Brent Sheerer, UNC Alumnus and President of Ultra-Met Carbide Technologies, has led the way in establishing the Sheerer Family Fund for Undergraduate Research in the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering. His $25,000 commitment, matched by a gift from Ultra-Met, will create a $50,000 endowment that will fund undergraduate research in the department through UNC’s College of Arts and Sciences. Mr. Sheerer’s gift is inspired not only by his own time at UNC, but also by his daughter Kristen’s experience at UNC in the Department of Applied Sciences. Currently, Applied Sciences is how undergraduates at UNC interface with our Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering.
During her time at UNC, Kristen had the opportunity to work in Dr. Nancy Allbritton’s lab during the summer of 2012, and her research was funded through one of UNC’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships. She is now pursuing a graduate degree in Biomedical Engineering at Virginia Tech. Mr. Sheerer’s decision to donate to the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering stems both from a conviction that meaningful, applicable experience in a chosen discipline is invaluable to undergraduates and from a hope that research opportunities will help outstanding students focus on their own vision and enjoy the thrill of exploration and discovery.
BME thanks Mr. Sheerer for this generous donation to support BME’s outstanding undergraduate students.