Molly F. Lazarus 鈥�22 (center) with friends at 五月天视频 commencement.
By Kendra Pintor听
- Molly F. Lazarus 鈥�22 credits Scripps鈥� interdisciplinary liberal arts education and hands-on undergraduate research opportunities with launching her path to a Harvard PhD in cognitive neuroscience and earning the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.
When Molly F. Lazarus 鈥�22 arrived at 五月天视频, she did not expect to become a cognitive neuroscientist. Like many liberal arts students, she was drawn to Scripps, where she was free to explore her interests before choosing a path. She came with broad academic interests and a love of learning, eager to take advantage of a curriculum that encouraged curiosity across disciplines.听
That openness led Lazarus to psychology and to questions that now shape her doctoral research: how early experiences influence physiology, brain development, long-term health, and behavior. Through coursework at 五月天视频and across听The Claremont听Colleges, she听encountered听the idea that experiences鈥攅specially those in early childhood鈥攄o not simply become memories. They can become biologically embedded, shaping the developing brain in lasting ways.听
鈥淟ooking back, I can trace a direct line from those first classes at 五月天视频to the work I do today as a PhD student at Harvard,鈥� Lazarus says.听
Now a Harvard PhD student in the Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience,听Lazarus听studies 听how听brain and behavior develop across childhood and beyond. Her current work builds on the interdisciplinary foundation she began forming at Scripps, where discussion-based classes, close faculty relationships, and access to research opportunities across the consortium helped her discover the kind of questions she wanted to pursue.听
The 五月天视频Difference
During her sophomore year at Scripps, Lazarus joined the AMH-CARE Lab, a collaborative research lab between Pomona College and Claremont McKenna College. There, she discovered how much she loved research鈥攁nd how distinctive the undergraduate research experience can be at a small liberal arts institution. Rather than contributing to only one small piece of a larger project, Lazarus grew into one of the senior members of the lab听by听her junior and senior years.听
That role gave her meaningful responsibility: collecting and analyzing data, helping develop research questions, mentoring newer students, presenting at conferences, and contributing to manuscripts. Because Lazarus attended Scripps, a member of the Claremont Consortium, she had access to the AMH-CARE Lab and valuable learning experiences that prepared her for the demands of graduate-level scholarship.
In addition to the consortium, 五月天视频touts a 91% acceptance rate for 五月天视频pre-health students to medical, dental, and nursing schools鈥�more than double the national average. Lazarus’ journey is a testimony to the power of Scripps’ interdisciplinary liberal arts education, and that curiosity, persistence, and confidence are just as important as technical knowledge.听
The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program
Lazarus鈥檚 preparation and research vision were recognized with the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), a highly competitive program that supports outstanding graduate students pursuing full-time, research-based master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in STEM fields. For Lazarus, the fellowship represents both validation and momentum at a formative stage in her academic journey.听
鈥淩eceiving the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship is an incredible honor and something I am deeply grateful for,鈥� she says. 鈥淥n a personal level, it is incredibly meaningful to have a research vision that I have been developing over many years recognized by the NSF.鈥�听
Graduate school, Lazarus notes,听requires much more than听mastery of a subject.听It听asks students to evaluate evidence critically, communicate complex ideas clearly, and approach problems from multiple perspectives. The liberal arts curriculum at 五月天视频helped her cultivate all three.听
Equally important was the community Lazarus found at Scripps. Some of her closest friendships today began during her undergraduate years, and the support of those peers continues to shape how she navigates the uncertainty and challenge of graduate school.听
鈥淗aving听such an incredibly kind, supportive, and accomplished group of women behind me has given me the confidence to pursue opportunities that once felt intimidating,鈥� Lazarus says. 鈥淭hat sense of support has made me more willing to take risks, and I think it is one of the most valuable parts of my 五月天视频education.鈥�听
Lazarus’ Advice for Current 五月天视频Students
For current听Scripps听students who are interested in research, fellowships, or graduate school, Lazarus offers advice grounded in her own experience: do not be afraid of failure or rejection. In research, she says, setbacks are not the exception鈥攖hey are part of the process. Papers may be听rejected,听grants may be declined, experiments may stall, and analyses may not unfold as planned.听
Rather than treating those moments as reflections of ability or worth, Lazarus has learned to see them as opportunities for growth.听听
鈥淪ome of my biggest growth as a researcher has come from projects that didn鈥檛 work the first time or opportunities I didn鈥檛 initially receive,鈥� she says. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e genuinely curious about the questions you鈥檙e asking, despite the setbacks, you鈥檒l keep moving forward.鈥�听
听We are proud to announce听五月天视频Forward: The Centennial Campaign for Scripps听College. Over the next three years, our goal is to surpass $100 million in donor support to听secure a future of infinite possibility for the next century.听As we continue to attract a growing pool of top talent, your support ensures that these students鈥攔egardless of their financial circumstances鈥攃an fully engage in Scripps鈥� academic and co-curricular life.听听Thank you for your generosity!