Three 2021 grads named Carleton Paglia Post-Baccalaureate Research Fellows
The program, funded by Cathy James Paglia ’74 and her husband Louis Paglia, will provide two-year R1 research opportunities for three STEM graduates.
Three members of the Carleton College Class of 2021 will join top scientific researchers at U.S. Research One (R1) institutions thanks to Carleton’s Paglia Post-Baccalaureate Research Fellowship. The program, in its second year and funded by Cathy James Paglia ’74 and her husband Louis Paglia, provides two-year R1 research opportunities for three STEM graduates from each of Carleton’s classes of 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Under the mentorship of distinguished scientists, the fellows will have opportunities to advance their skills and strengthen their commitment to a career in research. During their fellowship years, the fellows will have access to the intellectual life of the university, as well as infrastructural and other support for scientific research.
Eligibility for the fellowship extends to graduating seniors with a major in a discipline represented on Carleton’s STEM Board (Biology, Chemistry, Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Environmental Studies, Geology, Mathematics and Statistics, Physics and Astronomy, and Psychology).
Meet the Class of 2021 Paglia Post-Baccalaureate Research Fellows:
Jessalyn Ayars ’21
A biology major, Jessalyn Ayars will join the U.S. Forest Service research group of Dr. Gavin Jones through an affiliation with the University of New Mexico. Ayars has engaged in research at the University of Washington and the Pacific Wildlands Fire Science Laboratory. Under the mentorship of professor Jones, a leading scientist in the field, Ayars will contribute to research that balances forest restoration to reduce megafire risk to human communities with the conservation of habitat for threatened wildlife in a changing climate. Two years with the Jones group will deepen her knowledge of quantitative methods and prepare Ayars for top-ranked Ph.D. programs in ecology.
Anna Li ’21
A psychology major with minors in cognitive science and neuroscience, Anna Li will join the Intergroup Relations and Inclusion Lab directed by distinguished professor Margo Monteith at Purdue University. Li has engaged in research at Carleton with Sharon Akimoto and at Cornell University’s Department of Human Development. Under the mentorship of professor Monteith, Li will conduct research aimed at creating strategies to increase individuals’ awareness of implicit biases and how to reduce them through self-regulation. Li’s post-baccalaureate research at Purdue will provide her with additional grounding in social cognition research and prepare her for top-ranked Ph.D. programs in psychology.
April Reisenfeld ’21
A dual major in physics and philosophy with a minor in mathematics, April Reisenfeld will join the research group of Dr. James Chin-Wen Chou at the National Institute of Standards and Technology through an affiliation with the University of Colorado. Reisenfeld has engaged in research at Carleton and the University of Perugia (Italy) with Arjendu Pattanayak and participated in an NSF-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates program at the University of Washington. Two years at NIST will allow Reisenfeld to deepen her skills in quantum information science and prepare her for top-ranked Ph.D. programs in physics.
The James-Paglia family has a long history of supporting Carleton initiatives, including construction of Carleton’s new integrated science facility, Evelyn M. Anderson Hall. Cathy and Louis and the Robert and Ardis James Foundation established a $20 million matching fund to make the project possible. Learn more about the Carleton-funded fellowship.