The College welcomes Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellows Conner Harper and Jacob Spies.
The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation has announced its 2022 class of Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellows in Chemical Sciences, individuals who underscore the Foundation's mission of supporting basic research in the chemical sciences and chemical instrumentation. They were selected after a three-part review led by a panel of scientific experts.
In total, the Foundation will award over $4M in funding over the next three years for 14 exceptional research fellows from nine universities and research institutions.
Beckman Postdoctoral Fellows
We are delighted to announce two fellowships were awarded to members of the UC Berkeley College of Chemistry community for continuing research on chemical instrumentation development.
Conner Harper, Ph.D. ’20, Chem (Evan Williams lab)
Harper’s research is centered on the emerging field of charge detection mass spectrometry (CDMS), a technique capable of weighing very large (MDa) molecules. Current projects include: building a next-generation CDMS instrument optimized for fast data acquisition, collaborations with molecular biology and biochemistry research groups using CDMS to study viruses and virus-like particles, and development of CDMS data analysis tools and techniques.
Jacob Spies, Ph.D. ’22. Chem @ Yale (Michael Zuerch lab)
Spies’s research is focused on developing new instrumentation combining high-field terahertz and solid-state high harmonic generation to study dynamics in strongly correlated materials at cryogenic temperatures. Specifically, these capabilities are well suited for magnetic materials with applications in spintronics.
“This program seeks out young scientists that can introduce new methods, processes and instrumentation to the scientific community. Congratulations to the 2022 class of Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellows – individuals who are meeting the program’s aims by doing research that is both important and innovative,” shared Dr. Anne Hultgren, Executive Director of the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation. “We look forward to providing them with support as they transition to independent research careers.”
The Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellowship provides salary and research support to postdoctoral scholars with the highest potential for success in an independent academic career in the chemical sciences, and to assist in their moves from mentored yet independent researchers to tenure-track positions. Funds for 2022 awardees will be issued this summer and extend over a period of up to three years.
About the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation
Located in Irvine, California, the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation supports researchers and nonprofit research institutions in making the next generation of breakthroughs in chemistry and the life sciences. Founded in 1978 by 20th century scientific instrumentation pioneer Dr. Arnold O. Beckman, the Foundation supports United States institutions and young scientists whose creative, high-risk, and interdisciplinary research will lead to innovations and new tools and methods for scientific discovery.