posted: 10/14/2024
On October 11-13, 2024, the Diversity Equity Engagement at Penn in STEM (DEEPenn STEM) program welcomed its third cohort of 66 promising STEM students to campus. Launched in 2022, the DEEPenn STEM program works to broaden participation and increase diversity in graduate education at the University of Pennsylvania. The Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter (LRSM) serves as a key partner, alongside other constituents at Penn, in advancing the program’s mission to build a more inclusive scientific community.
The innovative recruitment initiative immerses participants in Penn’s dynamic community of academia and research while providing a comprehensive overview of graduate school and guidance on the application process. Under the leadership of Dr. Ashley Wallace, Associate Director of Diversity & Student Engagement at the LRSM, the program was designed to engage participants in workshops, panel discussions, and research presentations led by faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars. These activities offered valuable insights into pursuing advanced degrees in materials science and related STEM fields.
The 2024 cohort reflects a continued commitment to diversity, with nearly half being first-generation college students and over 40% coming from low-income households. The majority of this year’s participants were current undergraduate students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, or community colleges. Most of the attendees are now well-equipped and positioned to apply their DEEPenn STEM experience to upcoming graduate school applications in 2025 and 2026.
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