Dr. Christopher Skipwith receives two prestigious postdoctoral fellowships

Dr. Christopher Skipwith is currently a postdoctoral research associate advised by Prof. Heather A. Clark. His research focuses on the development of nanosensors to detect novel analytes of interest in inflammation and cardiovascular disease. He was recently awarded two prestigious postdoctoral fellowships. The first fellowship, a 2014 Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, is awarded by The National Academies to individuals who are committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level, show promise of future achievement as scholars and teachers, and are well prepared to use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students. 24 Ford Postdoctoral Fellowship are awarded per year to support one year of stipend and research expenses.

The second fellowship is a 2014 UNCF-Merck Postdoctoral Science Research Fellowship, worth $92,000, to support two years of postdoctoral research stipend, supplies, and mentoring by a Merck scientist. These fellowships are a component of the UNCF-Merck Science Initiative, the goal of which is to support the training and development of world-class African American biomedical research scientists. 10 UNCF-Merck Postdoctoral Science Research Fellowships are awarded per year.

Chris’s projects under these fellowships will focus on the development of platelet mimetic nanosensors for the detection of small molecules released from platelets in atheroprone regions. These nanosensors will incorporate into nascent clots and detect release of short-lived platelet agonists, providing insight into the mechanistic connections between atherosclerosis and thrombosis. Chris will use these nanosensors to examine mechanisms of thrombosis in atherosclerotic mouse models.