University of Richmond Graduate Camryn Carter Awarded Prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND — Camryn Carter, who graduated from the University of Richmond in May 2023, has received a competitive National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. Carter is a second-year chemistry Ph.D. student at MIT where she is studying RuBisCO, an enzyme involved in photosynthesis. This research is exploring improving photosynthesis in plants related to the long-term increase crop yields.

“This award recognizes my passion and commitment to conducting research that will work towards improving food security around the world,” Carter said. 

This prestigious fellowship provides three years of financial support to outstanding graduate students who have demonstrated the potential to be high-achieving scientists. Applicants must be pursuing full-time, research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in eligible STEM and social science fields.

Carter, from North Chesterfield, Virginia, double majored in chemistry and computer science at UR. During her time at Richmond, she was selected by Cell Press for a Rising Black Scientist Award and was a Beckman Scholar.

Under the mentorship of chemistry professor Carol Parish, Carter’s research during her time at UR has focused on inhibitor design to combat COVID-19. Carter was part of a research team that performed computational simulations to study the omicron variant and how it gains entry into human cells. Carter participated in UR’s Integrated and Inclusive science program and URISE, a pre-first-year program that aims to increase the number of students from groups traditionally underrepresented in science and math disciplines. 

“This award is a testament to the research experiences University of Richmond undergraduate students are able to complete alongside faculty,” said Ethan Knight, associate director in the Office of Scholars and Fellowships.

Since 1955, UR graduating seniors or recent graduates have been selected to receive either NSF Graduate Research Fellowships or been named an honorable mention 107 times.

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“I really couldn't have done this without Professor. Carol A. Parish. She has been an amazing mentor and everything that I have learned in her lab and from her has continued to help me during my Ph.D. I also have to thank Professor Miles Johnson. He was always encouraging me to apply to fellowships and scholarships like NSF GRFP and Beckman. Seeing how he always believed in me, made me believe in myself more. Honestly, the entire chemistry department was so encouraging and supportive.”
— Camryn Carter, 2023 graduate and recent recipient of an NSF Graduate Fellowship