Hamilton College has been awarded $60,000 from the Merck/American Association for the Advancement of Science Undergraduate Science Research Program. The Merck/AAAS program recognizes outstanding undergraduate research programs, and awards research stipends for collaborative work between chemistry and biology departments. This year, Hamilton was among the fifteen schools to receive the honor in the national competition.
The $60,000 awarded to Hamilton will be paid out over three years beginning in the summer of 2004, with $17,000 each year going directly to student research stipends. The annual remaining $3,000 will go to programs and activities to foster interaction between the biology and chemistry departments.
Six collaborative biology-chemistry research projects will be funded by this award. Professors George Shields of chemistry and Steve Festin of biology will study Anti-cancer Molecular Design. Shields and Ian Rosenstein of chemistry, as well as Herm Lehman of biology will research Neuro-Biological Chemistry. Ernest Williams of biology and Robin Kinnel of chemistry will study Chemical Ecology. Tim Elgren of chemistry and Michael L. McCormick of biology will study Biological Dehalogenating Agents. McCormick and John LaGraff of Chemistry will research Biophysical Geo-microbiology. All of these research projects will incorporate undergraduate researchers using the stipend money provided.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is the largest general scientific society in the world, serving 265 affiliated societies and 10 million individuals. Its goal is to "advance science and serve society" through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education, and more. The AAAS is also the publisher of the journal Science. The Merck Company Foundation is a charitable foundation established by Merck & Co., Inc. The foundation aims to advance biomedical science training and education, and to improve access to health care worldwide.
