Kathleen Bostick is a senior biology major from Fairfax Station, Virginia. She will be graduating in May 2023 Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor's of Science degree. Following graduation, she plans on pursuing an MD-PhD in Neuroscience and then becoming an astronaut. Kathleen’s drive and commitment to research has afforded her the opportunity to work in over five labs during her time at Spelman. She received her first award in plant biology at the University of Georgia's Plant Conference in 2022 and since then, Kathleen has presented in ten conferences, winning awards in plant biology, neuroscience, and environmental science. In 2022, Kathleen’s work in plant biology was published by the Environmental Evidence Journal with the help of the Ayalew Lab at Spelman College, making her one of the youngest Black women to publish in plant biology. She is currently working on two more publications.
In the fall of 2022, she was selected to be Spelman College’s second woman in history to receive the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation Award. The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF), was established by the Mercury 7 astronauts to ensure that American would continue to produce leaders in STEM. In addition to her commitment to the sciences, Kathleen is part of Spelman’s Spriggs Burroughs Drama Ensemble where she has performed in productions such as Art After Dark and Festival Of Eccentrics. She has also earned National titles in Collegiate Speech and Debate for her performances in Prose and Poetry Interpretation. Kathleen is a proud filmmaker, writer, and actress who is exploring a world where she fuses her artistic perspective with her scientific brilliance.
Above all else, Kathleen’s largest commitment in life is service. She has spent a significant amount of her time serving the Washington, D.C. area through DMV Does Good, Inc. that aims to provide resources for families in need. Additionally, Kathleen has started organizing events with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and the National Air and Space Center to make STEM more accessible to children and women. She hopes to live a lifetime of embodying the brave words of Mary Church Terrell, “lifting as we climb.”
“LINCS Scholars are two-year cohorts of women scientists at Spelman College, who aspire to become leaders in STEM. These students contribute dynamic science and diverse perspective to a growing field. Typically, most of our LINCS Scholars reside in Laura Spelman Residence Hall, a social justice dorm on Spelman’s campus."