PRESS RELEASE: Vela announces additional research grant to Texas A&M-Kingsville

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                           PRESS CONTACT:
August 11, 2016                                                                     Brenda Rangel 956.564.1527

PRESS RELEASE: Vela announces additional research grant to Texas A&M-Kingsville

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, announced today that Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) has received $229,395 in grant funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support research at the university.

The grant recognizes TAMUK chemistry Professor Christopher Hobbs’s efforts to provide underrepresented students with research opportunities in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

“Texas A&M-Kingsville encourages students to gain exposure to careers in STEM fields, and this grant will provide more young people with opportunities to conduct important research,” said U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela. “I congratulate Dr. Hobbs on his scientific achievements so far and commend his desire to assist students seeking rewarding positions in professions of the future.”

The project aims to discover new industrial, biomedical and pharmaceutical applications, which will impact the creation of new drugs. The research will also promote green chemistry, which attempts to limit the impact of chemical research on the environment.

“There is also heavy importance placed on the educational aspects of this research. In fact, this grant will fund salaries for multiple undergraduate students to work on this project in the laboratory, paving their way toward graduate/professional programs,” said Professor Hobbs. “Considering that most of our undergrads come from Kingsville (and the greater 34th District), this could have a big impact on many people in our community.”

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