Association for Women in Science Announces Bridge Grant Recipients

January 16, 2026

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Shelley O’Brien
202-827-9798
obrien@awis.org

Association for Women in Science Announces Bridge Grant Recipients

WASHINGTON DC, January 16, 2026 – The Association for Women in Science (AWIS) is happy to announce the recipients of the AWIS Bridge Grants which offer financial support to researchers who have been affected by cuts to federal funding. These awards are possible due to a generous grant from the Every Page Foundation.

“We are grateful to Every Page Foundation for their partnership in supporting early-career scientists who have lost federal research funding,” said Meredith Gibson, AWIS CEO. “We hope these awards will help our members to reach their next milestone so they may continue making valuable contributions to their fields during this challenging period.”

AWIS Bridge Grant Recipients are 1) assistant professors or non-tenured faculty or 2) tenured professors who will use the $5,000 award to support their trainees:

  • Kristal Lyn Brown, PhD, MSPH, Assistant Professor at Drexel College
  • Jane Ellen Clougherty, ScD, Professor at Drexel University
  • Amelia Cuarenta, PhD, Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan
  • Lissette Delgado-Cruzata, PhD, Associate Professor at The City University of New York, John Jay College
  • Molly Goodfellow, PhD, Assistant Professor at University of Maryland School of Medicine
  • Jhumka Gupta, ScD, MPH, Professor at George Mason University College of Public Health
  • Folami Ideraabdullah, PhD, Associate Professor at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • Trudy Mallinson, PhD, Associate Dean for Research in Health Sciences at The George Washington University
  • Mariela Mendez, PhD, Assistant Professor at Henry Ford Hospital/Wayne State University
  • Jin Kim Montclare, PhD, Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at New York University
  • Ahmad Raeisi Najafi, PhD, Associate Professor at Drexel University
  • Gail Rosen, PhD, Professor at Drexel University
  • Marianna Zhang, PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher at New York University

 

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About AWIS: Founded in 1971, AWIS is dedicated to driving equity and excellence in STEM by championing the interests of women across all disciplines and employment sectors so they can achieve their full potential. AWIS advocacy initiatives are committed to driving systemic change to support the 12.3M women in STEM. Our supportive community provides a sense of belonging, as well as career resources, scholarships, and opportunities for networking, mentoring, volunteering, recognition, and professional development to over 7,000 members. AWIS communications inspire over 67,000 social media followers, 32,000 monthly website visitors, and 24,000 newsletter subscribers globally. To become an AWIS member, learn about partner opportunities, or donate visit www.awis.org.