Pine Manor College

Grant from National Science Foundation will Benefit Pine Manor College BioScholars Program

A $574,000 grant to Pine Manor College from the National Science Foundation will be used over the next four years to implement the BioScholars Program, providing financial aid, special support and extra assistance to about 20 students of promise in the Biology program to help them be successful in their field. 

The BioScholars program will begin serving approximately 10 students this fall and continue for four years, admitting a second cohort of 10 in the fall of 2009 and following them through to graduation in the spring of 2012. These students will be enrolled in an Honors Colloquium in Biology designed to deepen students’ understanding of what it means to study science in a liberal arts context, as well as to introduce them to the range of career possibilities in the sciences through readings and interactions with successful women scientists employed in a variety of venues. In addition, a Biology tutor will be hired in the College’s Learning Resource Center to serve their academic needs. Workshops will also be provided to the PMC BioScholars to assist them to obtain scientific internships, admission to graduate schools and/or employment in one of the life sciences. 

Perhaps most importantly, each participant will receive a scholarship to help close the gap between their existing aid and the cost of attending—an amount that currently averages $8,333 per Biology student per year.  This award will be adjusted annually (to a maximum of $10,000) and follow each BioScholar through to graduation as long as need and eligibility continue.

“We are thrilled to announce our first federal grant,” said Pine Manor President Gloria Nemerowicz. “Not only will the funding from the National Science Foundation allow some of our promising young women to reach their full potential, but we believe it will also enhance our communities when these young women – made up of groups underrepresented in the sciences: minority and low-income women – advance to help to diversify the scientific workforce and bring new perspectives to research, teaching and commerce in the fields of biology and biotechnology.”