Moderna grants $54K to FSU for student research fellows

Photo | Courtesy of Fitchburg State University Researcher Stephanie Pelletier at Fitchburg State University

Write a Comment

By Timothy Doyle

The Moderna Charitable Foundation has granted $54,000 to Fitchburg State University to fund a research fellowship program aimed at increasing the retention and graduation rates of traditionally underserved populations.

The program, led by the biology and chemistry department at the university, will fund six fellows per semester for three years, according to a Monday press release from FSU.
The fellows will work 10-hours a week performing experiments in the lab, analyzing data, preparing for weekly presentations, and career development activities. They will receive one-one-one mentorship and receive a stipend and academic credit for their work.

“We are grateful for the support of the Moderna Charitable Foundation for this initiative that will lead to meaningful educational experiences for our students,” Fitchburg State President Richard Lapidus said in the press release. “The faculty mentorship and instruction that is built into this program will encourage student success while fostering the next generation of researchers.”

The Moderna Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by the board of Cambridge-based pharma giant Moderna in 2022 with an initial endowment of $50 million.