University of Tulsa alumnus Campbell Eckhardt (B.S. ’24) has been named a recipient of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) award for 2025. This prestigious award will allow him to continue his research under the mentorship of Associate Professor Yousong Ding in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Florida.
The NSF program bolsters the quality, vitality and strength of the nation’s scientific and engineering workforce by recognizing outstanding graduate students pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees. Fellowships come with a three-year annual stipend of $37,000 and a $16,000 allowance for tuition and fees, as well as access to opportunities for professional development.
Eckhardt’s past year at Florida as a graduate research assistant was funded through the Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery, and Development (CNPD3). He has been engineering and characterizing enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of natural products (NPs), which are the chemical compounds produced by living organisms. The fellowship will allow him to take his research even further.
“The NSF GRFP provides the freedom to pursue foundational scientific questions related to the evolution, ecology and regulation of NPs,” Eckhardt said, “areas which are often overlooked within the traditional, translational focus of the medicinal chemistry field.” NPs have broad biomedical applications, and Eckhardt’s plan to integrate artificial intelligence with experimental approaches will be critical in advancing the field.
Eckhardt described how his undergraduate experience at The University of Tulsa assisted in this latest achievement. “My time at TU was instrumental in shaping my scientific identity and career trajectory,” he said. “I am especially grateful to have been a member of Dr. Ron Bonett’s lab in the Department of Biology.” He also extended his thanks to Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Gabriel LeBlanc and the faculty across the Oxley College of Health & Natural Sciences and the Honors College.
Eckhardt advised undergraduate students interested in following a similar path to pursue all the research opportunities they can, explaining that invaluable skills can be developed even through projects may not seem to directly align with one’s long-term goals. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions or to express interest in a lab or topic,” he said. “Some of the most meaningful and transformative opportunities often begin with a simple conversation.”