STEM for Development

How do you begin working with quantitative data when you have little or no prior statistical experience? Join STEM for Development on Saturday, August 22 for a two-hour introductory workshop led by Habibah Olajumoke Tijani and Ruchir Raman.

The session will introduce participants to the foundations of statistics and quantitative analysis, including types of variables, descriptive statistics, and the logic of statistical and hypothesis testing. Participants will also learn how these concepts can be applied to analyse data, interpret statistical results, and communicate quantitative findings more effectively in their research.

‣ Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026
‣ Time: 2:00 PM GMT / 10:00 AM EDT
‣ Format: Online
‣ Register: t.ly/72fN

Not yet an SFD member? Join our global community: t.ly/E9r5

Please share this opportunity with students, early-career researchers, colleagues, and others who may be looking to strengthen their foundations in quantitative research.

This week, seven students from six countries completed the research presentation phase of STEM for Development’s Academic Research Bridge, delivered with support and engagement from the Talent Mobility Fund and The RNA Institute, University at Albany.

After several months of virtual research placements — and five weeks spent refining how they communicated the work — the students presented projects on myotonic dystrophy, viral infection, alternative splicing, genetic modifiers, and comparative transcriptomics to an international audience representing 32 countries.

Congratulations to Sana Aziz Sial (Pakistan), Taye Motunrayo Ilesanmi (Nigeria), Samuel Quaynor (Ghana), Veronica Adhiambo (Kenya), Jimoni Kalita (India), Goodness Umunakwe (Nigeria), and Daniel Angel Linares Terrazas (Bolivia).

Thank you to Asmer Aliyeva, PhD and to the RNA Institute faculty, graduate students, and researchers who mentored the students and supported their projects. The students will now take a short break before beginning the graduate-school application phase of the program.

Follow STEM for Development for updates, or join our community at https://t.ly/E9r5.

For those who mentor emerging researchers: what is one research-presentation skill you wish students learned earlier?

This Tuesday, seven emerging researchers from six countries will present the work they have developed through STEM for Development's Academic Research Bridge, with support and engagement from the Talent Mobility Fund and The RNA Institute, University at Albany.

Over the past several months, the students have completed virtual research placements with laboratories at The RNA Institute, University at Albany. They have also spent the past several weeks turning that work into clear, graduate-level research presentations.

Their projects examine RNA biology, viral infection, myotonic dystrophy, genetic modifiers, alternative splicing, and comparative transcriptomics. The final presentations are open to students, researchers, mentors, and anyone interested in supporting emerging scientific talent.

- Tuesday, August 4, 2026
- 3:00 PM GMT / 11:00 AM ET
- Virtual event
- Register: https://t.ly/72fN

Please join us to hear their research, ask questions, and celebrate how far they have come.

Many early-career researchers understand the formal rules of research ethics. The harder part is knowing what to do when a situation is unclear, power dynamics are uneven, or guidance is limited.

STEM for Development is hosting an interactive session on Navigating Ethical Challenges in Research, focused on practical issues researchers may encounter:

• Bias in research design
• Reproducibility
• Research misconduct
• Fair and appropriate authorship

Date and Time: Saturday, July 25, 2026 | 1:00 PM GMT
Speakers: Gabriel Kwaku Agbeshie, OD and Mr. Nahom Belete
Register: t.ly/72fN

Join us and share this opportunity with a student or early-career researcher who may find it useful.

Join STEM for Development and support our efforts:
• Become a member today: t.ly/E9r5
• Visit our website: t.ly/XfqVi
• Follow us on Instagram: t.ly/ee_v-
• Like our page on Facebook: t.ly/oKi4Q

STEM for Development will hold its next Bi-Weekly Office Hours on Saturday, July 4, 2026, from 2:00–3:00 PM GMT.

This session will be led by Joe Adabouk Amooli, Hauwa Adedo, and Michael Adu, Education Associates at SFD.

Students are invited to bring questions about graduate school applications, CVs, cold emails, research interests, application fee waivers, and ways to build stronger professional or research skills.

Date: Saturday, July 4, 2026
Time: 2:00–3:00 PM GMT
Join: t.ly/Dmfhw

Not yet an SFD member? Join here: t.ly/E9r5

Please share with STEM students preparing for graduate school or looking for practical application support.

STEM for Development is pleased to announce the next session in our Workforce Skills Webinar Series: From Graduate School to the Biotech Industry.

