SubscribeTen colleges, universities share $378K in Education Enhancement Grants
The North Carolina Biotechnology Center has awarded nine grants totaling $377,760 to boost biotechnology research and teaching at 10 community colleges, colleges and universities statewide.
The Education Enhancement Grants (EEGs) range from an $89,455 award to Campbell University in Buies Creek for the purchase of a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry instrument, to $8,852 for educators at Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College in Salisbury to jointly evaluate the need for a short non-credit course for technical service providers, such as welders and plumbers, who maintain or construct life-science research facilities.
"We're delighted with the increasing number and diversity of the EEG requests we're seeing," said Dr. Kathleen Kennedy, the Biotechnology Center's vice president, education & training program. "These awards represent investment in public as well as private institutions, as biotechnology takes on ever-greater relevance for North Carolina's economic future."
The EEG program is one of several administered by the Biotechnology Center to support biotechnology education and workforce training.
Following are the grant recipients' descriptions of their EEG projects:
- Daniel Shin, associate professor, and Lewis M. Fetterman Jr., assistant professor, pharmaceutical sciences, Campbell University, Buies Creek, $89,455. "A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) instrument will be purchased to enhance seven bachelors and masters level courses in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Campbell University. LC-MS instruments are indispensable in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries today. The department is committed to providing highly skilled graduates for these industries in North Carolina."
- Jeanie H. Moore, vice president of continuing education programs, and Tori Torres, student services counselor, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Salisbury, $61,109. "'Train the Counselor' workshops will ensure a seamless continuum of biotechnology career preparation from middle school through post-secondary programs. Workshops will be delivered to multiple audiences in the Charlotte region. Formative assessments will be conducted to ensure quality and relevance to workforce development needs."
- John Cavanaugh, professor of molecular and structural biochemistry, North Carolina State University, $20,000. "The grant will support the planning and development of a new undergraduate course in integrative structural biosciences."
- Ashley A. Hagler, genetics lecturer/lab coordinator, University of North Carolina-Charlotte , $13,010. "Students will incorporate DNA-based hands-on biotechnology techniques in an introductory genetics laboratory course."
- Paul J. Bartels, professor of biology at Warren Wilson College, Asheville, and Sean O'Connell, assistant professor of microbial ecology, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, $62,010. "Discovery of cryptic biodiversity requires state-of-the-art microscopy, digital image analysis, and DNA sequence analysis. Field work, lab work and discovery of new species offer an exciting combination to introduce undergraduates to biotechnology. We will enhance the undergraduate educational experience by creating a photomicroscopy facility at Warren Wilson College and upgrading the DNA analysis capability at Western Carolina University. Technology exchange between WWC and WCU will multiply training opportunities.
- Denise Young, director of educational programs and Jeff Hill, director of
marketing and business ventures, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, $62,824. "The Science 360 platform incorporates live demonstrations and multimedia elements into educational presentations for large groups. Morehead Planetarium and Science Center's biotechnology initiative will create three presentations for this platform, which will serve the 130,000 North Carolinians (many from rural counties) who visit MPSC annually. Podcasts and a Web site extend this programming to global audiences. - Libby Puckett, assistant professor of chemistry and director of the forensic science program, Appalachian State University, $48,500. "One of the goals of the department of chemistry at Appalachian State University is gaining accreditation for our forensic science program. This award will help restructure the current program to incorporate interdisciplinary, lab-based coursework in forensic chemistry to specifically train our majors to work in forensic analysis."
- Russ Read, director of the National Center for Biotechnology Workforce, Forsyth Technical Community College, Winston-Salem, and Jeanie H. Moore, vice president of continuing education programs, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Salisbury, $8,852. "Two BioNetwork NCCCS community colleges (Forsyth Tech and Rowan-Carbarrus) which support workforce training for their respective research parks wish to determine the specific need and provide a non-credit certificate course for service technicians (HVAC, welders, plumbers, electrical, internet/telephone) that either help build or maintain life science park buildings' systems, including highly regulated laboratories. The curriculum would be given to the North Carolina Biotechnology Center and the North Carolina Community College System BioNetwork for statewide use."
- Gregory J. Cole, senior research scientist, Kara A.M. Battle, director of education and Dr. Ken Harewood, director, Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute at North Carolina Central University, $12,000. "This project is designed to enhance biotechnology education at North Carolina Central University (NCCU), targeting NCCU faculty, and graduate and upper level undergraduate students. This will be achieved by a Distinguished Interdisciplinary Seminar Series hosted by the Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute (JLC-BBRI) and Biomanufacturing Research Institute & Technology Enterprise (BRITE) at NCCU, that will allow nationally respected speakers to address students and faculty on topics related to various aspects of biotechnology and biomedical sciences."
The Biotechnology Center is a private, non-profit corporation supported by the N.C. General Assembly. Its mission is to provide long-term economic and societal benefits to North Carolina by supporting biotechnology research, business and education statewide.
Research Triangle Park, N.C. (Feb. 6, 2007)