Hobart and William Smith Colleges

29 September 2016 Saravia 16 Earns Prestigious Sloan Scholarship

Upon her recent acceptance to the University of Iowas Ph.D. program in microbiology, Fatima Saravia 16 was named a recipient of a competitive scholarship from the UI/ Sloan University Center of Exemplary Mentoring.

A partnership with theAlfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Sloan Center at Iowa is one of five such resources nationally and is dedicated to building a university-wide network of faculty committed to minority outreach and education.

During her application and interview process, Saravia met with her future professors and mentors and saw that I would be entering a close-knit department full of faculty and peers [who are] eager to help me develop as a researcher, she says. Not only did the department make me feel welcomed and comfortable, but the trip allowed me to confirm that I could see myself living in Iowa City, which was another crucial component when I was considering graduate schools.

As a first-year student at HWS, Saravia took both a biology intro course and an advanced chemistry course, and I knew that I wanted to continue exploring both fields.

After declaring a biochemistry major at HWS, Saravia worked as an undergraduate summer researcher at Cornells New York State Agricultural Experimental Station and as a summer research student alongside Associate Professor of Biology Patricia Mowery.

At HWS I was able to make connections with the faculty within the biology and chemistry departments who guided me through my four years, she says. Through these research experiences I was able to confirm my passion for research.

The photo above features Fatima Saravia 16 working in the lab at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station.