RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (Feb. 6, 2007) -- 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 range from an $89,455 award to Campbell University in Buies Creek to $8,852 for educators at Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.
"We're delighted with the increasing number and diversity of the Education Enhancement Grants requests we're seeing," said Dr. Kathleen Kennedy, the Biotechnology Center's vice president, education and 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 Education Enhancement Grants 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 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 instrument will be purchased to enhance seven bachelors and masters level courses in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Campbell University." - 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." - 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.
"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. - 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.
"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) 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." - 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."
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.
Contact: Jim Shamp, news and publications editor, North Carolina Biotechnology Center, 919-541-9366. Visit the Biotechnology Center's Web site.
