The North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation has awarded UNC Asheville a $1,577,718 grant to elevate the undergraduate research program in chemistry and biology.

The Chemistry & Biology Fellows & Scholars Program, announced on campus on April 7 during the 30th anniversary of the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, will fund programs in medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, and chemical and molecular biology. 

“The university has designed a win-win STEM component where scholars are mentored and supported by post-doctoral teaching and research fellows, with a unique model where they are also mentored by faculty advisors. It’s a great pipeline for success for females and under-represented minority science majors that continues to build low-income first generation students into successful fellows,” said Marilyn Foote-Hudson, executive director, North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation.

“This grant will transform our work within the sciences, and because of UNC Asheville’s distinction as a public liberal arts university, it will resonate across campus through interdisciplinary classes, learning communities, and undergraduate research. We appreciate the North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation investing in our chemistry and biology programs at this level and in this transformational way. It demonstrates their confidence in the strength of these programs. It will have an individual impact on so many scholars and advance the institution’s efforts in knowledge generation and innovation while strengthening the entire education pipeline in these important fields,” said UNCA Chancellor Mary K. Grant.

Each scholar recruited for the program will receive up to four academic-year scholarships, research support for two summers, two years of academic-year research support, and three years of support for conference travel. Depending on need and years in the program, each student could receive a maximum of $39,000. 

Post-doctoral teaching and research fellows will have two-year commitments and will be mentored by UNC Asheville faculty. The project team will include Herman Holt, associate professor of chemistry and department chair, Amanda Wolfe, assistant professor of chemistry, Ted Meigs, GlaxoSmithKline Distinguished Professor in Molecular & Chemical Biology, and Sarah Seaton, assistant professor of biology. Dean of Natural Sciences Keith Krumpe will serve as project director. 

The program will use a cohort model, proved successful by the existing National Science Foundation-funded Chemistry Scholars Program. Chemistry Scholars will be included in research group activities. 

UNC Asheville will provide $698,286 in matching funds bringing the project total to $2,276,004. The five-year grant started in January 2016.