Chipouras Award Fund Makes Possible Students’ Learning Journeys

“I wouldn’t have been able to present at the conference without the award,” said Keith Gandy ’17, one of the recipients of the Evan Chipouras Biology Student Award.

He and Michael Carastro ’94, associate professor of biochemistry, attended the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Annual Meeting in Chicago, where he presented research on the epigenetic mapping of cancer suppressors.

“Evan inspired students to pursue travel and be involved with the scientific community to enrich their learning,” said Lori McRae, associate professor of biology, of Chipouras, an associate professor of biology at UT from 1999–2014.

When he passed away in 2014, friends and colleagues created the fund in his name to provide funding for students to attend and present at academic and professional conferences.

“The conference gave me an advantage,” said Gandy, whose goal is to attend veterinary school. “The ability to present and interact with professionals at that level shows competitive graduate programs that I’m ready for the next step in my academic journey.”

Make award fund donations at www.ut.edu/giving. Indicate for “Chipouras Award Fund.”

This feature appeared in the Fall 2017 UT Journal. Read the full magazine.