This session will be presented by Jay Sharma, Senior Scientist at Novartis in San Diego, California.

After transitioning from graduate school and academic research to the biotech industry, Jay now works in cell and gene therapy research. Drawing on over a decade of experience in stem cell biology, immunology, and cell and gene therapy, he will share key lessons from his own transition to industry.

The session will explore networking, developing an industry mindset, positioning research experience for industry roles, what employers look for in STEM professionals, and will conclude with a live Q&A.

Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM GMT
Register: t.ly/72fN

Not yet an SFD member? Join here: t.ly/E9r5

Please share with students, early-career researchers, and scientists who are thinking seriously about careers in biotechnology or industry more broadly.

STEM for Development will be holding Office Hours tomorrow, Saturday, June 20, from 2 to 3 PM GMT.

These sessions are meant to be practical and interactive. Students can come with specific questions about graduate applications, CVs, cold emails, research interests, fee waivers, or professional development more broadly, and talk them through in a real conversation with our team.

This week's session will feature Hauwa Adedo, Joe Adabouk Amooli, and Nahom Belete.

Join us here: http://t.ly/Dmfhw

If you would like to receive our biweekly reminders and calendar invitations for future Office Hours, you can sign up here: https://t.ly/4AJKD

To learn more about STEM for Development’s upcoming programs and events, you can also join our network at https://t.ly/E9r5 or visit stemfordevelopment.org.

Call for Mentors: Support STEM Graduate Applicants Through SFD

If you have been through the STEM graduate application process, you can help make that path clearer for someone else.

STEM for Development is inviting mentors for the 2026–2027 SFD Graduate Application Mentorship Program. Mentors will support prospective STEM Master’s and PhD applicants with areas such as program selection, advisor outreach, CVs, statements of purpose, interviews, and other parts of the graduate application process. We are looking for graduate students, postdocs, faculty, researchers, and professionals with experience applying to or advising on STEM Master’s or PhD programs.

Mentors should be willing to contribute approximately 2 to 4 hours per month between July 2026 and January 2027, depending on their level of involvement. Full eligibility details and expectations are included in the mentor interest form here:

https://forms.gle/pbFkZpwnGaoYAfRm8

New to SFD? Join our network here: t.ly/E9r5

Please share this opportunity with anyone in your network who may be interested in serving as a mentor.

🚨STEM for Development is excited to launch the 2026–2027 Graduate Application Mentorship Program with the first session of our two-part Grad School 101 series! 🚨

Grad School 101: Fundamentals and Best Practices for Applying to Graduate School
Presented by Daniel B. Schwab, Ph.D. and Mr. Gabriel Kwaku Agbeshie, OD
Saturday, June 20, 2026
12:00 PM GMT

This session will provide an overview of STEM graduate programs, common funding opportunities, strategies for identifying strong programs and advisors, and best practices for building a successful graduate school application.

Important note: If you have already registered for this year’s SFD Graduate Application Mentorship Program, you are automatically registered for this webinar. You do not need to register again. Calendar invites will be sent soon.

New students who would like to join the mentorship program can still register here: t.ly/pZ7hj

Please share widely with STEM students who may benefit from this opportunity.

STEM for Development has received funding to test a pilot connecting selected early-career researchers from low- and middle-income countries with real R&D projects at U.S. companies. We are looking for a few company R&D partners who may be open to an exploratory conversation.

SFD works with talented researchers from around the world – many with strong academic preparation, real technical promise, and the drive to contribute to world-class science. The barrier is often access: to advanced research environments, professional networks, and career-shaping opportunities that are much easier to reach from wealthier countries.

For this pilot, we want to test a more curated model than a large internship pipeline. SFD’s strongest contribution is scientific judgment, candidate preparation, and close matching between a real R&D need and a researcher we know well. We would identify and prepare strong candidates from our community, then work closely with host teams to make sure the research fit is real.

A good partner would have:
– A defined R&D need
– Capacity to supervise an early-career researcher well
– Interest in global STEM workforce development
– Work in areas such as life sciences, biotech, bioinformatics, data science, energy, engineering, materials, or computational research

Right now, the most helpful thing would be introductions to R&D leaders who might be willing to speak with us. If someone comes to mind – or if you know people who may be connected to company R&D teams – we would be grateful if you sent us a note or shared this!