News

The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation has named Trinity College as a recipient of a Beckman Scholars Program award in the amount of $156,000. The significant award will support students over the next three years as they conduct independent science research with faculty mentors.

Members of the Trinity College community recently attended The Connecticut Forum’s “Creative Minds” program, featuring a panel discussion with actor Nick Offerman, musician Jeff Tweedy, and poet Tracy K. Smith. Trinity is an education partner of The Connecticut Forum, which is presented on stage at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Hartford.

Assistant Professor of Neuroscience Sally Bernardina Seraphin, who joined the Trinity faculty in 2020 and was appointed to a tenure-track position in 2021, wants to inspire her students. “I’m really excited to be part of undergraduate students’ ‘light bulb moments,’” she said. “There’s nothing like seeing an individual finally have all of their studies culminate in a revelation about the universe.”

Thirty students in the Class of 2024 have earned the designation of Deans’ Scholars, recognizing outstanding academic achievement in their first year at Trinity. Students remain Deans’ Scholars through the end of their sophomore year.

Assistant Professor of Computer Science Chandranil Chakraborttii, who joined the Trinity College faculty in fall 2021, says computer science can be applied to many different fields. “It allows students to think logically, which will help them in their areas of expertise,” he said. Chakraborttii is using his research and industry connections to teach students about artificial intelligence and storage systems.

Trinity College engineering majors teamed up to participate this fall in Make48, a national collaborative inventor challenge in which “Makers” compete to develop a new commercial product in a 48-hour invent-a-thon weekend. They had two days to plan, prototype, and pitch a new idea, all within the specifications of an assignment.

Trinity College has received a $10 million gift from former Trinity trustee and former Connecticut State Treasurer Francisco L. Borges ’74, H’20, his wife Luisa, and his four siblings to support financial aid for outstanding students who would not otherwise be able attend college.

Representing some of Trinity’s most accomplished students, this year’s cohort of President’s Fellows is a diverse group of 32 scholars from the Class of 2022.

Associate Professor of Chemistry Michelle Kovarik and Associate Professor of Mathematics Per Sebastian Skardal will collaborate on a new research project supported by a three-year grant of $293,514 awarded by the National Science Foundation.

Suzanne Carpe Elías ’22 and Kathryn Russell ’22 have each been awarded a grant from the TriBeta National Biological Honor Society that will support laboratory research work for their senior honors theses in biology.