Jessica Adkins of Water Valley, Miss., has joined the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech as a grants and contracts officer.

Adkins comes to the college from the University of Mississippi, where she worked as a postdoctoral research associate. There, she assisted with grant writing and proposal development, located funding opportunities for university researchers, negotiated agreement contracts with domestic and international collaborators, and helped with patent reviews and applications. She began her new position with the veterinary college on Sept. 1.

“Jessica brings a unique combination of an excellent background in the life sciences and significant experience in grant writing to the college,” said Roger Avery, senior associate dean for research and graduate studies in the veterinary college. “She is well suited to play a pivotal role as we expand the college’s funded research program over the next few years.”

In her new role, Adkins will assist faculty members with the preparation of applications for grants and contracts and their submission through the Virginia Tech Office of Sponsored Programs. She will also take the lead in writing multi-investigator proposals, identify long-range funding opportunities, serve as a liaison between funding agencies and the college, and provide training on grant writing and submission.

Adkins received a bachelor’s degree in polymer and textile chemistry at Clemson University and a doctorate in pharmaceutical sciences from the University of Mississippi.

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