Assistant Professor Montclare receives important chemical science grant

Jin Kim Montclare, Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biological Sciences

Assistant Professor Jin Kim Montclare has received a 2008 Special Grant in Chemical Sciences from The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, a leading non-profit organization devoted to the advancement of the chemical sciences.

The $50,000 award will support Professor Montclare's project titled “Mentored Chem-Bio Technology Lab: From Virtual Small Molecules to Biomolecules.”

Of the award and project, Professor Montclare says, “We are honored to be awarded this grant from the Dreyfus Foundation.  With the funds, we will be able to develop an outreach program in close collaboration with The Urban Assembly Institute of Math and Science for Young Women that will integrate chemistry and biology.  Together with the Co-Directors of the Urban Assembly Institute, Kiri Soares and Kelly DeMonaco, and Executive Director of Poly’s David Packard Center, Noel Kriftcher, we will create interactive lab modules that will introduce the girls to interdisciplinary science and hopefully inspire them to pursue science-related careers.”

Professor Montclare is one of 26 recipients of the grant which Dr. Mark Cardillo, Executive Director of The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, describes as “a seed program that is unique in that it annually solicits from the chemistry community, and from those who advocate for science, innovative ways to advance the chemical sciences.”

Professor Montclare runs Poly’s Protein Engineering and Molecular Design Lab which focuses on engineering macromolecules and seeks to provide biologically-inspired solutions to address the challenges of human disorder treatment and medicine, sustainable energy, and environmental remediation.