John Stauffer Challenge

John Stauffer Challenge for Chemistry Summer Research

In 2023, Harvey Mudd was awarded a generous $500,000 challenge grant from the John Stauffer Charitable Trust, a longtime partner in advancing research and scholarship at the College. The challenge will double the impact of gifts made to the John Stauffer Fund for the Harvey Mudd College Summer Research Program in Chemistry, a fund that supports chemistry summer research stipends for students. The Stauffer Fund is the first of the Chemistry department’s research endowments to directly support student stipends, helping Harvey Mudd engage more students in meaningful, cutting-edge research opportunities that shape their academic and professional futures.

The challenge will also establish a new endowed fund to provide stipends for chemistry summer research faculty mentors. Faculty members play a crucial role in guiding student researchers, but their summer mentorship often depends on external grants, which are not always guaranteed. With a stipend, a faculty member can advise 3-4 student researchers.

If you are interested in supporting students through the John Stauffer Challenge, please contact development@hmc.edu.