With a shared focus on increasing the number of women in STEM from diverse backgrounds, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) announces the recipients of the Clare Boothe Luce Graduate Fellowships, a prestigious award aimed at supporting women pursuing doctoral studies in science, engineering, and mathematics.
The two recipients of the Clare Boothe Luce Graduate Fellowships for the 2024 academic year are Laura Londono Fandino, a native of Colombia and Ecuador, and Becks Lopez, hailing from San Diego, California with Mexican heritage.
Laura Londono Fandino
Fandino's journey is one of resilience and determination and was featured in this article by the UN Refugee Agency. Having moved to Providence, Rhode Island, as a refugee under the United Nations Resettlement Program, Laura taught herself English within a year and graduated from high school with honors. She later earned her bachelor's degree in physics from Rhode Island College and participated in WPI's Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Site in Clean Energy Science and Technology. Her long-term goal is to apply to NASA’s Astronaut Program.
Fandino’s advisor, Lyubov Titova, professor of physics, says, “Laura is a dreamer who works hard to overcome any challenges life throws at her on her way to achieving her dream. She first came to our lab as an REU researcher, and I was impressed with her skills as an experimentalist: she just figures things out and makes them work, said Titova. She is also a wonderful team member and a leader who loves to bring people together. Her life-long goal is to work at NASA, and I hope that a PhD in physics will set her on a path to fulfilling her dreams.”
Becks Lopez
Lopez, with a master’s degree in applied mathematics from the University of Washington and a bachelor's degree from Marist College, brings a wealth of experience to their role as a first-year PhD student in WPI's Data Science program. With a diverse research background, including stints at the National Science Foundation and Argonne National Laboratory, Lopez is currently engaged in pioneering research under the mentorship of Elke Rundensteiner, focusing on utilizing physical health data to screen for mental health concerns.
“Not only is Becks excelling in her academic studies right out of the gate, but she has also fully embraced the challenge of jumping into her own research and becoming an active member of my team since day one,” said Rundensteiner. “In addition, she has accepted the opportunity to help mentor a team of undergraduate students on their major qualifying project in data sciences. This is the first time in my 28 years at WPI that a newly arriving PhD student has shown the interest and courage to help mentor a student team in their first graduate year.”
Since its establishment in 1989, the Clare Boothe Luce Program has been a beacon of support for women in traditionally male-dominated fields. The Clare Boothe Luce Graduate Fellowship provides full tuition, stipend, health fee, and funds for professional development for two years of doctoral study, with WPI providing support after the initial two years. Recipients also benefit from close mentorship from faculty and peer mentors, fostering connectedness and academic and professional success.
"WPI is deeply committed to fostering diversity and inclusion in STEM fields," said Jean King, Peterson Family Dean of Arts and Sciences. "These fellowships not only support outstanding women like Laura and Becks in their academic pursuits but also serve as a testament to our dedication to providing a welcoming and supportive environment for women in science and engineering."
WPI's dedication to gender diversity in STEM is further evidenced by its various efforts aimed at recruitment, retention, and career development for female graduate students, including the Women’s Impact Network as well as various Innovative and Inclusion Community initiatives.
For more information about WPI's Clare Boothe Luce Graduate Fellowship program and its initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion in STEM, visit https://www.wpi.edu/academics/graduate/funding-opportunities/Clare-Boothe-Luce-Graduate-Fellowship.
