Drew Professor Emeritus, James Miller, when he was Chair of the Chemistry Department, had the initial inspiration. Jim observed that Northern New Jersey has a plentiful supply of research-oriented companies, especially in the pharmaceutical and telecommunications industries. He realized that Drew was strategically located to attract talented researchers from these companies when they retired.
In 1979, George deStevens, who had been Executive Vice President and Director of Research at Ciba-Geigy, joined the Drew faculty and later became the Founding Director of RISE. He was instrumental in raising over $1,000,000 for construction of office and laboratory space for RISE.
RISE has mentored well over 350 undergraduate science students since its inception. Some are able to begin research as early as their freshman year. Others may start by participating in Drew’s popular Summer Science Institute. Many are able to turn their research into Honors Theses in their senior year. Whenever possible, students present their research results at professional meetings and publish them in peer-reviewed journals. RISE students have an enviable record of being admitted to top-notch Ph.D. programs and medical, dental, and veterinary schools.
Members of RISE not only maintain their natural ties with former employers but also cultivate new ones as opportunities present themselves. We encourage students to undertake internships with local companies, and we welcome the chance to collaborate on research where it would be mutually advantageous. Historically, RISE has benefited enormously from corporate donations of surplus equipment for our laboratories. Other examples include visitor exchanges and shared seminars. For the past 30 years we have organized and hosted the Residential School on Medicinal Chemistry for professionals from the pharmaceutical industry. About 4,000 people from around the world have attended during this long period.
Lissette Lundono
May 2015, 2nd place
RISE mentor: Dr. Ronald J. Doll
The Synthesis and Chiral Separation of Positive Allosteric Modulators of Glutamic Acid Receptors for the Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease
Randa Barsoom
May 2014, 2nd place
RISE mentor: Dr. Ronald J. Doll
Discovery efforts targeting mutant p53 for the treatment of glioblastoma
Megan McAleavy
May 2013, 1st place
RISE mentor: Dr. Ronald J. Doll
Drug discovery efforts in the reactivation of mutant p53
Tharani Theivakumar
RISE mentor: Dr. Ronald J. Doll
May 2012, 1st place
Discovery of anti-tumor agents targeting mutant p53
Current RISE Students, please fill out a Student Information Form. If you are a current RISE Research Student and have filled out a Student Information Form in the past, please do so again. Thank you!