These scholars have a little more than a high school diploma.

The Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) introduced its first two ARA Scholars at a capitol press conference on Wednesday.

The initiative is a major shift in recruiting research-oriented entrepreneurial endeavors to Arkansas.  The ARA, a collaboration of business leaders, research institutions and entrepreneurs, was created after the 2007 legislative session.  Its mission has been to jump-start the state’s efforts to expand research at various academic institutions in Arkansas and to find ways to grow that research into commercial applications centered around high-wage job creation.

Built on a successful program in Georgia, the ARA today announced two new scholars, both of whom will be seeded with $500,000 from the state.

Dr. Ranil Wickramasinghe will join the faculty of the University of Arkansas from Colorado State University.  He is considered an authority in the fields of sustainability bioenergy and purification of pharmaceutical products.  Dr. Wickramasinghe work at the UofA will center on sustainable agriculture and bioenergy management.

"We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Wickramasinghe to our faculty," said UA Chancellor David Gearheart. "His expertise and academic research strengths will advance our programs in highly relevant fields."

Dr. Daohong Zhou is a medical researcher considered an expert in the field of stem cell and cancer research.  He joins the faculty of UAMS from South Carolina and will take a leading role in establishing a new research program of personalized health research sciences in Arkansas.

"Dr. Zhou is an accomplished scientist with a strong international reputation in the field of radiation biology," said UAMS Chancellor Dan Rahn. "We have high expectations for Dr. Zhou and his staff and anticipate that they will strengthen a developing research group focused on radiation-induced tissue energy."

The ARA scholars program opens a new frontier for economic development in Arkansas.  The initiative allows Arkansas to aggressively pursue researchers in fields that could lead to commercialization and job creation.  Georgia’s research alliance is given credit for helping start 150 companies and creating 5,500 high-wage jobs.

Arkansas hopes to emulate that success.

"The scholars program is fundamental to the ARA because job-creating research is a cornerstone of our core value: economic progress," said Entergy Arkansas President Hugh McDonald, chairman of the ARA board.

Jerry Adams, ARA President and CEO and a former Acxiom executive, said that in the coming months the group hopes to launch a conference through the Rockefeller Institute to bring more collaborative bodies together to discuss additional research initiatives.  Not only is ARA focused on bringing out-of-state recruits with promising research to Arkansas, but it is working to identify home-grown talent as well.

ARA has identified 9 strategic focus areas that combine state resources and potential recruiting opportunities for the future.  They are:

  • Enterprise Systems Computing
  • Distributed Energy Network Systems
  • Optics and Photonics
  • Nano-related Materials and Applications
  • Sustainable Agriculture and Bioenergy Management
  • Food Processing and Safety
  • Personalized Health Research Sciences
  • Behavioral Research for Chronic Disease Management
  • Obesity and Nutrition

You can learn more about the group and its efforts at www.aralliance.org.