Boyer, Fuse, Sanchez Awarded Grants

Katharyn Boyer, executive director, Estuary and Ocean Science Center: $45,032 from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Merkel and Associates for “Cosco Busan Eelgrass Restoration.” This funding extends existing work with Merkel and Associates for eelgrass restoration research following damages from the Cosco Busan oil spill. The work involves eelgrass whole shoot collection from several naturally occurring locations (sources) around San Francisco Bay, rigging the plants into transplant units in the baywater tanks and tables at the Estuary and Ocean Science Center, planting into multiple locations in the bay with an experimental design allowing evaluation of the use of different sources of plants or mixtures of sources, and conducting monitoring to determine efficacy of the restoration overall and per source.

Megumi Fuse, professor emerita of Biology: $100,000 from Bristol Myers Squibb for “Bristol Myers Squibb Tomorrow’s Innovators STEM Scholarship 2026 – 2027.” The goal of the Bristol Myers Squibb Tomorrow’s Innovators STEM Scholarship program is to develop a strong pool of scientists from a population of low-income and/or first-generation students at SFSU. These scholars will earn a Ph.D. and/or will acquire the skills to successfully transition into careers in the biomedical research workforce. The objectives are to:  

1. Engage all scholars in research activities, including placement in a research lab. 
2. Provide scientific literacy to ensure the successful completion of undergraduate or M.S. degrees in a timely manner. 
3. Ensure the transition of scholars to postgraduate programs and/or successful entry into biotech careers.

Xochitl Sanchez, associate director, Educational Opportunity Program: $50,000 from Maisin Foundation for Guardian Scholars Program 2026 – 2027. This grant is intended to support current and former foster-care youth with their retention, persistence and graduation from SFSU. Each academic year the Guardian Scholars Program supports the needs of students with a history of foster care, to ensure they stay enrolled, maintain adequate grade point averages, graduate, have employment and internship experiences while in college, create community supports and transition successfully to adulthood. The program’s mission is — through advocacy, support and empowerment — to create a vibrant community to help current and former foster youth attain college degrees and secure stable housing and a career path to employment. The purpose of this grant is to fund summer housing costs for youth in the program.  

Xochitl Sanchez, associate director, Educational Opportunity Program: $350,000 from Tipping Point Community for Guardian Scholars Program 2026 – 2027.

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