Your Gift Supports Undergraduate Researchers' Careers

Every dollar you invest in the Undergraduate Research Experience (URE) conference travel does far more than buy an airline ticket—it vaults a first-time scholar onto the national stage, multiplies their career prospects, and seeds discoveries that benefit everyone. Below is a comprehensive picture of how your generosity transforms raw talent into tomorrow’s scientific leaders.

The Transformational Power of a Conference Seat

Academic studies indicate that presenting at a professional conference enhances students’ confidence, clarifies their career goals, and facilitates entry into graduate programs. They sharpen research skills, master public speaking, and build lasting networks.

Impact at a Glance

Without your donation, we would be able to fund only three of the seven students interested in attending NDiSTEM and the ACS (American Chemical Society) conferences. With your donation, we can fund all 7!

Seven Students, Seven Breakthrough Projects

Student	Conference	Research Focus	First-Time Presenter?	Highlight
Sebastian Pujet @ MIT	ACS Spring 2026	AI-guided N-heterocyclic carbene mechanophores	Yes	Operates at grad-student level after 5 weeks
Len Needham	ACS Spring 2026	Force mapping in covalent adaptable networks	Yes	3.89 GPA, top applicant two years running
Dylan Gregson @ UIUC	ACS Spring 2026	Cyclobutane cross-linkers for tough thermosets	Yes	Industrial internships and FROMP expertise
Gaile Ng @ Columbia University	SACNAS NDiSTEM	Cyclobutanone mechanophores for upcycling rubber	Yes	International student broadening diversity
Juliana Marston @ Columbia University	SACNAS NDiSTEM	Plastic up-cycling & lithium extraction expertise	Yes	First-author paper in review at Joule
Lily Auster @ Duke University	ACS Spring 2026	Optimizing weak crosslinker synthesis to increase yield	Yes	Ready for increased independence in her research and potentially teaching
Mark Nashi @ Columbia University	ACS Spring 2026	Strand modifications with weak linkages	Yes	DNA-mechanophore innovations could revolutionize drug delivery

Tangible Outcomes Per Dollar

Investment	Immediate Return	Long-Term Payoff
$25	Buys an ACS Premium membership, cutting one student’s registration by $125	Sustains year-round journal access and career resources
$125	Buys early-bird registration for SACNAS or ACS	Guarantees podium/poster slot that boosts graduate-school apps
$400	Covers domestic round-trip airfare	Connects student to a 5,000-member network of researchers
$1,000	Funds an entire student’s core expenses (flight + registration + poster)	Launches career-changing presentation, mentorship, and publication trajectory

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Why not ask students to pay?

Many are first-generation or international scholars with limited funding; out-of-pocket costs can exceed a month’s income.

Q2. Aren’t virtual conferences cheaper?

Studies show that in-person presentations deliver higher networking and identity gains versus virtual formats.

Q3. Is my donation tax-deductible?

Yes—we issue receipts upon payment.

Q4. How will I see impact?

Receive post-conference updates, slides, and a Q&A webinar where students share how your gift advanced their projects.

How to Give Right Now

Help spark breakthroughs in self-healing polymers, greener plastics, and energy-efficient materials—starting with five determined undergraduates ready to present their work on the national stage. Your gift today writes the opening line of their scientific story.

Donate now and watch their futures take flight.

Send Chemistry Undergraduates to their 1st conference!

Send 7 Undergraduate Researchers to SACNAS or ACS Spring 2026

Team Leaderboard

Team Members