Sponsored Research
Research transforms curiosity into discovery. It cultivates critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity, laying the foundation for future leaders and innovators. Through research, students not only contribute to the advancement of their fields but also develop the necessary skills needed to thrive in an ever-evolving world. It’s not just about finding answers; it’s about asking the right questions, challenging assumptions, and shaping the future.
Through involvement in sponsored research, undergraduates have the chance to work closely with faculty mentors, gaining valuable guidance and mentorship while exploring topics at the forefront of their fields.
NIH INBRE Research
The South Carolina IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (SC INBRE) program is an $18.9 million dollar state-wide initiative funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) designed to enhance biomedical research capacity and infrastructure by fostering research collaboration and supporting innovative research training at institutions like Presbyterian College.
At Presbyterian College, the SC INBRE program has played a pivotal role in advancing the college’s biomedical research capabilities. Through SC INBRE’s funding and resources, Presbyterian College has been able to enhance its research infrastructure, advance faculty development opportunities, and offer students hands-on research experiences that propel these students toward fruitful scientific careers. Furthermore, The SC INBRE program at PC fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, encourages high-impact research, and helps address health disparities, all while significantly elevating the college’s academic and research profile. The program’s mission is pursued through several key efforts.
INBRE Summer Fellowship
As INBRE researchers, students conduct biomedical research with a faculty mentor during an 8-week intensive biomedical research experience. This competitive program provides a salary for each student during the course of the program along with summer housing at PC. In addition to student salary, funds are available for student travel to present their research at scientific meetings. The student’s research mentor also receives salary supplementation along with support for research supplies. They present the research findings during the Summer Research Symposium at the end of the summer and during Honors Day the following year. Students may also present at the INBRE Symposium for South Carolina in January, as well as regional and national INBRE-sponsored meetings throughout the year.
Dr. Austin
Shull
“At PC, we actively support faculty and student research and cultivate a culture focused on competitively applying for federally funded extramural grants (ex: NIH, NSF, and the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities). Additionally, we leverage private foundations and potential donors to invest in faculty scholarship, enhancing research mentorship, development, and advancement for PC students.”
Developmental Research Project Program
The Developmental Research Project (DRP) Program is designed to significantly advance faculty research programs at SC INBRE network institutions like Presbyterian College. Each award is worth up to $50,000 per year for a maximum of three years (with the third year being a competitive renewal). The DRP program grants at Presbyterian College are designed to support impactful faculty-mentored research with PC students to pursue research projects, present their work at national conferences, and publish their research in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
SC NASA Space Grant Consortium
A NASA Space Consortium Grant allows students and faculty to participate on cutting-edge projects and contribute to space exploration and scientific discovery. Colleges and research institutions involved in these projects typically contribute their expertise, facilities, and resources to address specific research questions or challenges identified by NASA. NASA Space Consortium Grants play a vital role in advancing scientific knowledge, technological innovation, and education in space-related fields, while also fostering collaboration among institutions and researchers across the academic and scientific community.
Bioinformatics Pilot Project Program
The Bioinformatics Pilot Project Program is designed to stimulate genomics and bioinformatics projects by supporting research and student training at SC INBRE network institutions like Presbyterian College. Bioinformatics Pilot Project proposals must focus on addressing important biomedical science questions through a bioinformatics or data science approach, while also providing opportunities for students to gain research experience in these growing disciplines. Each award is worth up to $10,000 per year, and the goals of these grants overlap with Presbyterian College’s Computational Biology major.
Jacob Clerc ’25
Jacob Clerc, a senior physics student at Presbyterian College, has delved deeply into research with mentorship from Dr. Eli Owens. Starting with SC INBRE funding, Clerc developed a prosthetic gripper using a flexible membrane embedded with iron filings. This innovative project, designed to grip objects by shifting between liquid and solid states, has applications in robotics and prosthetics. Presenting his work at the SC INBRE regional meetings and the USC Upstate Research Symposium, Clerc shared his findings with a broader audience. His initial experiences laid the foundation for a more ambitious NASA-funded project under the South Carolina NASA Space Grant Consortium.
With NASA funding, Clerc’s current research focuses on magnetic granular materials that transition between liquid and solid states without temperature shifts. This behavior holds significant promise for robotics, especially in creating adaptive grippers for delicate tasks in space. Through this project, Clerc works closely with Dr. Owens, gaining invaluable hands-on experience in advanced scientific exploration. Owens emphasizes that these research opportunities are integral to Presbyterian College’s commitment to fostering student development in technical fields, preparing them for careers or graduate studies.
Amanda Bailey ‘25
When Amanda Bailey ‘25—a Biochemistry major, Computational Biology minor at Presbyterian College—took a series of Organic Chemistry classes during her sophomore year, she found herself hooked on the topics.
“At the beginning of my junior year, I reached out to Dr. De la Cruz and expressed interest in working under her mentorship on research.”
That research—which began in Spring 2024 and is funded through an Organic Synthesis grant—is focused on synthesizing Carbon Monoxide prodrugs. In areas of inflammation and increased levels of hypochlorite, those prodrugs will initiate a cascade of reactions that leads to the release of low but therapeutic levels of carbon monoxide in the body. These low levels of carbon monoxide are shown to lessen inflammation.
Bailey plans to present the research at the PC Summer Research Symposium (Summer 2024) and Honors Day 2025.
“While I do not have my post-grad plans 100% finalized, this research experience has shown me that I want to pursue post graduate education and it has allowed me to gain confidence in my skills needed to do so.”