Belhaven’s Rachel Roller Receives Grant to Expand STEM Seminar Series

JACKSON, Miss. (November 6, 2026) – Rachel Roller, assistant professor of chemistry at Belhaven University, has received a grant to expand the University’s interdisciplinary STEM Seminar series, connecting students with researchers, industry professionals, and opportunities for future careers.

The Curriculum-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CURE) Award is provided through The University of Southern Mississippi and the Mississippi IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE). Roller’s project, “Supporting Student Engagement and Career Preparation through Interdisciplinary STEM Seminar Series,” will support speaker honoraria and travel expenses, allowing Belhaven to bring a wider range of distinguished speakers to campus.

“I’m excited for the opportunities this grant will provide for our students. Belhaven’s STEM Seminar series is already a fantastic venue for students to connect with cutting-edge researchers and STEM professionals, but with this funding, we’ll be able to bring even more high-caliber speakers to campus,” Roller said.

Affectionately known as “STEMinar,” the weekly series has brought together Belhaven faculty and students from a variety of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics majors for the past four years. Presenters have included accomplished STEM alumni, Belhaven faculty conducting research, research scientists from industry and academia, and recruiters from medical, pharmacy, dental, and other professional schools. Students also share their experiences completing Research Experiences for Undergraduates and other internships.

These interactions have helped students explore career paths and build professional relationships that have led to collaborations and internships. The grant will expand those connections while introducing students to current research across STEM disciplines.

The CURE Award supports efforts to strengthen science education and biomedical research training at Mississippi institutions focused primarily on undergraduate education. Belhaven’s project advances those goals by incorporating presentations about active research into the seminar series and providing opportunities for students to engage directly with researchers and industry professionals.

The project’s funding period runs from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2027.