On Thursday, October 29, Harbor Branch Natural Products Chemistry team member and Florida Atlantic University doctoral candidate Priscilla Winder will defend her Ph.D. dissertation. Priscilla's dissertation seminar, entitled, “Looking to the Deep for Novel Marine Natural Products with Therapeutic Potential,” is scheduled for 6:00 pm Thursday.

Successful defense of doctoral research is a major milestone for any professional scientist, and the culmination of years of toil and dedication. In addition, Priscilla will hold the further distinction of being the first doctoral candidate to earn her degree under the guidance of an FAU/ Harbor Branch advisor, Dr. Amy Wright, director of the Marine Drug Discovery research group.

Priscilla is no stranger to firsts. As an undergraduate she was a member of the inaugural Harbor Branch/FAU "Semester by the Sea" program in 2001. She then went on to complete two consecutive summer internships in 2001 and 2002 within the Harbor Branch Marine Biomedical and Biotechnology Program and funded by the Gertrude E. Skelly Charitable Foundation. Later Priscilla became a Harbor Branch employee and at the same time began working toward her doctorate.

Dr. Dennis Hanisak, Director of Harbor Branch Education, has witnessed Priscilla's growth during her time at Harbor Branch, as coordinator of the "Semester by the Sea" program since its inception. "I'm really proud seeing Priscilla come this far. It was always our hope that we could provide a foundation for a career path for students, including advanced degrees. To see Priscilla successfully take the next several steps along that path is very exciting. She is the first of what I hope are many students to receive an FAU Ph.D. with an Harbor Branch mentor."

While it is certain there will be many more FAU/Harbor Branch doctoral degree awards in the coming years, Harbor Branch wishes to take this opportunity to congratulate Priscilla Winder as the first to record this important accomplishment.