David Blanco and Alexis Smith, graduate students in the University of Florida College of Pharmacy’s department of medicinal chemistry, are among four students selected for the UF Chemistry-Biology Interface Predoctoral Training Program. Blanco trains in the lab of Robert Huigens, Ph.D., an associate professor of medicinal chemistry, while Smith trains under the direction of Guangrong Zheng, Ph.D. an associate professor of medicinal chemistry.
The UF Chemistry-Biology Interface Predoctoral Training Program is funded by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of General Medical Sciences and aims to provide training and support for the development of the research careers of trainees, as well as to enhance the quality of graduate training broadly at the University of Florida. The activities are designed to train students to recognize and address modern research problems that cut across the traditional boundaries of chemistry and biology. They integrate modern technological advances in experimental approaches, provides professional development skills and career guidance, in a manner consistent with developing an inclusive and supportive training community.