Eleven FDU students have been awarded technical scholarships funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The first of their kind, these new awards are part of NSF’s program for American students with a proven aptitude in computer science, engineering or mathematics.

Peter Astor, mathematics (Metro), working with Grants Office Director Pat Verost (Metro/Flor), and Seonja Kim, mathematics (Metro), submitted a proposal, “Undergraduate Scholarships in Mathematics: A Workforce Development Program,” to the NSF. Astor outlined the new academic program in pharmaceutical biostatistics, garnering support from Merck, Hoffmann-La Roche, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis and the New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

NSF responded favorably by granting to FDU $400,000 in support, the bulk of which is for undergraduate scholarships within a four-to-five-year period. “The criteria for student selection,” said Astor, “were to be financial need and documented evidence of aptitude in mathematics. NSF liked the development of a statistics program combined with computer science course work that could lead to high-paying jobs in the U.S. for people with bachelor’s degrees.”

The first Computer Science, Engineering or Mathematics Scholarships (CSEMS) were awarded to eight mathematics and computer science majors in January, with three additional students receiving awards for spring 2004. The awards, up to $3,125 each, per year, generally double the federal financial aid that a student can receive from the U.S. government.

Each awardee maintained a minimum grade point ratio of 3.00 in all mathematics and science courses, and each participates in the pharmaceutical biostatistics program. The students have agreed to share their knowledge and passion with others — they will either tutor a younger student or make a presentation at their hometown high school or community college. The awardees are Metropolitan Campus students Julia Aviza, Cristina Brescia, Kenneth Bruno, Neela Chari, Richard Dolinsky, Maytham Ghavami, Holly Jones, Chanelle LaCross, Dong Lee, Dhaval Patel and Khalif Smith.

Astor indicated that there is significant scholarship money in this program going unclaimed. “I believe that biologists, chemists, psychologists, computer scientists and business majors with a quantitative bent could take advantage of this program by having a double major,” he said.

February 2004

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Flor =
College at Florham, Madison, N.J.

Metro =
Metropolitan Campus, Teaneck, N.J.

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