Phoenix STEM Program
The Phoenix STEM Program aims to empower the next generation of STEM leaders in a supportive environment. Made possible by seed funding from the Neubauer Family Foundation (NFF), the program is designed to engage and support students throughout their undergraduate experience.
The program starts with an immersive, intensive academic pre-orientation for first year students, and then follows the scholars through their graduation from the University of Chicago. Students continue to meet regularly during the academic years to access academic support, mentoring from their peers and faculty, exposure to undergraduate research, assistance in pursuing paid internships and career development coaching, connections to professors in STEM fields, graduate school application guidance, and leadership opportunities within the program.
Our scholars are highly talented, first-generation and/or low-income students often from under-resourced inner-city and rural high schools. We aim to cultivate a positive environment within STEM for our scholars; an environment that allows the scholars to thrive personally and academically. We expect scholars to be supportive of each other, to communicate about their experiences with their peers and their mentors, and to set high goals for themselves academically and professionally. phoenixstem@uchicago.edu.
Quick Links
Pre-Orientation
The Phoenix STEM Pre Orientation Program is a transformative two-week initiative designed to empower and prepare students wanting to study STEM related disciplines for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in their academic journeys. Find more information on how the program works here.
Phoenix STEM Conference 2026
Join us for the Phoenix STEM Conference 2026! This conference is an amazing opportunity for our Phoenix STEM students to show off the unique research they've undertaken. Anyone not part of the Phoenix STEM Program is still more than welcome to come and listen to our students!
Conference Link
Glenn and Claire Swogger Award for Exemplary Classroom Teaching
Phoenix STEM Faculty Honored with the Glenn and Claire Swogger Award for Exemplary Classroom Teaching
Phoenix STEM is proud to celebrate two of our faculty members who have been recognized with the prestigious Glenn and Claire Swogger Award for Exemplary Classroom Teaching at the University of Chicago.
The Glenn and Claire Swogger Award recognizes outstanding teachers who introduce students to habits of scholarly thinking, inquiry, and engagement through the College Core. The award honors teachers with college teaching appointments who have made significant contributions to the College's General Education programs and is based on student nominations.
Katelyn Butler (2025 recipient) is an Associate Instructional Professor in Biological Sciences. She was recognized for her ability to bring scientific thinking to life in the classroom, making the Core curriculum an engaging and meaningful experience for students across all majors. Her nomination by students speaks to the genuine impact she has had in helping them develop the curiosity and analytical habits that define a UChicago education.
Mohamed Abdelhafez (a 2026 recipient) is an Associate Instructional Professor of Physics who returned to UChicago after earning his PhD in quantum physics here in 2019. He teaches across multiple courses, moving between foundational theory and hands-on work, and is known for pushing students to step outside their comfort zone rather than following a prescribed path. He emphasizes that real understanding is something students build through honest effort, and that learning to sit with uncertainty is itself a valuable skill. His selection reflects the impact he has made in the Core curriculum and his commitment to meeting each student where they are.
We congratulate Katelyn and Mohamed on this well-deserved recognition and thank them for the passion and rigor they bring to every classroom!