Belhaven University Receives Mississippi INBRE Grant

JACKSON, Miss. (May 21, 2026) - Belhaven University has received a $25,000 Office of Sponsored Programs Seed Grant from Mississippi INBRE to support continued growth in faculty research and external funding initiatives.

The project is led by Dr. Brandon Magers, professor and chair of chemistry and physics, in collaboration with Dr. John Estes, dean of the School of Science & Mathematics, professor and Yearger Chair of Mathematics and Computer Science. The work will be completed over the summer and focuses on strengthening the university’s administrative infrastructure to better pursue and manage externally funded research opportunities.

Through the initiative, Belhaven will establish a faculty-led working group to create clear processes and workflows for grant development, submission, and management. These efforts will lay the groundwork for a more coordinated and scalable approach to sponsored programs across campus, positioning the university for continued growth in federal and external funding.

A key priority of the project is increasing opportunities for student involvement in research. By strengthening infrastructure and supporting faculty engagement in externally funded work, Belhaven aims to expand hands-on learning experiences that prepare students for careers in science, research, and related fields.

“This grant allows us to build something that will benefit the entire campus,” said Magers. “By creating a clear pathway for faculty to pursue external funding, we are investing in the success of our students.”

Estes said the grant represents an important investment in Belhaven’s long-term research and academic goals. “To fuel Belhaven's growth, we need the organizational capacity to efficiently pursue new opportunities, and the Seed Grant provides exactly what we need to build that foundation,” Estes said. “This work positions Belhaven to expand its impact in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education for years to come.”

The grant builds on recent success Belhaven faculty have experienced in securing competitive grants and represents an important step in expanding the university’s research capacity. Rather than funding a single research project, the Office of Sponsored Programs Seed Grant is designed to help institutions develop the internal structure needed to compete for and sustain future grant opportunities.