January 10, 2024
The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy’s first cohort for the undergraduate Minor in Pharmaceutical Sciences start classes this semester. As part of the cohort, Steven Nuzzolo, a third-year student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is excited to enhance his current studies in neuroscience and chemistry with the addition of the minor.
Pharmaceuticals are a major part of human health and the health care industry. The minor is designed to acquaint undergraduate students with core areas of pharmaceutical science in preparation for advanced study in the health sciences, an advanced degree in the health care professions, or a career in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries.
Nuzzolo is one of thirteen undergraduate students starting the minor this semester. The cohort includes students with majors from STEM related fields, such as chemistry, biology, neuroscience, biochemistry and nutrition.
Originally from the Philadelphia area, Nuzzolo always knew he leaned more toward the sciences than humanities. After deciding to double major in neuroscience and chemistry, his interest grew specifically for drug delivery.
“My interest in pharmaceutical sciences stems from my passion for combining neuroscience and chemistry—I realized that you could combine aspects of chemistry and use it for drug delivery,” he said. “Drug delivery has a lot of large-scale applications and innovation opportunities—taking chemistry and applying it to real-world solutions.”
This led Nuzzolo to reach out to Kristy Ainslie, Ph.D., Fred Eshelman Distinguished Professor and chair for the Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, for undergraduate research in her lab. The experience was so impactful that he knew adding the pharmaceutical sciences minor was the best decision for his future career.
“Working in Dr. Ainslie’s lab made me realize that adding an academic component, or like a curricula component, to my research would really supplement it,” he said. “One of the biggest draws for me to apply for the minor was the world-class faculty and being exposed to and collaborating with all of the School’s divisions.”
The minor takes advantage of existing faculty expertise and courses at the School. It will help students, like Nuzzolo, build fundamental technical language and knowledge in the pharmaceutical sciences, as well as help raise awareness about potential applications and career paths among undergraduates from different majors.
“I am absolutely thrilled to be commencing on this shared journey with our inaugural cohort of students in the Minor in Pharmaceutical Sciences program. This is a momentous opportunity as Steven and his peers are poised to make significant contributions to the world of pharmaceutical research and patient care,” said Scott Singleton, program director of the pharmaceutical sciences minor and associate professor in the Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry.
Nuzzolo is also involved in student government, serving as deputy student body treasurer, on the advisory board for the office of undergraduate research and part of NC Fellows, a student leadership organization. He is currently in the process of founding a chemical and pharmaceutical sciences committee to connect undergraduate students to research initiatives. At this point, he plans to pursue a doctoral program in either the pharmaceutical sciences, immunology or chemistry.
Applications will reopen in August 2024 for the Minor in Pharmaceutical Sciences.
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