Worcester Polytechnic Institute received a $276,000 grant to support women starting their doctoral programs in STEM fields, where women have been historically underrepresented.
The grant, which comes from the Henry Luce Foundation in New York, will fund two graduate students entering computer science or physics programs for two years, according to WPI’s press release from March 24.
Along with a scholarship, recipients of the funding will receive mentorship from female faculty in the computer science and physics fields. They will become part of a wider cohort of scholars, allowing for professional development and networking.
WPI first received funding from the Henry Luce Foundation in 2016 in a $204,000 gift to promote research for undergraduate women in STEM.
“Supporting this effort at WPI shows we are a university that continues to be a vibrant academic and research environment with a campus culture that says that women can and do belong in STEM, and we are committed to specific initiatives offered to promote the success of women graduate students,” Jean King, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, said in a written statement.
