2024 | |
The annual Society of Fellows Weekend Seminar, held this year in a new location, at Stony Point Center in Stony Point, New York, will focus on Transgression as Power, co-led by Associate Professors Ying Wang, PhD (Modern Languages and Cultures, NYC, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences), Marcella Szablewicz, PhD (Communication and Media Studies, NYC, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences), and Emilio Fernández, PhD (Mathematics, PLV, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences). Current students and faculty are invited to join this interdisciplinary seminar, which will take place on October 4–6, 2024 . Space is limited. Costs are covered by Dyson College. RSVP today to ensure your spot.
Learn more about the seminar here.
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Upcoming Office of Research and Graduate Education Presentations and Workshops
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Faculty Research Presentation Series
Join us for the Faculty Research Series, where Pace University faculty present their innovative research and share insights into the groundbreaking work happening in their labs. This series offers a unique opportunity to learn about ongoing projects, explore potential collaborations, and engage with cutting-edge academic research across diverse disciplines. Whenever possible, the presentations below will be in person as well as accessible remotely.
Christelle Scharff, PhD (Associate Dean; Computer Science, NYC, Seidenberg School of CSIS)
Presenting the Seidenberg AI Lab
Wednesday, October 9, 12:10 p.m. - 1:10 p.m.
Register in advance for this presentation
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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Anthony Mancini, PhD (Psychology, PLV, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences)
“How—and When—Acute Adversity Improves Psychological Functioning.”
Monday, November 18,, 12:10 p.m. - 1:10 p.m.
In this talk, Professor Mancini will review evidence of improved functioning after a wide range of acute stressors—from bereavement to hurricane exposure to school shootings to military deployment—and provide an explanatory framework for understanding why functioning can improve after acute adversity and under what circumstances improvement is more likely to occur. c
Register in advance for this presentation
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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Grant Development Series |
PIVOT Workshop
Thursday, October 10, 3:25 p.m.- 4:25 p.m.
Pivot-RP is a comprehensive global source of funding opportunities that helps research organizations inform their funding strategies and win a larger share of available funding. It also uses scholarly profiles to match researchers to relevant financial support and provides trusted funding and policy intelligence for strategic planning.
Learn how to:
- Access your institutional Pivot-RP system
- Create and complete your researcher profile, and fine-tune your automated funding recommendations
- Seek and network with other experts/PIs in your area of research
- Search for funding opportunities using both basic and advanced search options
- Set up email alerts to for funding in your field of interest
Register in advance for this workshop
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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Building Collaborative Research Partnerships: Strategies for Grant Success and Enhanced Productivity
Beau Anderson, PhD (Allied Health, NYC, College of Health Professions)
Thursday, November 21, 3:25 p.m. - 4:25 p.m.
This programmatic research workshop is designed to equip researchers with the tools and strategies needed to begin and sustain successful collaborative research partnerships. Offering practical insights to help you achieve your research goals, the session will cover essential aspects of collaboration, advice on leveraging collaborative efforts to strengthen grant proposals, and generate innovative research outcomes.
Register in advance for this presentation
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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Funding Experiential Innovations in Pedagogy
Maria Iacullo-Bird, PhD (Assistant Provost for Research; History, NYC, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences) and Kelley Kreitz, PhD (Director of Experiential Learning and the Pace Path; English, NYC, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences)
Friday, December 6, 12:10 p.m.-1:10 p.m.
This workshop is for faculty interested in exploring opportunities to pursue funding for research, civic engagement, or other experiential projects in their teaching at the undergraduate or graduate level. We will look at recent sources of funding for experiential curricular initiatives across the disciplines and spend some time brainstorming together about future opportunities. The primary goals of this workshop are: 1) sparking conversation about new curricular initiatives for which we might explore new funding sources and 2) providing an introduction to the range of opportunities available.
Register in advance for this workshop
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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Beth Schachter, PhD will present a series of grant writing workshops which will focus on grant writing across the disciplines, strategies for success in the sciences , as well as a hands-on grant writing workshop. | |
Mastering the Basics: A Comprehensive Guide to Grant Writing and Funding Opportunities Across Disciplines
Wednesday, December 4, 12:10 p.m.- 1:10p.m.
The "Mastering the Basics" presentation is designed to guide participants through grant writing across various disciplines such as sciences, humanities, arts, computer science, and business. Led by Beth Schachter, PhD, this session will provide a comprehensive introduction to the key components of successful grant writing and practical tools for finding funding opportunities. The workshop will include the following key components: the essential elements of a grant proposal (such as defining clear research objectives, structuring the proposal for clarity and impact, and tailoring proposals to meet the specific criteria of different disciplines and funding sources). This workshop will include a motivational component as well as a short introduction to recent past winners (we would include their names and achievements in the blurb advertising the event).
Register in advance for this presentation
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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Elevating Your Grant Proposals: Advanced Strategies for Success in the Sciences
Wednesday, February 12, 12:10 p.m- 1:40 p.m.
The "Elevating Your Grant Proposals " workshop, led by Beth Schachter, PhD, is tailored for participants with some basic experience in grant writing, focusing on more advanced tactics for successful grant applications. This 90-minute session will provide guidance on developing a strategic approach to the application process, including managing timelines, building key contacts, and balancing the creative and business aspects of proposal writing. This session will feature two successful grant recipients from the sciences.
