Dr. Elizabeth Schram, founder of the ESCOM Science Foundation and sponsor of the APS Young Investigator Poster and Oral Presentations, passed away on December 18, 2019 during a visit to her school in Chennai-India. She was 74 years old.

Dr. Schram and the ESCOM Science Foundation have been a great supporter of the young investigators of the American Peptide Society. Her organization has been sponsoring oral and poster presentations for Young Investigators and has been supporting the professional growth and network of these scientists through the Bert L. Schram Networking lunch event at the American Peptide Symposium. As a benefactor to and dear friend of society, she will be deeply missed. Michael Bertucci, Co-chair of the Student Activities Committee, said, ‘’her legacy of the unwavering support of the developing scientist will be revered for decades to come."

Dr. Schram was an international advocate for science education. Since the ESCOM founding in 1997, Dr. Schram has been the chairwoman of the ESCOM Science Foundation, a foundation aimed at providing financial and infrastructural support to students and/or young scientists of all nationalities. In 2000, she established The Schram Academy (TSA) in Chennai, India. Amongst its five campuses, TSA has been educating students across all backgrounds to become critical thinkers, effective communicators, and moral, responsible citizens in today’s world.