LA CROSSE—WiSys awarded UW-La Crosse student Jacqueline Sporie a $4,500 WiSys Ambassador Grant to research a new type of antimicrobial material that could enhance sanitation in many applications, including hospitals, schools and food production.
Sporie is pursuing her project under the guidance of Dr. Seth King, an associate professor of physics at UW-La Crosse, who specializes in materials science.
"Receiving funding to pursue projects is a rewarding experience that gives insight into what life as a scientist outside of the classroom can be like, and it's very exciting," Sporie said.
Sporie was selected to serve as a WiSys Ambassador, enhancing the connection between WiSys and the UW-La Crosse research community, during the 2020-2021 school year. WiSys Ambassadors are eligible to apply for a WiSys Ambassador Grant.
These grants are designed to help WiSys Ambassadors advance their knowledge and skills as young researchers through summer research programs. The grants may be used for implementation and completion of short-term projects or to advance long-term projects the ambassador undertook with the guidance of a faculty mentor.
“Watching our students develop into independent researchers is one of the proudest moments we have as mentors,” Dr. King said. “Opportunities like the WiSys Ambassador Grant program not only rewards these scientists for their hard work and dedication, but also allows them to develop their own ideas and experience the grant writing process to fund these endeavors.”
The WiSys Ambassador program offers a work opportunity for students in the UW System who are interested in research, innovation or entrepreneurship. These students play a vital role in WiSys’ outreach efforts and programming on campuses.
To learn more about the WiSys Ambassador Program and WiSys Ambassador Grants, visit wisys.org/ambassadors.
WiSys is a nonprofit organization that works with faculty, staff, students, and alumni of the UW System to facilitate cutting-edge research programs, develop and commercialize discoveries and foster a spirit of innovative and entrepreneurial thinking across the state.