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Chem Scholars

The Chem Scholars Program was established in 2011 to recruit and retain high-achieving chemistry students and to increase the number of chemistry students pursuing PhD or MD-PhD degrees, with an emphasis on under-represented students. Students involved in the program meet monthly to learn about summer research programs and post-baccalaureate opportunities, receive career advice, participate in peer-to-peer mentoring and receive professional development and mentoring from Chemistry faculty.

The Chem Scholars program is designed to support high-achieving students based on academic merit. Students must meet the following criteria: 

  1. Full-time Chemistry students maintaining a 3.0 GPA or higher
  2. Demonstration of academic competency in Chemistry and/or research productivity
  3. Interest in pursuing a career in chemistry or a graduate or professional degree beyond UWF
  4. Participation in outreach/mentoring activities relevant to the study of Chemistry
  5. Have an interest in the advancement of underrepresented groups in Chemistry
  6. Taken General Chemistry I

Chem Scholars applications are closed for Spring 2024. They will open again in Fall 2024. 

If you have any questions, please contact Christina Fields-Wolf at cfields@uwf.edu. 

 

Chemistry Scholar student

Program Highlights

The learning community is modeled after the Meyerhoff Scholars Program, which was established by Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and the Meyerhoff Graduate Fellows Program directed by Dr. Michael Summers, a UWF Chemistry alumnus. The program incorporates four key components: academic and social integration; knowledge and skill development; support and motivation; and monitoring and advising.

The Chem Scholars Program has positively impacted the entire department by catalyzing an increase in the number of chemistry majors, the percentage of underrepresented majors, and the percentage of all majors matriculating to graduate school, especially underrepresented students. The underrepresented Chemistry graduates increased from an average of 6% during 2009-2012 to an average 30% during 2012-2017. The percentage of underrepresented students pursuing PhD degrees has increased from 0% during 2010-2012 to an average 60% in 2012-2017. 

“The success of the Chemistry Scholars Program is a direct reflection of our chemistry faculty’s passion for educating students through intense mentoring in combination with our students' fervent motivation to achieve their goals,” said Molek. “This combination creates an environment where students learn about research, scholarship and outreach opportunities, how to distinguish themselves from their peers and how to network with scientists at national conferences.”

For more information, please contact:

Karen Sinclair Molek, Ph.D.
Chair and Professor, Chemistry
Administrative Fellow for Student Engagement, Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering
MARC U*STAR Scholars, UWF STEM Scholars, and Chemistry Scholars Program Director
ksmolek@uwf.edu
850.474.2799

Christina Fields-Wolf
Program Coordinator
Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering
cfields@uwf.edu
850.857.6244