Hobart and William Smith Colleges

With nearly $1 million in total federal grant funding, two interdisciplinary faculty projects are poised to support innovative research and student success.

Over the next decade, STEM occupations are expected to grow faster than careers in other sectors, leaving a talent shortage of 3.5 million jobs by 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. To help close that gap, HWS will lead a partnership with other institutions to develop a skilled STEM workforce with support from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Associate Professor of Physics Leslie Hebb and Professor of Geoscience Nicholas Metz, who also serves as Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Development, were awarded a $399,499 grant as part of the NSF’s EmpowerEd: Building the Future Workforce Together project.

Meanwhile, Professor of Biology Patricia Mowery and Professor of Chemistry Erin Pelkey were awarded a $425,050 grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop drugs that target tubulin, a critical cellular protein and a common target for cancer treatments. Since 2014, Mowery, Pelkey and their research students have been investigating new avenues for anticancer therapeutics. As they explain, this new support enables their continuing “research to improve anticancer agents while training the next generation of scientists.”

“At HWS, we pride ourselves on the ways in which we think deeply about the future, and these projects hold tremendous promise,” says Provost and Dean of the Faculty Sarah Kirk. “Our science faculty’s innovative collaborations reflect the best of our campus’ academics, connecting students with opportunities to practice robust research with profound implications for our world.”