University of Arkansas at Little Rock

“In addition to scholarship money, this new program will create a learning community for the 18 scholars to participate in an intensive freshmen orientation, ongoing academic advising, mentoring, and optional research opportunities,” said Dr. Michael Gealt, dean of UALR’s College of Science and Mathematics.

The scholarships target bright, talented students who may not have considered majoring in the sciences.

“The program provides enough financial support that students can concentrate on their studies rather than dividing their time between school and a job,” said Dr. Janet Lanza, UALR professor of biology and principal investigator of the scholarship program.

Dr. Jim Winter, UALR professor in the Graduate Institute of Technology and co-investigator of the scholarship program, said the broader goal of the program is to produce more scientists for Arkansas’s economic future.

“This grant will enable UALR to train more students in fields identified as being critical for economic development,” Winter said. He and Lanza also collaborate in directing Arkansas STRIVE, a professional development program for Arkansas teachers of math, science, and technology.

“This support from the NSF, the nation’s premier science funding agency, shows that Lanza and Winter have established an excellent team of faculty and staff,” Gealt said. “These team members care about students and their futures – and they have infectious enthusiasm for science.”