Connors will lead a team of 10 in their STEM research project
October 2022 – Drew University senior Jamie Lynn Connors C’23 has been selected as a team lead in the New Jersey Governor’s STEM Scholars program.
As part of the highly-selective program, Connors will lead a team research project; attend conferences, field trips, and panel conversations to explore the state’s STEM educational and career opportunities; and meet thought leaders in STEM academia, government, and industry.
Connors, a math major, was anonymously nominated by a Drew professor, which comes as no surprise to her given the support she’s received.
“I’m confident Drew’s faculty is the reason I had this opportunity, and the confidence to pursue it,” she said.
“I have made great strides in the research project proposed to the Research & Development Council thanks to Sarah Abramowitz, [John H. Evans Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science], and Jon Kettenring, [RISE fellow]. Without the guidance of these mentors, I would neither have discovered my passion for research nor be as involved in the STEM community as I am now.
Connors noted the mentorship from Abramowitz and Kettenring went beyond the fall and spring semester schedule, but continued throughout the summer as she conducted research in the Drew Summer Science Institute.
When she was named a 2022-23 Governor’s STEM Scholar, Connors took it one step further and applied to be a team lead.
“Although I’ve conducted research before, I’ve never had people working under me,” she said. “As a team lead, I will no longer be the one receiving the instructions from Drew professors and advisors, but, rather, dishing them out to my STEM Scholar project teammates. For the rest of the academic year, I will delegate to a handful of high schoolers by providing advice, instruction, and resources to—hopefully—have a completed research project by May. The transition from mentee to mentor is both intimidating and exciting.”
After Drew, Connors plans to pursue a PhD in statistics and continue doing research.
“Once I begrudgingly leave academia, I want to work as a statistical or mathematical researcher, basically playing around with numbers for a living. What I’ll research, however, I’ll figure out later!”
Perhaps her time in the STEM Scholar program will help clear up the picture.
See Connors’ STEM Scholar bio here.
