Current Fellows
The Beckman Center for the History of Chemistry at the Science History Institute is pleased to announce our 2024–2025 class of fellows.
Hailing from a diverse list of local, national, and international institutions, our incoming fellows will use our collections to study a wide range of topics in the history and social studies of chemistry, chemical engineering, and the life sciences.
In addition to our postdoctoral, dissertation, distinguished, and short-term research fellows, the Beckman Center will once again welcome a cohort of two-year curatorial fellows who will assist with ongoing projects as staff members, expanding and exploring interpretive programs for our library and museum.
Fellows: 1987 to Present
The Beckman Center has hosted over 350 scholars from around the world. See a list of our fellows, along with their research topics and affiliation at the time of their stay.
Curatorial Fellow
NEH Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Postdoctoral Research Fellows
Dissertation Fellows
![Cecilio in a black dress-shirt, leopard-print glasses, resting head on hand, in front of a bright red brick wall](https://www.sciencehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/cecilio-m-cooper-150x150.jpg)
Cecilio M. Cooper
Price-Haas Postdoctoral Fellow
South of Heaven: Surface, Territory + the Black Chthonic
![Reut Ullman with hair down, wearing gray cotton shirt](https://www.sciencehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/reut-ullman-1-150x150.jpg)
Reut Ullman
Cain Postdoctoral Fellow
A Window to the World: Artisanal Knowledge Regime in the Russian Empire (1500–1750)
![Jacob Myer outdoors in front of trees, smiling](https://www.sciencehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/jacob-myer-150x150.jpg)
Jacob Myers
Allington Dissertation Fellow
University of Pennsylvania
Noxious Life: Figuring Vermin in the Natural Histories of the British Caribbean
![Samantha Nadel, smiling, wearing glasses, maroon and off-white top, blue lanyard](https://www.sciencehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/samantha-nadel-1-150x150.jpg)
Samantha Nadel
Cain Dissertation Fellow
Boston University
Indigenous Contributions to Colorant Chemistry: The Influence of Mexican Cochineal Production Methods on European Scientists
Cain Conference Fellow
![Luis Campos smiling, wearing glasses, in front of bookshelf](https://www.sciencehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/luis_campos-150x150.jpg)
Luis Campos
Rice University
The Spirit of Asilomar and the Future of Biotechnology
Senior Fellows
![Finn Arne Jørgensen outdoors, wearing glasses and blue collared patterned shirt](https://www.sciencehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/finn-arne-jorgensen-150x150.jpeg)
Finn Arne Jørgensen
Science History Institute Senior Fellow
University of Stavanger, Norway
Gaming Green Transitions: Petrocultures and Societal Change in Environmental Board Games
![Melanie Nilsson smiling, wearing blue and white patterned collared shirt](https://www.sciencehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/melanie-nilsson-150x150.jpg)
Melanie Nilsson
Doan Senior Fellow
McDaniel College
Broadening the Representation of Chemists Highlighted by National Historic Chemical Landmarks
![John Powers outdoors in an urban area, wearing t-shirt, resting chin on hands](https://www.sciencehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/john-powers-150x150.jpg)
John Powers
Cain Senior Fellow
Virginia Commonwealth University
Thermometers and the Senses in 18th-Century Chemistry
Short-Term Fellows
![Sara Bassanelli wearing dark red velvet jacket, black shirt, head tilted to her left](https://www.sciencehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/sara_bassanelli-150x150.jpg)
Sara Bassanelli
Doan Fellow
University of Pavia, Italy
The Diplomacy of Standardization: Negotiating International Standards in Physics and Chemistry (1920s– 1970s)
![Leo Chu in gray and black checkered flannel, glasses, white lanyard](https://www.sciencehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/LeoChu-150x150.jpg)
Leo Chu
Cain Fellow
University of New South Wales, Australia
From Green Revolution to Green Chemistry: The Chemical Foundation of Sustainable Agriculture, 1960–2010
![Studio portrait of Jessica Hogbin, wearing black blazer and embroidered blouse](https://www.sciencehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Jessica_Hogbin-150x150.jpg)
Jessica Hogbin
Allington Fellow
Syracuse University
Innumerable Melancholies: Medicine and Mental Health in Renaissance Italy
![Bree Lohman, wearing black suit, outdoors on a university campus](https://www.sciencehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/bree_lohman-150x150.jpg)
Bree Lohman
Haas Fellow
University of Toronto
Of Fallout and Outfall: National Insecurity, Public Health, and the Partial Containment of Hazards in the Occupied Arctic
![Alexandra Macdonald wearing black, smiling, indoors on wooden bench](https://www.sciencehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/alexandra-macdonald-150x150.jpg)
Alexandra Macdonald
Doan Fellow
College of William and Mary
Blue Gold: Indigo in the British World, 1680–1880
![books on a shelf](https://www.sciencehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/synthesis_books-150x150.jpeg)
Alejandra Ruiz-León
Haas Fellow
Georgia Institute of Technology
Caged Knowledge: The History of TECNO-ITINTEC, a pioneering interactive science museum of Latin America
![Studio portrait of Candida F. Sánchez Burmester wearing white dress shirt, glasses, long earrings, resting chin on hand](https://www.sciencehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/candida-sanchez-burmester-150x150.jpg)
Candida F. Sánchez Burmester
Ullyot Scholar
Maastricht University, Netherlands
The Dawn of Nanotoxicology: The Toxic Effects of Nanoparticles in Humans and the Formation of a New Field
![Prerna Srigyan in 3/4 view, outdoors in the sun, with blue glasses atop her head](https://www.sciencehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/prerna-srigyan-150x150.jpg)
Prerna Srigyan
Herdegen Fellow
University of California, Irvine
Lecture to Lab: Experimental Science Education in Cold War America
![Eleanor Webb wearing black, sitting in front of bookcase](https://www.sciencehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/eleanor_webb-150x150.jpg)
Eleanor Webb
Cain Fellow
University of Pennsylvania
Between Studium and Accademia: Science, Medicine, and Education in Early Modern Italy
![Othmer Library from southeast corner](https://www.sciencehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/othmer-library_from_corner-150x150.jpg)
Cheyeun Whang
Mistry Fellow
Harvard University
Finishing Touch: Cleaning the Modern American Body, 1880–1970
Science History Institute Research Fellow
![blue armchairs, shelves, columns in library](https://www.sciencehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/othmer-library_armchairs-scaled.jpg)
Available Opportunities
Our scholars study a range of topics in the history and social studies of chemistry, chemical engineering, and the life sciences.
![](https://www.sciencehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/chf-website-may-2016-027-3-415x257.jpg)
How to Apply
Access application forms and instructions for our fellowships and library travel grants.
![](https://www.sciencehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/fellows_library_2022_0-415x257.jpeg)
Fellows: 1987 to Present
See a list of fellows through the years, along with their research topics and affiliation at the time of their stay.
![View of hands working on a laptop with library book](https://www.sciencehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/laptop_book_hands_library-scaled.jpg)
Application Guide
Optimize your fellowship application with this guide to candidate selection criteria and much more.
![](https://www.sciencehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/library-information-desk-scaled.jpg)
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to common questions, including international visas and daily life at the Institute.
![View of Chestnut Street entrance](https://www.sciencehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/building-exterior_main-entrance-415x257.jpg)
Named Fellowships
Learn about our named fellowships, their recipients, and the generous gifts that made them possible.