Holy Cross Receives Competitive Science Grant

WORCESTER, Mass. – The College of the Holy Cross has been awarded a $77,200 grant from The Beckman Foundation. The grant, which significantly advances the education, research training and personal develop of students studying chemistry, biochemistry, and the biological and medical sciences, will provide four scholarships over the next three years to Holy Cross students. Holy Cross was selected as one of only nine institutions for the 2009-2012 grant cycle.

Emily Kinn, a member of the Holy Cross class of 2011, has been awarded the first Beckman Scholarship.

“The Beckman Scholarship is extremely competitive,” explains Daniel Bitran, associate professor of psychology and science coordinator. “Emily is near the top of a very competitive class of science students and being nominated for the competition is in and of itself quite an accomplishment.”

A biology major and biochemistry concentrator, Kinn will be working with Ann Sheehy, assistant professor of biology, on a project titled “The antiviral and mutagenic activity of APOBEC3G, an anti-HIV protein.” The Beckman Scholarship will provide Kinn with a stipend and a supplies and travel budget for doing research this summer, during the 2009-2010 academic year, and in the summer of 2010.

“This is exciting research because A3G (an enzyme) can potentially be used for HIV drug therapies in a new and improved way that circumvents the flaws in current therapeutic drugs for HIV patients,” says Kinn.

Part of the Beckman Scholarship is a stipend devoted to traveling each year. Kinn hopes to attend various HIV conferences across the country and also to attend lectures and conferences at UMASS Medical School.

On campus, the Needham native is involved with Student Programs for Urban Development (SPUD), the largest student-run community service organization on campus, as a volunteer at Quinsigamond Elementary School, Vernon Hill Elementary School and The Nativity School of Worcester. She also tutors calculus and organic chemistry on campus.

Established in 1997, each Beckman Scholarship is for $19,300 and is divided accordingly: $6,000 summer research stipend for each of two summers, $4,000 academic year research scholarship, $850 per summer for travel and supply funds, $1,600 for academic year travel and supply funds.