Since the Fall of 2013, Spelman College's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry has provided funding for mentored research in the department through the Research Initiation Award, an endowed fund. Chemistry and Biochemistry Scholars are selected each year under this award to serve as research assistants with a faculty mentor.
The students receive a stipend in addition to internship opportunities, travel assistance, and professional development that aligns with the field. Between 2013 and 2024, almost 50 students have participated in this research program with several students participating for more than one year. Students who participated in the program have gone into industry, graduate school, medical school, and other STEM related fields after graduating from Spelman. A small sampling of the students that have matriculated are featured here.
Rosine Dushime, C'2014
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Biomedical Sciences M.S.
Process Engineer, Intel Corporation
Lydia Ruffner, C'2014
Ph.D., Northeastern University, Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Senior Research Scientist at Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Emma Iradukunda, C'2015
Ph.D., University of Georgia, Chemistry
Application Scientist at Scillengence
Acarie Jenkins, C'2016
Laboratory scientist/toxicologist at Total Toxicology laboratories
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Albro-Falconer-Manley Science Center Rooms 343-347
350 Spelman Lane, S.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30314
404-270-5744
elements@spelman.edu
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Alexandria Sutton, C'2016
Wright State University
Boonshoft School of Medicine, M.D.
Angelar Muthike, C'2017
Ph.D., 2022 University of Michigan
Senior Research Specialist, Dow
Daphney Sihwa, C'2017
Ph.D. Candidate, Quantitative and Systems Biology
University of California Merced
Jada Hoyle Gardner, C'2017
Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Florida A&M University
Post-doc and First Fellow at Emory University
Yvette Kayirangwa, C'2017
Ph.D. Auburn University in Analytical Chemistry
Visiting Research Scholar, Auburn University Analytical Chemistry Laboratory
Morgann Adams, C'2017
M.S. in Health Sciences Drexel University College of Medicine
Outreach Coordinator, University of Pennsylvania
Phoenix Williams, C'2017
Ph.D. University of Michigan, Chemistry
Patience Mukashyaka, C'2018
The Jackson Laboratory, Computer Vision and AI
Ph.D. candidate
Chloe White, C'2019
Master of Education, University of Texas at Austin
Director of Community Engagement, The Branson School
Taylor Curry, C'2020
Chemist at Artivion
Dakarai Saunders, C'2020
Master of Science, Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University
Clinical Trial Associate, Moderna
Gygeria Manuel, C'2020
M.D./Ph.D. Student at University of Washington
and Morehouse School of Medicine
Diane Ingabire, C'2021
Ph.D. Candidate, Virgina Commonwealth University