Register in advance for this presentation
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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Hands on Grant Writing Workshop
Wednesday, March 26, 12:10 p.m. - 1:40 p.m.
Unlock the full potential of your research projects with our interactive workshop designed specifically for faculty in this session led by Beth Schachter. This hands-on session will provide faculty with advanced grant application tactics, practical skills for writing grants, and personalized guidance and mentorship about the application process. This workshop is ideal for faculty who are well into their grant application journey, offering both practical tools and expert advice to advance your academic career.
Register in advance for this presentation
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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Center for Undergraduate Research Experiences (CURE) Announcements | |
For the upcoming 2024-2025 academic year, the Center for Undergraduate Research Experiences is offering the following undergraduate research opportunities:
2024-2025 Academic Year Undergraduate Research Assistantship Program funded by Federal Work Study (FWS)
Proposals are accepted on a prioritized rolling basis through September 30, 2024; afterwards, applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis until funds are depleted.
The goal of this program is to fund research assistants to support faculty research projects and offer students research-based learning supported by Federal Work Study awards.
To apply, propose a research assistantship position to support your scholarship or creative inquiry. To recruit qualified student applicants, inform your students about the research opportunity so they can better understand the value of their Federal Work Study funds and how those funds can be earned while serving as your research assistant!
Click here to propose your Undergraduate Research Assistantship position
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2024-2025 Student Academic Conference Travel Fund for Undergraduate Presentations
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis subject to funding availability to support student participation at external academic conferences. The presentation must be for scholarly research or artistic projects, and the student must be a presenter at the conference and listed in the conference program.
Conference Travel Fund Application Form 2024-2025
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Fall 2024 Undergraduate Research Presentation Series (Virtual)
The university community is invited to attend the fall series of virtual research presentations featuring student scholars funded by the Summer 2024 Provost’s Student-Faculty Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry Program; Dyson College Student-Faculty Undergraduate Research Initiatives; Amelia A. Gould Undergraduate Research Assistantships in the Creative Arts; and the NEH Humanities Initiatives Undergraduate Research Award Program.
Common hour – 12:10 p.m. - 1:10 p.m.
- Monday, September 30, 2024
- Monday, October 7, 2024
- Monday, October 14, 2024
- Monday, October 21, 2024
Register and View Program
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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Fall 2024 Student Undergraduate Research Webinar Series
Monday/Wednesday common hour – 12:10 p.m. - 1:10 p.m.
Tuesday common hour – 3:25 p.m. - 4:25 p.m.
Maria Iacullo-Bird, PhD, Assistant Provost for Research
Getting Started in Research across Majors and Schools
- Tuesday, October 1, 2024
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Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Social Justice and the Responsible Conduct of Research
- Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Applying for a Summer 2025 National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
- Monday, December 2, 2024
- Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Register in advance for Monday’s and Wednesday’s meetings
Register in advance for Tuesday’s meetings
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting
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Fall 2024 Faculty Undergraduate Research Webinar Series
Monday/Wednesday common hour – 12:10 p.m.-1:10 p.m.
Tuesday common hour – 3:25 p.m.-4:25 p.m.
Maria Iacullo-Bird, PhD, Assistant Provost for Research
Learn about Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) Opportunities and Resources
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Wednesday, October 9, 2024
How to Get Started in Grant Writing and Include Undergraduate Research
- Tuesday, October 22, 2024
- Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Developing Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs)
- Tuesday, November 19, 2024
- Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Applying for a National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program Site or Supplement
- Monday, December 9, 2024
- Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Register in advance for Monday’s and Wednesday’s meetings
Register in advance for Tuesday’s meetings
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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Apply to present at Upcoming External Conferences:
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For questions contact:
Norma Quiridumbay, CURE Director of Operations at nquiridumbay@pace.edu
Maria Iacullo-Bird, PhD., Assistant Provost for Research at miacullobird@pace.edu
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Graduate Student Research Writing Club
(Facilitated by Anna Beskin and Manaswi Soni)
Fridays 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
September 20 - December 6, 2024
Graduate students are invited to join the Graduate Student Research Writing Club to boost productivity, stay accountable, and connect with fellow grad. students during dedicated weekly Zoom sessions focused on advancing writing projects in a supportive community. Register for the writing club here.
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For questions contact Anna Beskin, PhD, Director, Faculty and Graduate Research, at abeskin@pace.edu. | |
Prestigious Awards and Fellowships | |
Students interested in research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, or engineering are invited to apply to the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education scholarship. The program is designed to provide opportunities for outstanding U.S. students with excellent academic records and demonstrated interest in, and potential for, research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering. Sophomores and juniors who are U.S. citizens, nationals or permanent residents with at least a 3.0 GPA are eligible to apply. The scholarship provides $7,500 per year for educational expenses for up to two years, and is a great way for students to build toward other research awards like the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. Please encourage budding researchers in your classes and labs to visit the Scholarship's website as soon as possible so that we can begin conversations about their applications.
We are also creating a Prestigious Awards community in Classes to advertise opportunities and events and to share resources to assist students with applications. Please encourage all students to fill out this form to join the Community.
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For questions contact Moira Egan, PhD, Director of Prestigious Awards and Fellowships, at megan@pace.edu. | | | | |