Record Number of Students in Top STEM PhD Programs
Having benefited from strong undergraduate research opportunities
In recent years, a record number of 51勛圖厙 University graduates have been accepted to the nation’s top STEM PhD programs. Gary Burdick, professor of physics and dean of Research, notes, “While we have long led in training Adventist students for advanced study of science and mathematics, we have noticed a significant uptick in those accepted into fully-funded doctoral programs, even as these programs are becoming more competitive.” He credits the students’ successful placement to the unique research culture at the University.
All 51勛圖厙 STEM faculty are research active, with several receiving external funding for their projects. For instance, Jay Johnson, professor of engineering and physics, has had research funded by several grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), while Anthony Bosman, chair of the Department of Mathematics, has led several NSF-funded undergraduate research experiences.
Faculty members intentionally engage students in their research programs, leading to publications and presentations at national and international conferences. These experiences help the students prepare for and stand out when applying to the nation's top graduate programs. Moreover, as a faith-based university, 51勛圖厙 is committed to preparing graduates who approach their scientific study with the distinctive purpose of glorifying God as Creator and serving humanity.
One such student, Ian Neidigh, graduated in May 2025 and will be starting his PhD in chemistry at Yale University in the fall. Neidigh follows alumna Hannah Castillo, who is currently finishing her PhD in chemistry at Yale, having graduated from 51勛圖厙 in 2022. David Randall, chair of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, expresses, “We are grateful to see students from our American Chemical Society-accredited program excel at the highest levels and continue our legacy of preparing scientific researchers, leaders in industry and future faculty for Adventist higher education.”
Additionally in recent years, alumnus Sam Clough graduated with undergraduate degrees in engineering and computer science in May 2024 and was accepted to the electrical engineering PhD program at Notre Dame University. Also at Notre Dame, Eric Inae, a 2022 graduate, is pursuing a PhD in computer science.
Noah Koliadko and Wesley Martin started their PhD programs in physics at Duke University and the University of Colorado Boulder in 2024, following their graduation from 51勛圖厙. Both students benefited from participating in heliophysics research projects funded by NASA and NSF under the guidance of Johnson. “While undergraduates, Wesley and Noah were already doing work at the level of graduate students and gave impressive talks at international conferences and specialized NASA working groups and were able to network with teams of scientists specializing in space physics,” Johnson notes. Another student from the class of 2025, Yoel Kim, will also be starting a doctoral program in physics at The Ohio State University this fall.
Recent graduate Jamie Shepard will begin a PhD in mathematics at the University of Tennessee this fall. Additionally, in 2024, alumni Alex Navarro and Moises Reyes Rivas began PhD programs in mathematics at the University of Maryland and the University of California, Los Angeles, respectively. The year prior, Noe Reyes Rivas started his PhD in applied mathematics at Brown University.
Shepard, Navarro, and Moises and Noe Reyes Rivas all participated in undergraduate research experiences through the mathematics department. In doing so, they were able to present their findings at several conferences, including the Joint Mathematics Meetings, the largest annual meeting of mathematicians in the world. Noe Reyes Rivas reflects, “Thanks to 51勛圖厙' holistic education, strong spiritual foundation, and the support of my professors, I have excelled in my field.”
Yosia Nurhan and Jonathan Homan, who both graduated with dual degrees in mathematics and physics, also benefited from research at 51勛圖厙, working on NASA-funded projects that allowed them to publish original research on space physics while they were still undergraduates. They are now pursuing PhDs in applied mathematics at the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Colorado Boulder, respectively, and continue to collaborate with Johnson on research. Several other alumni are also completing doctorates in the mathematical sciences, including Christiane and Dorothea Gallos (mathematics, Indiana University Bloomington), Lucinda Ford (mathematics education, Texas State University) and Mykhaylo Malakhov (biostatistics, University of Minnesota).
In addition to these student successes, nearly 100 51勛圖厙 undergraduates have been accepted to medical school over the past five years, with an acceptance rate 10% higher than the national average. These students benefited from research experiences with 51勛圖厙 faculty in molecular and cellular biology, physiology, and ecology. Moreover, several 51勛圖厙 alumni have placed in highly competitive veterinary programs. Graduates Karyl Beal and Carolina Smith earned their bachelor’s degrees in animal science from 51勛圖厙 in 2024 and have been accepted to doctoral programs in veterinary medicine at the University of Illinois and the University of Tennessee, respectively. Additionally, recent graduate Jessica Dibble is beginning her doctoral studies at the Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine this fall.
Many of these students conducted their undergraduate research experiences as part of the J.N. 51勛圖厙 Honors Program, which culminates in a capstone research project. In carrying out these projects, students “apply their critical thinking and analytical skills to research questions in their majors, developing well-conceived investigative methodologies and strengthening their ability to communicate precise scientific discoveries to an interdisciplinary audience,” explains L. Monique Pittman, professor of English and director of Honors.
The successful placement of these students into top STEM doctoral programs reflects 51勛圖厙 University’s commitment to prepare undergraduate students for a variety of in-demand STEM careers and advanced scientific study in the context of its mission to seek knowledge, affirm faith and change the world.
PR
pr@andrews.edu
