UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — When Eva SinhaRoy arrived at University Park a couple years ago, she was a little overwhelmed at the possibilities. The science-minded student knew she wanted to focus on research, but she also wanted to build skills in other areas such as leadership.
So, she just tried everything.
SinhaRoy is a Millennium Scholar, a merit-based scholarship program designed to prepare and support students for the pursuit of advanced degrees in STEM disciplines. She’s also a member of the Presidential Leadership Academy, a group of students who can bend the ear of Penn State administrators. She’s participated in research in two labs on campus. And she’s active in THON, the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences’ (EMS) Student Council and is a Lion Ambassador, the backwards walking and talking team of students who showcase Penn State to prospective students and their families.
The Schreyer Honors College sophomore even had a hard time settling on one major, so she picked two: geobiology in the College of EMS and environmental resource management in the College of Agricultural Sciences.
Engaged in research
SinhaRoy was always a curious chemistry-minded kid — her mom is a chemist and she took organic chemistry at Penn State “for fun” — but she participated in two geosciences-related field camps in high school. That, and her vast rock collection, steered her to Penn State’s fourth-ranked geobiology program. Financial support offered through EMS, Schreyer Honors College and Millennium Scholars Program offset the cost of out-of-state tuition.
SinhaRoy found her research path right out of the gate. She met researchers at EMS’ pre-orientation for incoming students — TEEMS, or Total Engagement with EMS — and was quickly accepted into the Undergraduate Research Internship Program, which is sponsored by NASA Space Grant.
“I was fortunate enough to be accepted into a lab, and that started my road to undergraduate research,” said SinhaRoy, who used that experience to transition to the Brian Kelley Lab, where she’s begun researching the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems.
Presidential Leadership Academy
SinhaRoy said the Presidential Leadership Academy is a great networking opportunity. It’s an elite group and so are the perks. For one, students take a course taught by Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi.
Students make connections with Penn State leadership and have a chance to shape the future for other Penn State students. They also get to travel to places such as New York City and engage with the University’s vast alumni network.
“It’s an opportunity to travel with some of the highest-achieving students at Penn State and visit graduates of the leadership academy,” SinhaRoy said. “We’re meeting with and learning from some of the most successful people who have attended Penn State, which is very exciting.”