The opportunity to explore
The GRA Student Scholars program aims to prepare tomorrow's workforce
GRA offers undergraduate and graduate students in Georgia a way to gain invaluable experience working in a research lab alongside a top scientist.
It’s the GRA Student Scholars program, and it recruits students from across the state for real hands-on experience in the summer.
Research has shown that diversity of culture, background and perspectives strengthens teams, including those engaged in scientific exploration.
But some groups are underrepresented in STEM field research. For example:
- A National Science Foundation report showed that Black, Hispanic and Native American people comprise 31% of the U.S. population but just 11% of the science and engineering workforce.
- The 2019 American Community Survey revealed that women comprised just 27 percent of STEM employees, compared to 48 percent of all workers.
The GRA Student Scholars program seeks to contribute to a solution.
A pilot cohort in 2021 allowed 10 Georgia students to work in the lab of a GRA Eminent Scholar or GRA Distinguished Investigator. See how some students describe that experience >
In summer 2022, the program was expanded to 15 students from across the state. To recruit the second cohort, GRA partnered with The Peach State Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, a UGA-led coalition working to increase participation of students underrepresented in STEM fields.
“Our partnership with Peach State LSAMP allows us to build on the success of our pilot effort for the Student Scholars,” says GRA President Susan Shows. “LSAMP's expertise and network will help GRA extend its reach to offer underrepresented students from across the state real hands-on experience in university research.”
Summer of 2022 Cohort
ELORM ADZADI
Attends: University of Georgia
Worked in: John Morris Lab at Shepherd Center
DIANAH ANDERSON
Attends: Savannah State University
Worked in: C. J. Tsai Lab at UGA
JANELLE BOOKER
Attends: University of Georgia
Worked in: Ignacio Sanz Lab at Emory
NIYAH BROWN
Attends: University of Georgia
Worked in: Lawrence Boise Lab at Emory
ASHLEY-KAYE FONKENG
Attends: University of Georgia
Worked in: Ted Ross Lab at UGA
AUDREE GARRETT
Attends: Fort Valley State University
Worked in: Robin Buell Lab at UGA
LINDA HABERSHAM
Attends: University of Georgia
Worked in: Shafiq Khan Lab at Clark Atlanta University
RIAH IVY
Attends: Kennesaw State University
Worked in: Bill Koros Lab at Georgia Tech
ASHTON JACKSON
Attends: University of Georgia
Worked in: Ted Ross Lab at UGA
DEMETRIUS JELKS
Attends: University of Georgia
Worked in: Neal Weintraub Lab at Augusta University
J'LYN MARTIN
Attends: Kennesaw State University
Worked in: Raeda Anderson Lab at Shepherd Center
KA'LIYAH MORGAN
Attends: University of Georgia
Worked in: Brad Willingham Lab at Shepherd Center
BRANDON REECE
Attends: University of Georgia
Worked in: Neal Weintraub Lab at Augusta University
TIMOTHY ROUNDTREE
Attends: Kennesaw State University
Worked in: Art Edison Lab at UGA
JAMIYA THOMAS
Attends: Savannah State University
Worked in: Art Edison Lab at UGA
Details about the GRA Student Scholars program
Students who are selected as GRA Student Scholars:
- Learn and perform protocols and tasks directly related to the research project(s) design
- Confer with lab colleagues and the lead scientist on objectives, methods
- Attend meetings and/or conferences pertaining to the research
- Prepare a scientific poster of the research problem and process worked on (end of summer)
- Prepare a brief report of the summer experience (in written or video form)
GRA Student Scholars receive a monetary stipend as compensation and, in some instances, campus housing for the summer
To qualify, students must be:
- Enrolled in a Georgia university for at least one semester in the current academic year
- A declared major in a STEM field (or interest in pursuing a STEM field)
- Legally eligible to work in the United States
