“College is very expensive, especially as an out-of-state student, and finding way to pay for it is not something you can push to the bottom of your to-do list,” Ellerbe said. “Winning this scholarship alleviated some of that worry. I am now able to focus on getting good grades, volunteering more, and being more mindful of my college experiences.”

In practical terms, that has meant devoting time to seminars, conferences, and other networking and development opportunities, Ellerbe said, including some that have come with PeproTech’s own professionals.

Ellerbe has participated in virtual lunches with company managers and learned about the different cytokine products PeproTech produces for research labs. She also traveled to the company’s New Jersey headquarters for a tour and meeting with their president.

PeproTech started the diversity scholarship “to foster a more equitable and inclusive future — within our own walls and in the greater scientific community,” according to the company. From the outside, the company said the recipient would “demonstrate great passion and potential in the sciences, with an interest in pursuing a career in the field.”

Ellerbe found out about the scholarship from Professor Manu Platt, who has become a mentor and sounding board for her. She met Platt through GT-ESTEEMED, a federally funded program that supports and develops undergraduates from historically underrepresented backgrounds during their first two years of college.

For her part, Ellerbe said she’s looking forward to establishing a career built on connections and a problem-solving approach with a holistic view. She said conducting research as an undergraduate and working as an intern has shown her how fragmented the research and health sector can be sometimes.