NEWS
NORMAN, OKLA. – University of Oklahoma graduate Lucy Coleman has been selected for the National Institutes of Health Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program, an elite international doctoral training program that partners the NIH with the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge to prepare future leaders in biomedical research.
Coleman, who earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from OU and will graduate this month with a master’s degree in chemistry, will begin the fully funded program this summer at NIH headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, before continuing her studies in England. Through the program’s structure, scholars split their doctoral training between the NIH and either Oxford or Cambridge while conducting collaborative biomedical research.
Coleman said the opportunity fits with her long-term goal of developing new therapies for disease. “I’ve always known I wanted to work in health sciences and disease research, but from the research and development side,” Coleman said. “This program allows me to combine experimental research and computational research in a way that prepares me for the future of drug discovery.”
The NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program is highly competitive and designed for students pursuing biomedical doctoral degrees through collaborative research teams spanning institutions and countries. Scholars work with mentors at the NIH and at Oxford or Cambridge to develop a single research project, splitting their time between the two laboratories.
Coleman plans to begin at the NIH, where she hopes to conduct experimental laboratory research before transitioning to computational modeling work in England.
“What excites me the most about being in places like the NIH and large universities is that you’re surrounded by so much cutting-edge science,” she said. “Being able to learn from experts and collaborate across different fields will help me grow as a scientist.”
Originally from Boise, Idaho, Coleman came to OU as a National Merit Scholar, drawn by OU's science programs and opportunities for undergraduate research. She said hands-on experiences in OU laboratories helped shape her path.
At OU, Coleman conducted undergraduate research under Shanteri Singh, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, studying natural products with therapeutic potential. She most recently conducted computational chemistry research under the supervision of Ulrich H.E. Hansmann, Ph.D., professor of chemistry and biochemistry, studying how harmful protein build-ups form in diseases such as Alzheimer’s, exploring possible ways to treat them.
Coleman said the opportunity to conduct independent research at OU played a critical role in preparing her for the rigor of the NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program, allowing her to lead projects, present findings, publish research and develop as a scientist.
Coleman said mentors in the Honors College and the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences, including Brian Johnson, Ph.D., director of student success in the Honors College, helped guide her through graduate opportunities and career decisions.
She hopes her experience encourages other OU students to pursue ambitious opportunities. “Don’t count yourself out of prestigious programs,” she said. “Get involved, find mentors and pursue things you genuinely care about. OU gave me the support to figure out what I wanted to do and that made all the difference.”
The NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program officially begins Aug. 3. Coleman will spend her first two years at the NIH in Bethesda before continuing doctoral research in England.
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is part of the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences, OU’s first and largest college, with programs spanning the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences and professional programs.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
University of Oklahoma graduate Lucy Coleman has been selected for the National Institutes of Health Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program, an elite international doctoral training program that partners the NIH with the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge to prepare future leaders in biomedical research.
Entrepreneurship and engineering students from the University of Oklahoma have helped work on ensuring a clean Oklahoma River for the 2028 Summer Olympics. Their collaboration is thanks to a project designed by faculty at OU's Price College of Business and Gallogly College of Engineering.
A University of Oklahoma data scientist has created a free research tool to facilitate this process. Called ECHO – Evaluation of Chat, Human Behavior, and Outcomes – the open source, low-code platform enables scholars to design and run behavioral experiments involving conversational AI, Web search and human-AI interaction.
