Marion B. Sewer Distinguished Scholarship for Undergraduates

The Marion B. Sewer Distinguished Scholarship for Undergraduates offers financial support to students who demonstrate an interest in the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology and enhance the diversity of science. Students whose social, educational or economic background adds to the diversity of the biomedical workforce or who show commitment to enhancing academic success of underrepresented students are eligible. It is expected that scholarship recipients remain engaged in ASBMB activities, even after the completion of the scholarship.

The scholarship provides $2,000 toward undergraduate tuition costs for one academic year and can be applied to fall or spring tuition of the year following scholarship award notification. Scholarship recipients will also receive professional development support the year they are awarded the scholarship. Up to ten scholarships will be awarded each academic year. Applications by individuals from underrepresented groups are encouraged, although all qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, gender, ethnicity or national origin.

The Marion B. Sewer Distinguished Scholarship for Undergraduates is named in honor of Dr. Marion Sewer, professor of pharmacology at the University of California, San Diego, and former deputy chair of the ASBMB Minority Affairs Committee, now named the Maximizing Access Committee. Dr. Sewer was a role model for students at all stages and was deeply committed to service within the scientific community.

The Marion B. Sewer Scholarship is made possible by generous donations from:

Eligibility

Applicants for the Marion B. Sewer Distinguished Scholarship for Undergraduates must:

• Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or permanent resident at the time of application. Students with DACA status also are eligible. Foreign nationals in the U.S. on a visa are not eligible.
• Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a full-time student at an accredited two- or four-year institution located in the U.S. or U.S. territories.
• Be an ASBMB member at the time of application. Undergraduates can join the ASBMB either directly or by joining an ASBMB Student Chapter at a participating institution.
• Declare a Biochemistry and/or Molecular Biology major, or related discipline.
• Recipients are eligible to apply for another Marion B. Sewer Distinguished Scholarship for Undergraduates in subsequent academic years.

How to apply

Under each required statement, there are guidelines that the reviewers will use to provide an overall score for that particular statement.

• Academic transcript
  Evaluation (1 point)
• Statement of research experience and career goals (1,000 words max).
  Evaluation (7 points)
  • Describe your research project or research experience.
  • Describe your career goals.
  • How will the scholarship help you achieve your career goals?
• Statement describing the need as determined by the educational, social, cultural or economic barriers (1,000 words max).
  Evaluation (8 points)
  • What relevant life experiences have contributed to barriers in your education?
  • What insights, perspectives or skills have you gained from these formative experiences that shape your education and career goals?
  • Do you present a case for need in a logical, interesting or otherwise appropriate way?
• Statement demonstrating the applicant’s commitment to diversity (1,000 words max).
  Evaluation (9 points)
  • How is your commitment to diversity reflected through volunteer engagement in diversity initiatives or other opportunities to enhance diversity?
  • Have you undertaken increased responsibilities that demonstrate commitment to diversity?
  • What is your sense of purpose to, or your personal motivation for, your commitment to diversity?
  • Have you conveyed genuine intentions for enhancing diversity?
  • In what ways have you or will you enhance diversity? What was or will be your impact?

See examples of contributions to diversity below.

Examples of contributions to diversity

The following are examples of ways a student could enhance diversity:

• The student successfully overcame a significant educational, social, cultural or economic disadvantage or adversity in a way that would enable them to contribute to the student’s campus community.
• The student has unique circumstances, experiences, skills or talents that would benefit others and would enhance the diversity of their program or campus.
• The student has a strong interest in undertaking research that would address issues of diversity as it relates to ethnic communities, social equity and justice or economic opportunity.
• The student has shown a deep commitment to working with others through activities such as mentoring, tutoring or volunteer efforts to promote access to higher education for underserved groups.

Examples of experiences that indicate a student had to overcome disadvantage or adversity include:

• Education in a school or college with limited facilities and educational opportunities.
• Low family income or working full time in high school or as an undergraduate to support family and/or to pay for college.
• No other person in the student’s immediate family completed college.
• Overcoming other social, cultural or economic barriers to pursue an education.
• The specific race, ethnicity, gender or national origin of a nominee is not considered in selection, although barriers arising from these personal circumstances are considered.