Building a more equitable company, technology, and society
We established the Cultivate Fellowship to fulfill our commitment to building a more equitable company, technology, and society.
Black STEM scholars report high rates of isolation as one reason for high rates of attrition. The Cultivate Fellowship is our attempt to help alleviate this barrier and reduce the marginalization of Black students in STEM. It fosters professional networking, career planning exposure, and stipend-based support to help Black STEM scholars persist. The fellowship cohort will visit the Boston offices of Ginkgo Bioworks to engage with each other and scientists in STEM.
Our Cultivate Fellowship Program
The Cultivate Fellowship is open to any Community or Junior College vertical transferee or rising Sophomore or Junior in good standing interested in pursuing a STEM degree. Our inaugural cohort included students from 12 schools, including three HBCUs and one Community College.
Although Ginkgo houses a vibrant community of scientists and engineers, we recognize that there are career paths available beyond our walls. By partnering with other organizations, we aim to expose students to a broad range of experiences and career paths in STEM degrees that are open to them.
Most importantly, Cultivate Fellows are not required or expected to have an interest in Synthetic Biology. The fellowship is open to students from a range of STEM disciplines. Our inaugural cohort included students interested in:
Computer Information Systems
Computer Science
Biology Pre-Med
Automotive Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Nursing
Molecular Biology
Psychology (with Neurobiology concentration)
Cultivate Fellowship Career Path Exposure
Over the course of their residence at Ginkgo, Fellows received tours of Ginkgo. They were introduced to our team and to leadership. Fellows were also given opportunities to learn more about various career pathways a STEM degree could open to them. The full itinerary is available here.
Included over the course of their visit were presentations by:
- Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks on the intersection of STEM and legal careers
- The US Army Corps of Engineers who presented on engineering opportunities
- Harvard Medical School where Fellows toured a hospital ER, learned about disparities in health care minorities face, and participated in hands on-learning to include a suture lab
Professional Development
In conjunction with Black Queer Town Hall, BioBuilder, and Ginkgo’s Talent Acquistion and Professional Development Teams, Fellows received:
- Resume review and update guidance
- Individualized career path planning
- Guidance on how to build meaningful mentorship relationships
In addition, Fellows had access to panels of Black STEM Entrepreneurs and Young Professionals and a session on Developing Your Superpower to help Fellows find power in their experiences to leverage in their academic and professional pursuits.
Current Fellows
COHORT 1
Ann Nicole Frimpong
Hunter College ‘24
Biology Pre-Med
Ashanti Lane
University of West Georgia ‘25
Biology Pre-Med
Ayo Ogunsanya
Princeton ‘25
Computer Science
Darelle Menendie
Northwestern University ‘24
Biomedical Engineering
Divine Ogugua
Edwards Waters University ‘24
Business Administration in Computer Information Systems
Johnathan Lee Hancock
Sargeant Reynolds Community College ‘26
Automotive Engineering
Kazmin Perkins
Xavier University ‘24
Nursing
Lataysha Walker
Xavier University ‘24
Biology Pre-Med
Melak Senay
Washington University St. Louis ‘25
Computer Science and Economics
Michael Johnson
Howard University ‘25
Computer Science
Segun Olutade
Jackson State University ‘25
Computer Science
Victory Yinka-Banjo
Massachusetts Institute of Technology ‘25
Computer Science and Molecular Biology
COHORT 2
Bailey Williams
Pomona College ‘26
Computer Science
Collins Ilechukwu
University of Tennessee ‘25
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Damy Akinyemi
Tufts University ‘26
Community and Global Public Health
Dion Williams
Southern New Hampshire University ‘25
Computer Science
Forever Akpabio
Carnegie Mellon University ‘25
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Jesse Okoche
Yale ‘25
Mechanical Engineering
Joanna Menendie
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ‘26
Biology Pre-Med/Animal Science
Naomi Zecharias
Massachusetts Institute of Technology ‘25
Mechanical Engineering, Biomechanics, and Biomedical Devices
Nicolette Johnson
Fayetteville State University ’25
Computer Science
Ore Owoseeni
Fisk University ‘25
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Rita Osi
Jackson State University ‘26
Computer Science
Networking and Connection
Aside from the formal programming, Fellows met with Ginkgo’s Katherine Johnson Affinity Group for Black Bioworkers, attended a company BBQ, and joined a bowling event with the Affinity Group.
Continued Support
At the end of the program, Fellows will each receive an individual Mentor to support them as they continue on their educational pursuits as well as a $3000 annual stipend to support their success until graduation*.
Perhaps just as importantly, the Cultivate Fellowship fosters community. Fellows leave with a network of peers and professionals they have met throughout their experience to help support and encourage one another as they return to their communities.
*Annual scholarship is dependent upon Fellows remaining academically enrolled in good standing and validation of participation in mentorship program. Scholarship is renewable up to three years. Other stipulations may apply.
