Gastonia, NC Local Awarded 2017 Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D. Travel Fellowship

Jeremy Nortey, a junior in the Biomedical Engineering program at the North Carolina State University, was recently awarded a 2017 Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D., Travel Fellowship.

Named in honor of a distinguished member of the U.S. Society For Biomaterials, the Travel Fellowship was created to promote diversity, inclusion and success within STEM fields. The Fellowship provides undergraduate students with the resources needed to become a member of the Society For Biomaterials and attend the 2017 Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, Minn. Fellows are paired with a mentor to serve as a guide as well as to advise them in pursuing advanced degrees and their career goals.

A Gastonia, N.C. local, Nortey is studying ways to optimize and increase control in the creation of 3D-printed scaffolds from nanogels. He learned about the fellowship after submitting his own abstract as a means of presenting at the 2017 Annual Meeting.

“[After I submitted my abstract] my PI, Dr. Ashley Brown, sent me information about the award and suggested that I apply. I’ve always wanted to attend and present research at a conference, so the fellowship is an exciting opportunity,” said Nortey. “Bringing this field to underrepresented minorities is a huge benefit, and in turn it allows the field to develop further by adding diverse perspectives and diverse experiences.”

Aside from his work as a student, Nortey is president of the Minority Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS), Pre-College Initiative Chair of the National Society of Black Engineers and is a teacher assistant in Engineering and Academic Affairs at NCSU. After he receives his undergraduate degree, Nortey plans on attending medical school or an M.D./Ph.D. program.