The Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D. Travel Fellowship Award at the World Biomaterials Congress in South Korea
Named in honor of a distinguished member of the Society for Biomaterials, the Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D. Travel Fellowship supports underrepresented undergraduate students studying the field of biomaterials. The Fellowship provides the resources needed to attend the annual meeting of the Society for Biomaterials, and to become a member of the Biomaterials Society. The goal of this initiative is to stimulate/encourage recipients to pursue a career in biomaterials.
The 2024 annual meeting of the Society for Biomaterials was held at the World Biomaterials Congress in South Korea on May 29, 2024. The Cato T. Laurencin Travel Fellowship recipients were Valentina Cespedes from University of Texas at Dallas and Daphna Fertil from Lafayette College. The fellowship includes registration, airfare, hotel, transfers, and meals to the 2024 World Biomaterials Congress
Studies conducted by the National Science Foundation and others have concluded that African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Native Alaskans are disproportionally underrepresented in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Their underrepresentation represents a barrier to excellence in these fields.
Dr. Laurencin has worked in areas of inclusion and equity throughout his career. His work includes creating and establishing programs involving students through high school, college, graduate, fellow, and faculty levels. He created and established the M-1 Mentoring Program at UConn with funding from the CT Black and Puerto Rican Legislative Caucus which provides protected time for faculty mentoring those underrepresented in STEM. Laurencin has received Diversity and Inclusion awards from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the Biomedical Engineering Society, and the Society for Biomaterials. Laurencin created the IDEAL pathway, which stands for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Anti-racism, and Learning, as a plan to achieve justice and equity. Various organizations are looking to adopt the IDEAL Pathway as they work to create and enhance systems to promote a more just society.
Laurencin is a professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Connecticut. He is the Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Endowed Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at UConn. He is the Chief Executive Office of The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering, an Institute created in his honor. He earned a B.S.E in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University, an M.D., magna cum laude, from Harvard Medical School, and his Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology from MIT.
Latest UConn Today
- UConn Hosts Sustainability Summit for Northeast Higher EducationConference highlights UConn's sustainability leadership among universities and colleges in the northeast.
- National Impact for CT AHEC and its Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars from UConn HealthUST/AHEC Scholars alumni from UConn's dental and medical schools present at the National AHEC Organization Conference.
- UConn Magazine: The Good NeighborMichelle (Bussiere) Puzzo ’98 (SAH) is transforming Connecticut communities with a growing business and a simple mantra, “Just help people that say they need help”
- Five UConn Student Teams Innovate Decarbonization This Summer Through Eversource-Supported ChallengeThe winning team will receive additional funding to continue their work throughout the academic year
- Professor John Mathieu to Receive Academy of Management Organizational Behavior Lifetime Achievement AwardMathieu was nominated for the award by a team of former Ph.D. students, who contacted 30 professional acquaintances and asked them to submit recommendations to the 21,000-member Academy. While Mathieu said he is proud to see the impact of his work, he is equally excited to have mentored so many outstanding students.
- Leading with Resilience Personally and ProfessionallyMeet Resilient Administrative Program Coordinator Cassandra Keola of UConn School of Medicine’s Department of Medicine