News Release

Research, professional development opportunities
at heart of summer undergraduate research program

CHAPEL HILL – Eleven undergraduate students in biological, biomedical and chemical science arrive at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Sunday (May 21) for a unique summer fellowship opportunity that will prepare them for a career in science.

The Partnership for Minority Advancement in the Biomolecular Sciences (PMABS) and UNC-Chapel Hill’s Institute for Science Learning are hosting the PMABS Summer Research Program. Students applied for a four-week or 10-week session. The program’s goal is to build a community of scholars who will go on to pursue graduate degrees and, ultimately, careers in science.

Components of the summer research program include:
• Knowledge development – participating in academic enrichment activities, enhancing math and chemistry skills and attending scientific seminars;
• Research development – cultivating hands-on laboratory skills, designing experiments, analyzing data and gaining scientific communication skills; and
• Professional development – joining a community of undergraduate science scholars, interacting with world-class scientists and building mentored relationships.

Nine undergraduates were selected through a competitive and stringent review process and will be sponsored by the UNC-Chapel Hill partnership through grants from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

The eight students participating in the 10-week program are:
• Melissa Gottron of Allison Park, Pa., a senior at Yale University;
• Sunjay Barton of Chapel Hill, a sophomore at Swarthmore College
• Lonna Mollison of Durham, a senior at North Carolina Central University
• Shannon Oliver of Miami, Fla., a sophomore at Johnson C. Smith University
• Shannan White of Forestville, Md., a senior at Johnson C. Smith University
• Leslie Kennedy of Indian Trail, a junior at Elizabeth City State University
• Yonesha Phair of Autryville, a senior at Fayetteville State University
• Tavia Clemendor of Danville, Va., a junior at Shaw University

One student, Matthew Lau of Durham, a sophomore at UNC-Chapel Hill, will participate in the four-week program beginning July 13th.

In addition to those students attending through the support of the PMABS program, Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte is sending three of its students with support from a grant to Johnson C. Smith to take part in the program. Those students are:
• Kristen Reynolds of Suffolk, Va., a rising sophomore
• Collette G. Brown of Snellville, Ga., a rising sophomore
• Brittany Miles of Stone Mountain, Ga., a rising sophomore

Undergraduate scholars will be engaged in laboratory research projects in departments ranging from biochemistry, biology, pathology and pediatrics. At the conclusion of the program, scholars will submit a written summary of their research project and prepare a presentation for a symposium on July 27.

“The Summer Research Program will provide a unique experience for these students, who may not have had the opportunity to participate in research activities previously,” said Brian Rybarczyk, Ph.D., program coordinator. “They will become part of a research community, develop professional skills and contribute to scientific progress.”

PMABS is an alliance of scientists and educators from UNC-Chapel Hill and seven of North Carolina’s historically minority universities, collaborating to ensure equity of access to knowledge and opportunity in order to increase the number and diversity of students pursuing and attaining careers in science.

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Note: Rybarczyk can be reached at (919) 843-9035 or brybar@email.unc.edu.

News Services contact: Lisa Katz, (919) 962-2093 or lisa_katz@unc.edu.