UNCW graduate first ever to receive doctorate in pharmaceutical chemistry

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Thousands of people are graduating from UNCW Friday and Saturday, but one of them is setting a new path for future students to follow.

Jared Wood is one of more than 3,000 students receiving undergraduate and graduate degrees.

He is the first student in the university’s history to receive a doctoral degree in pharmaceutical chemistry.

Wood said he was inspired by his advisor, who received their master’s degree from UNCW and went on to work for a pharmaceutical company.

Wood said he’s excited that other students may soon follow him into the same career.

“We’re on track to get a lot more students as time goes on,” Wood said. “And already we have, I believe, 7 in the program currently enrolled. And all of them are doing a great job already so far. Everyone’s passed their candidacy exams and are accomplishing some very novel research here at UNCW.”

Wood will soon begin working at Merck, where he will help develop new pharmaceutical drugs.