IUP Graduate Establishes Scholarship to Support Research Experiences for Chemistry, Biochemistry Students

Thomas Baker '05, a graduate of IUP's Cook Honors College and the Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics, and his wife have committed $100,000 to IUP to establish a scholarship to support students in chemistry or biochemistry research programs.

With this gift, Thomas Baker and his wife, Dilini Pinnaduwage, will establish the Tom Baker Scholarship for Research.

This scholarship provides financial support to encourage students enrolled at IUP pursuing a degree in chemistry or biochemistry to pursue a chemistry- or biochemistry-centered Research Experience for Undergraduates or a similar research program. The scholarship can also be used by students selected for one of these research programs for expenses related to the research experience while they are taking part in the program or after they return to IUP.

"The Thomas Baker Research Scholarship is a transformative initiative," IUP Dean of the John J. and Char Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Steve Hovan said. "Because it supports IUP students in chemistry and biochemistry by enabling their participation in research programs like Research Experiences for Undergraduates, this program underscores the importance of hands-on research in developing professional and academic skills, providing students with opportunities to explore cutting-edge research while also preparing for advanced studies or careers in science," he said.

IUP began a summer research program in 2013, modeled after the national Research Experience for Undergraduate program; originally the Research Experience for Summer Scholars Program, RESS was renamed U-SOAR (Undergraduate Summer Opportunity for Applying Research) in 2020. More than 300 students have participated in the program over the past 11 years, including the current program underway in summer 2024.

Baker, originally from Bloomsburg and now living in Phoenix, Arizona, is a 2005 chemistry graduate of IUP. As a student, he was selected for a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship in 2004 and a Phi Kappa Phi graduate fellowship in 2005.

Following his 2005 graduation from IUP, Baker earned his PhD in chemical physics at Harvard University and was a post-doc researcher at University of California, Berkeley. After his studies, he switched from academic research to working in the energy sector.

Baker spent time at First Solar prior to joining the Boston Consulting Group as managing director and partner, where he focuses on energy transition and climate and sustainability. He is the global leader of the Low Carbon Energy and Infrastructure sector and supports clients across a wide range of decarbonization technology, including renewables, clean hydrogen, carbon capture, clean fuels, and others.

While at IUP, Baker spent several summers working both at IUP and at other universities, including Columbia and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, doing research.

"These summer research experiences were incredibly rewarding," Baker said. "Professionally, these programs helped me to discover my passion for research and served as an important step towards graduate school. Personally, they were also incredibly rewarding to be able to spend the summer exploring cities like New York and Boston.

"We hope that this scholarship will encourage current IUP students to pursue similar summer research programs. Regardless of your background, prior experience, or future ambitions, I am confident that current IUP students will find summer research programs just as rewarding and impactful as I did," he said.

In creating the scholarship, Baker recognized professor of chemistry Ronald See, who was Baker's mentor. "He really encouraged and pushed me to apply for these opportunities. He was an incredible mentor, and an example of how professors can change the trajectory of students' lives-he certainly helped to change mine," Baker said.

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