Beckman Scholars Program at Vanderbilt University
In 2008, Vanderbilt received its first support from the Arnold & Mabel Beckman Foundation to support undergraduate research in Chemistry and Biological Sciences. We have been fortunate to receive several renewals of the program since that time, graduating a superb group of scholar-scientists. The program is directed by Prof. Jeff Johnston (Chemistry), along with co-Director Lauren Parker-Jackson (Biological Sciences).
Vanderbilt is one of the select universities named in 2025 and will be supported in 2025-2028 for support by the Beckman Scholars Program. Beckman Scholars conduct laboratory research for two summers and one academic year (15 consecutive months). Students receive stipends of $6,800 each summer and $4,600 for the academic year. A total of six Scholars will be supported in 2025-2028. Two Scholars will be named in each of the three years (2025/26/27).
“15 years of the Beckman Scholars Program: Providing unparalleled undergrad research opportunities” April Evans, College of Arts & Science News 2024
Beckman Scholars Tammy Le, Charu Balamurugan, Ahmed Imami, Camilla Guel, Sarah Hourihan and Professor Jeffrey Johnston. (Liz Chagnon / Vanderbilt University)
2026-2027 VU Beckman Scholars
2026-2027 VU Beckman Scholar: Jaida Moore
Jaida Moore is a junior majoring in Biochemistry and Chemical Biology. She grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, and joined the Plate Lab in the summer of 2025. Her proposed research focuses on investigating the dynamic protein interactions of the potassium ion channel Kv11.1 using mass spectrometry in tandem with chemical biology approaches for protein labeling. Uncovering the mechanisms underlying protein interaction dysfunction encourages therapeutic developments for protein-misfolding diseases. On campus, she is involved in the National Society for Black Women in Medicine and the Vanderbilt NAACP Chapter. In her free time, Jaida enjoys reading, video games, crocheting, and spending time with her friends.
2026-2027 VU Beckman Scholar: Abigail “Abby” Faulhaber
Abby Faulhaber is a double major in Chemical Engineering and Chemistry. She grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania and joined the Schuppe Group in the Fall of 2024 to develop sustainable methods for organic synthesis. Her work in the lab has involved using Cr(III) complexes to enable transformations with a single catalyst and in a redox-neutral manner. She plans on continuing her work on sustainable catalysis in graduate school, with the goal of becoming a professor. Outside of school, Abby enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, spending time outdoors, and reading books. 2025-2026 VU Beckman Scholars
2025-2026 VU Beckman Scholar: William Kim
William received his BA at Vanderbilt University majoring in Chemistry. He grew up in Portland, Oregon and joined the D.E. Kim Research Group in the spring of 2024 to study synthetic organic chemistry. Within this realm, William’s research is focused on the synthesis of complex natural products of high biological relevance. Work towards this end enables the easier access of important chemicals while also increasing the knowledge of chemical reactivity important for many fields. Outside of the lab, William volunteers at Vanderbilt Medicine’s Shade Tree Clinic and enjoys reading and long-distance running.
2025-2026 VU Beckman Scholar: Galen Wei
Galen Wei recently graduated with a double major in computer science and chemistry. He is from Gallatin, TN, although he spent his earliest years in Edmonton, Alberta. He joined the Yang lab in the fall of 2023 to pursue research in the intersection of chemistry and computation. His proposed research will cover the prediction of enzyme kinetic constants from amino acid sequences and SMILES strings using deep learning, with the goal of identifying enzymatic reactions with enhanced reactivity or selectivity. His additional research interests include document understanding, pure mathematics, and geometric deep learning. Outside of school, Galen enjoys solving crossword puzzles, playing the piano, and climbing.