The STARS Program is pleased to welcome Dean Rosalinda Garcia as the new Administrative Director. The Science, Technology and Research Scholars (STARS) Program, administered by the Yale College Dean’s Office, is designed to support women, minority, economically underprivileged, and other historically underrepresented students in the sciences, engineering, and mathematics. The STARS program provides undergraduates an opportunity to combine course-based study, research, mentorship, networking, and career planning in the fields of science and technology. The program seeks to improve student performance and persistence rates in the fields of Biology, Chemistry, Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, and related majors, such as Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science. There are currently three components to the STARS Program: |
- The STARS I Program is tailored for first and second year undergraduates and provides course specific workshops for most beginning biology, math, physics, chemistry and computer courses.
- The STARS Summer Research Program combines individual on-campus research with academic support and course credit.
- The STARS II Program supports individual student research beginning in the spring semester of the junior year, through the following summer, and both semesters of the senior year.
STARS students at all levels enjoy a number of structured enrichment activities during term time. Special dinners bring together scientists in various disciplines from Yale and other institutions, graduate and medical school panels provide guidance in career development, special study sessions and study breaks are offered, and a special year-end research symposium highlights the research of STARS students. In addition, all Junior and Senior scholars are provided the opportunity to attend and present their research at national and regional science conferences.
The STARS Program is coordinated by an Administrative Director, Rosalinda Garcia (Assistant Dean of Yale College) and a STARS Academic Team. The STARS Academic Team is comprised of Chair Dr. Kenneth Nelson (Lecturer and Research Scientist in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology), Dr. Maria Moreno (Associate Research Scientist and Instructor in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology), and Dr. Kailas Purushothaman (Associate Research Scientist in Diagnostic Radiology).
Since its inception in 1995, STARS has provided academic enrichment to freshmen and sophomores. With the development of STARS II, the program now provides similar support to juniors and seniors, as well as to an increasing number of summer fellows. More than 100 students each year participate in the academic year and summer STARS programs.
For further information about the STARS Program, please contact Dr. Kenneth Nelson at kenneth.nelson@yale.edu.
