By Ralph Derickson

Two students selected in each of the three years will receive scholarships totaling $17,600 to support their undergraduate work for two summers and one academic year.

Feb. 15, 2002 (Lexington, Ky.) -- The University of Kentucky has been selected as one of only five Research 1 universities in the nation entitled to award Beckman Foundation undergraduate research scholarships totaling $105,000 over the next three years to six students.

Two students selected in each of the three years will receive scholarships totaling $17,600 to support their undergraduate work for two summers and one academic year.

The Beckman Foundation awards will be awarded to students conducting undergraduate research work in chemistry, biochemistry and biological and medical sciences. The students will be mentored in their work by top UK faculty members in each of those disciplines.

Beckman Foundation spokesperson Kathleen Murphy said UK competed against 61 other Research 1 universities in the Carnegie Institute designation of schools to receive the scholarships. Other Research 1 institutions authorized to grant undergraduate research awards to their students are Boston, Duke and Washington universities and the University of California at Los Angeles.

UK President Lee T. Todd Jr. announced the new research scholarships during his inauguration address at UK today.

The Beckman Foundation was founded by Arnold Beckman of Irvine, Calif., who made his fortune designing and manufacturing medical instruments.