UNT Biological Sciences Graduate Student Wins Ricco Ethics Scholarship | College of Science
April 4, 2019

UNT Biological Sciences Graduate Student Wins Ricco Ethics Scholarship

Outstanding UNT Biological Sciences graduate student Rajashree Pradhan has been selected to receive the esteemed Nicholas and Anna Ricco Ethics Scholarship Award for the 2019-2020 academic year.

Rajashree enrolled at UNT in August of 2015 to pursue her PhD under the supervision of Biological Sciences professor Dr. Rebecca Dickstein. As a graduate student, her work is focused on understanding the symbiotic nitrogen fixation process in legume plants at a molecular level. She is primarily working on characterizing the function of a gene that has been identified to be essential for this process. Her hope is that her contributions will help make agriculture systems more eco-friendly and sustainable for future generations. Her Ricco scholarship-winning essay is titled, "Is the Green Revolution Still Green?" The essay was judged on six criteria: focus on field of study, discussion of an ethical behavioral standard, applicability of case study, intellectual debate or discussion, mechanics, and thesis or position.

"I am honored to receive this prestigious award and I would like to thank UNT for providing students the opportunity to prove themselves," said Rajashree upon receiving the scholarship. "I would also thank my major advisor Dr. Rebecca Dickstein, and my parents for always encouraging me to keep going."

The scholarship is open to all students in the thirteen colleges and schools at the University of North Texas. Nick and Anna Ricco, long-time UNT donors, created the ethics scholarship competition in 2011 to promote intellectual debate and discussion on ethics as it relates to students' specific areas of study. The goal is to stimulate the applicants to new heights of reasoning and self-discipline, hopefully resulting in a higher level of ethical understanding in one's area of study and daily life.

A formal presentation of the award will be made at Honors Day on April 26, 2019 (3 -5 pm) in the Coliseum. Please mark your calendar and make plans to attend. This event is one of the most prestigious ceremonies held on our campus, and we look forward to presenting your award. Additional registration information and program details are forthcoming from the Honors Day Committee.