Stony Brook University's New Diversity in STEM Effort: 50 Scholarships

STONY BROOK, NY — Stony Brook University announced they are launching a new major initiative to improve diversity in STEM careers. The university received a $56.6 million gift from the Simons Foundation, designed to improve access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers for underrepresented students.

The university announced the new initiative and the creation of 50 new scholarships on Wednesday at a news conference.

"We could not be more excited and grateful to enter this new partnership with the Simons Foundation. The Stony Brook Simons STEM Scholars Program will allow young people to reach their potential as they bring new, much-needed diversity of perspective to science and innovation," Stony Brook University president Maurie McInnis said in a news release.

"At any given time, we will have 200 future STEM leaders on our campus, forging their way in the STEM fields and setting the stage for future generations of students to follow in their footsteps. I cannot wait to welcome our first cohort to Stony Brook in 2023."

The Simons Foundation's mission is "to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences.

The foundations founders, Jim and Marilyn Simons, said:

"We're proud to see the foundation taking steps to increase diversity in STEM fields. The support network, tight-knit community, and sense of belonging that students will find in this program will be life-changing. We're incredibly proud to be part of a program like this, with positive implications not just for Stony Brook, but for New York State and the broader scientific and mathematical communities."

The STEM Scholars Program will kick off in the fall of 2023 and accept 50 students annually, supporting them financially including on-campus housing in a dedicated environment, along with internship and stipend opportunities.

There will also be a "Summer Bridge Program for incoming freshmen, where students will acclimate to Stony Brook and become part of the Stony Brook Simons STEM Scholar community before formal coursework begins, meet the mentors and advisors who will support and guide them and become acquainted with their peers."

All of the STEM Scholars will receive four years of full educational scholarships. The students will also receive peer and faculty mentoring, career advising and access to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Although STEM careers are growing, Black and Hispanic STEM workers make up only 17 percent of STEM employees. Only 12 percent of full-time faculty at PhD-granting institutions are Black or Hispanic, according to Stony Brook University.