URI professor receives grant for underrepresented students
A professor from the New England Council Member, the University of Rhode Island, has been awarded a grant that will aid the education of underserved students studying majors complementary to a career in disease treatment.
The grant, worth nearly $1.1 million, will aid a diverse group of students, allowing them to pursue studies in multiple fields, so long as the focus of their education remains on treating diseases. These include fields such as biomedical engineering, cell and molecular biology, chemistry, physics, and pharmaceutical science. The program, which currently enrolls 5 students, offers participants an annual funding stipend, with the goal of providing students pathways to independent research by their junior and senior years at school. Professor Samantha Meenach, who is establishing the program, hopes to increase the number of participants in the coming years, and reach out to students who may not have had advanced opportunities for study otherwise.
“The focus of this program is to reach students earlier, to get them interested and involved in science so by the time they reach their junior and senior years they are properly equipped and able to begin conducting their own research,” Meenach said. “Ultimately, the goal is to have them enroll and succeed in doctoral programs.”
The New England Council congratulates the University of Rhode Island and Professor Meenach on the establishment of this program.
Read more from the Providence Business News.