CLEVELAND, Miss. — Two Delta State University science professors have been awarded a grant from the Mississippi IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) to create cloud-based learning modules designed to teach advanced biology and chemistry methods using large datasets.
Dr. Joseph Bentley, Chair and Professor of Chemistry, and Dr. Christopher Jurgenson, Sullivan-Outlaw Associate Professor of Biochemistry, received the grant, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Data Science Strategy. The project aims to provide students and researchers with the skills to analyze large-scale data—a crucial component of modern research.
Bentley is developing a module focused on energy calculations for small molecules, while Jurgenson’s work will center on x-ray crystallography, a technique used to determine protein structures.
“These modules are part of a larger project involving schools like Duke, the University of Louisiana, and Georgia Tech,” Bentley said. “The final product will be a ‘Sandbox’ learning environment that will showcase Delta State University alongside other leading institutions.”
