ACADEMICS

The University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy is offering an online undergraduate certificate program in therapeutic cannabis studies, responding to the growing demand for skilled workers in one of the nation’s fastest growing industries.

URI’s online, four-course program — the first of its kind in the nation — aims to meet that demand. The online delivery model will allow for the flexibility necessary to accommodate students nationwide, as well as working professionals. The program, delivered by leaders in phytocannabinoids like CBD, consists of four 3-credit courses. The virtual laboratory experience will introduce students to state-ofthe-art equipment for cannabis chemistry analysis and testing of cannabis-related products.

The overall goal of the program is to provide graduates with an in-depth knowledge about the safe production and dissemination of cannabis-related information and products for qualified patients. Students successfully completing the course will earn a 12-credit certificate.

For more information and to apply for future courses, visit cutt.ly/onlinecan

Undergraduates in the College of Pharmacy will soon have the opportunity to delve into the mysteries of the brain in a new neuroscience academic program. The new B.S. in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience will offer students the option of three areas of focus, distinguishing it among neuroscience programs in New England.

The program brings together a wide range of disciplines—from basic research and clinical studies to new drug development—allowing for a more thorough study of neurological processes and disorders. The three degrees are: a B.S. in Neuropharmacology from the College of Pharmacy; a B.S. in Clinical Neuroscience from the College of Health Sciences; and a B.S. in Molecular Neuroscience from the College of the Environment and Life Sciences. The program will offer students access to training and faculty expertise from researchers at the George & Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience. PDI Offers Online Training for Pharmaceutical Firms

The University of Rhode Island Pharmaceutical Development Institute continues to provide critical workforce training for pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms throughout the coronavirus pandemic, offering a suite of online experiences for industry partners.

The Institute, part of the URI College of Pharmacy, provides training for the existing biopharmaceutical workforce and prepares the next generation of biotech workers. The Institute’s team of specialists have extensive industry and education experience and ordinarily offer scheduled courses in a combination of classroom, lab and GMP spaces. During the pandemic, the Institute is continuing to provide the critical training, developing fully online experiences that offer the same expertise industry partners have come to expect, just from a distance. Ten new undergraduate classes have been developed as part of the core curriculum, enabling students to explore fundamental concepts of neuroscience, learn research methods and apply that knowledge in the field.

“There are a lot of students who are just so excited to learn more about neuroscience and some of them have actually joined my lab and are helping me in my research,” said College of Pharmacy and Ryan Institute researcher Katharina Quinlan, who is studying neurodegeneration in the spinal cord and dysfunction in motor control disorders like cerebral palsy, ALS and spinal muscular atrophy. “There is a huge amount of grassroots enthusiasm for neuroscience here that is wonderful to see. If you are interested in

neuroscience, URI is really a great place to be.” For more information on the program and its

curriculum, visit uri.edu/inp.

• Upstream Aseptic Processing • Best Practices in Cleaning and Environmental Monitoring • Introduction to Cosmetics Development In addition to scheduled courses, the Institute’s experts create custom foundational courses designed to meet an industry partner’s specific needs. For more information and to register, visit