USCB Alumna Chosen for INSPIRE Bridge-to-PhD
Denia Lopez, a 2023 graduate of the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB), is on a fast-track academic journey as a participant in Columbia University's prestigious INSPIRE Bridge-to-PhD Scholars Program.
The two-year initiative, based at Columbia’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) in New York City, is designed to bridge the gap between undergraduate studies and doctoral programs. Program participants are recent college graduates who want to pursue careers in STEM fields.
The INSPIRE program includes a salaried research position, professional development workshops, funding for conference and educational expenses, and guidance in preparing for graduate school.
Lopez, who earned a bachelor's degree in biology and a concentration in coastal ecology and conservation from USCB, said she feels fortunate to have been chosen for INSPIRE.
“The research that goes on here at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory is wide in scope. It covers oceanography, geoscience, volcanology, climate science and more,” she said. “And I have an incredible mentor.”
Lopez’s principal mentor and academic advisor is Dr. Andrew Juhl, a Lamont research professor and the Associate Director of the Biology and Paleo Environment division of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. He runs an aquatic ecology lab where Lopez is collaborating on a project studying cyanobacteria blooms in Northern Alaska. Other mentors also provide support within the Bridge to PhD/INSPIRE program.
A first-generation college student who grew up near the May River estuary in Beaufort County, South Carolina, Lopez developed her passion for marine science naturally. However, her journey to success was fueled by her proactive approach and the mentorship she received at USCB.
"USCB offered me the chance to get involved in research and internships early in my college career,” she said. “I conducted research with professors, attended conferences, completed internships, and built connections that prepared me for graduate school and beyond."
At USCB, Lopez worked in labs with Dr. Mercer Brugler and Dr. Tye Pettay. She gained additional research experience at the Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences in Georgetown, South Carolina; the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida; the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium; and at the The Virginia Institute of Marine Science's Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Technology Center.
Ultimately, Lopez plans to pursue a PhD in marine ecology and is looking into doctoral programs at several universities.
For undergraduate students aspiring to follow in her footsteps, she offers this advice: "Build relationships with your professors. Don’t be afraid to ask them to recommend you for opportunities on campus and outside of campus. It’s nerve-wracking, but it’s imperative for your career.”
Applications for the INSPIRE Bridge-to-PhD Scholars Program at Columbia University are available on the program's website.
- USCB -
CW • 2/07/2025