Ten STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) students at Indiana Wesleyan University had the opportunity on Aug. 30 to spend time at Eli Lilly and Company—a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company headquartered in Indianapolis— exploring what life as a research scientist is like.
Students were able to learn about drug discovery, spend time with four Lilly research scientists and take an in-depth tour of Lilly’s facilities. Organized by Associate Professor of Chemistry Stephen Leonard, Ph.D., the formative experience aimed to motivate young STEM majors and to help sharpen their goals towards entering STEM careers.
“This was an inspiring opportunity for our students, offering a fresh perspective on the possibilities of STEM careers,” said Dr. Matt Kreitzer, professor of Biology. “Ultimately, these are the kinds of experiences we hope further cultivate the passions of these young scientists to continue pursuing careers in STEM.”
This experience is part of IWU’s STEM program funded by a National Science Foundation S-STEM award. The grant provides scholarships to assist academically talented students to earn Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology, Chemistry or Physics from IWU, as well as supportive co-curricular pillars that work in synergy to increase student success in entering the STEM workforce.
For more information about IWU’s Division of Natural Sciences, visit www.iwuscience.com/.