The program connects STEM students in the US, Japan, Australia and India
Two Arizona State University students are among 25 students in the country awarded a Quad Fellowship, an initiative created by the United States, Australia, Japan and India to build relationships with the next generation of scientists. and technologies.
Samantha Harker, a first-year PhD student in neuroscience, and Xaimarie Hernandez Cruz, who is pursuing her doctorate in industrial engineering, are among the winners named in a joint announcement Friday from the White House and the other Quad governments.
“On behalf of the entire academic community, I congratulate Samantha and Xaimarie on being two of the 25 students in the United States named to the inaugural cohort of the Quad Fellowship,” said Nancy Gonzales, ASU executive vice president and university provost. “Their academic pursuits and research areas represent the diversity of STEM scholarship pioneered at ASU and reflect the university’s charter commitment to making a positive impact for the communities we serve. We are proud that Samantha and Xaimarie will represent ASU and the United States through their participation in this exciting global initiative.
Harker said he was “surprised” to receive the fellowship.
“I’m really happy with the outcome and all the things it offers for me and everyone else,” he said.
Hernandez Cruz called the partnership a “great honor.”
“It was actually a great success,” he said. “I’m very happy about it.”
The Quad Fellowship, run by the philanthropic initiative Schmidt Futures, sponsors 100 master’s and doctoral students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Each Quad Fellow receives a one-time award of $50,000, which can be used for tuition, research, fees, books, room and board, and related academic expenses, such as research-related travel.
“This is in part to help these four countries maintain a competitive edge in STEM research,” said Kyle Mox, ASU’s associate dean of National Scholarship Advisement. “The basic premise is to develop long-term collaboration. These students are in very different fields and at different universities, but in the long run, they are thinking about their leadership role. They are thinking about the role of STEM research in all four countries.
Hernandez Cruz and Harker spent six months on the application process, which included several interviews. Mox said an important part of the application is showing how their research can be used to benefit society.
“They want to see evidence of leadership and vision,” Mox said. “It’s not just people who are good at punching numbers.”
Quad Fellows will meet next year to discuss their individual research, collaborate on ideas and meet top scientists, technologists and politicians.
Xaimarie Hernandez Cruz
“I’m really looking forward to that,” Hernandez Cruz said. “I am interested not only in my field and my research but also in other challenges that have occurred. It may be similar to what we are experiencing here in the United States. Maybe other students have come up with more creative solutions that we can use or maybe we already have solutions that they can use. From a cross-cultural perspective, that’s very compelling. “
Hernandez Cruz said his research centers on “market intelligence,” developing data-driven tools that help predict disruptive events that threaten food availability, such as current supply chain shortages.
“We want to get the events as early as possible so that the supply chain can be faster and we don’t see product shortages and price increases,” he said.
Since the data can be specific to certain regions, Hernandez Cruz said he is also working on a forecasting model that can be used in large areas.
“Covid just highlighted that this is something that needs to be addressed,” he said. “This is really important. COVID is something that I don’t think anyone could have predicted, in terms of the impact it could have. But it also leaves us with many lessons about the supply chain and how these traditional supply chains need to be adapted to be able to react to these events.
Harker’s research is driven from his own life. He said he is on the autism spectrum and in the past may have been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome.
Samantha Harker
Harker’s research looks at the cognitive differences that seniors on the autism spectrum may have and how they may be more likely to get Alzheimer’s disease or other neurological disorders. Harker said adults with autism are often overlooked because most people think of it as, “Oh, kids. Autism. That makes more sense.”
However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently estimated that more than 5.4 million adults in the US have an autism spectrum disorder – more than 2% of the general population.
“It’s a fast-growing group,” Harker said.
Harker, who participated in the Starbucks College Achievement Plan during her undergraduate years, also cited the lack of female representation in autism studies, saying there is a three-to-one, male-to-female bias. in research.
“Because of that, a lot of girls go undiagnosed,” said 18-year-old Harker, who started college when she was 14. The thing is that there is a lack of resources and research for autistic adults, and especially for girls.
“I know under those groups, so this is a factor that is very important to me. I hope to meet individuals who have a different perspective on disability advocacy and public policy as it differs from each of the Quad countries.
Mox said the selection of two students as Quad Fellows is an example of the opportunities at ASU.
“ASU is a big university, which means there’s something here for everyone,” he said. “On that scale, it’s easy to get lost. But also on that scale, if you choose to take the initiative and come and get involved, there are reliable resources here for students to put themselves anywhere they want
Top photo by Deanna Dent/ASU
