Dean Philip Hritcko has announced that Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology Xiaobo Zhong, Ph.D. has been selected as the first ever recipient of the School of Pharmacy’s Faculty Research Advising Award. “This award will be presented annually to a full-time faculty member who has excelled as an advisor for undergraduate or Pharm.D.  students performing research in the School, said Hritcko. “Dr. Zhong’s research advising activities have resulted in strong students who have significantly assisted in research that benefits the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, UConn and broader community. It is fitting that he is the first recipient of this award.”

During 2021 and 2022, Zhong served as a research mentor and advisor to 16 Pharm.D. students and 11 undergraduate students.  These students participated in various research projects and received training on critical thinking, logical experimental design and skills and professional scientific writing.  Several students are listed as an author in an honor thesis, publication, and/or manuscript.  Zhong has also served as Pharm.D. honor thesis advisor.  Many of these Pharm.D. and undergraduate students have participated in a research project focusing on FDA-approved oligonucleotide (ASO) drugs, which is a collaborative project with four labs within the department, including Drs. Manautou, Rasmussen, Bahal and Zhong.  The various research projects have resulted in numerous published articles.

“It is a great honor to be the first recipient for the newly established Pharmacy Faculty Research Advising Award. This award actually honors all Pharm.D. and undergraduate students who work in my lab to gain their research experience.” Zhong commented. “They have done excellent work with several comprehensive review articles published in the leading journals in the field. The research experience will help them to become creative researchers.”