UW News

April 24, 2018

Washington Research Foundation awards fellowships to UW researchers

UW News

Seven University of Washington researchers have been selected as Washington Research Foundation fellows. This fellowship funds 10 researchers who work in STEM fields to perform mentored research projects over the next three years.

Matthew Crane headshot

Matthew Crane plans to develop a new method to assemble nanomaterials.

“It feels really, really good to know that I’ve got funding,” said Matthew Crane, who will start a project to develop a new method to assemble nanomaterials. “It’s great because I know that I’ll have the time to do good science instead of just shooting for the stars and hoping that it works.”

The fellows recently received their doctorates from institutions around the world, but they have chosen to continue their careers at institutions in the state of Washington. Their research covers a broad range of disciplines, including geology, engineering and biology.

Mary Regier will use the fellowship to study how populations of different cells are patterned to give tissues specific functions.

“The award will enable me to explore an area of research that I think will broadly impact what we know about human development and physiology,” she said.

Mary Regier headshot

Mary Regier will study how populations of different cells are patterned to give tissues specific functions.

Luke Parsons will use his award to study climate variations on timescales ranging from years to centuries.

“I hope to advance understanding of the sources of climate variability to help determine if 21st century climate change will occur relatively smoothly, like a ramp, or in fits and starts, like a jagged staircase,” he said.

This fellowship provides researchers with a stipend, benefits and a small budget for travel and supplies. WRF also plans to host networking events and other professional training workshops to supplement the fellows’ careers.

“We’re confident that the fellows will be well supported in learning how to most effectively provide public benefit through their work,” said Ron Howell, WRF’s CEO, in a statement.

Luke Parsons headshot

Luke Parsons at a field site in far western Nepal. Parsons will use his award to study climate variations on timescales ranging from years to centuries.

Other UW researchers to receive this fellowship include Connor Bischak, Max Friedfeld, Kameron Harris and Emma Schmidgall. Researchers at the Infectious Disease Research Institute, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Washington State University received the other three fellowships.

The Washington Research Foundation supports life science and technology research in the state of Washington. Applications for the next group of fellowships will open May 21.

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