The University of the District of Columbia is excited to announce its inaugural cohort of Beckman Scholars for 2024, marking the launch of the prestigious Beckman Scholars Program at UDC. Generously funded by the Arnold & Mabel Beckman Foundation, this program is a testament to our commitment to advancing scientific research. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Beckman Scholars Selection Committee for their dedication and hard work. We are proud to introduce the two scholars who have demonstrated exceptional promise and commitment to scientific inquiry:

Harry Martinez-Santos, a junior majoring in Biology, will be collaborating with Dr. Samuel Waters on a study titled “Investigating the Role of Gastrulation Brain Homeobox 2 (GBX2) Transcription Factor in Prostate Cancer: A Study on Direct Target Gene Expression.” This research aims to explore the mechanisms underlying prostate cancer development by investigating the expression of direct target genes influenced by the GBX2 transcription factor.

Adrion Celey, a double major in Biology and Chemistry, will be working with Dr. Alexandra Taraboletti on a project titled “Lipidomic Analysis of Extended PFAS Toxicity In Vitro.” This study focuses on analyzing the extended toxicity effects of PFAS compounds on lipids, providing valuable insights into their impact on cellular membranes and lipid pathways.