Ashleigh Theberge, associate professor of chemistry at the University of Washington, has been named to the Schmidt Sciences Polymath Program, entitling her to grants of up to $2.5 million over five years to “pursue risky, novel theories that would otherwise be difficult to fund,” according to a Sept. 10 announcement from Schmidt Sciences. Theberge — one of six awardees this year — was selected from an applicant pool of 117, and is the first UW faculty member selected for the program, which is in its third year.
At the UW, Theberge is co-principal investigator of the Bioanalytical Chemistry for Medicine and the Environment Laboratory with Erwin Berthier, UW affiliate professor of chemistry. They study the chemical signals that cells use to communicate with one another. The organization of our bodies, with different types of cells taking on discrete functions, depends on this biochemical language.
“I am very grateful for this funding which will enable us to explore new research directions with the goal of both better understanding molecular mechanisms and improving patient care,” said Theberge, who is also an adjunct faculty member in the UW Department of Urology.
