College of Arts and Sciences
![Benjamin Mudrak Benjamin Mudrak](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/page/Benjamin%20Mudrak_1500w600h.jpg?VersionId=2mIHJQNR52totx8pysDVORb7bBBlbXQ_&h=e6f36a9c&itok=vDNrKQSl)
While most 18-year-olds are finishing up their high school requirements for graduation and making plans to attend college or applying for jobs, a few exceptional students like Benjamin Mudrak are simply way ahead of their peers in their academic pursuits.
![Image by Daniel Friesenecker from Pixabay](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/Patterns%2C%20Populations%20And%20Podcasts_%20Biology%20Professor%20Receives%20NSF%20Funding%20For%20Research%20Progression.jpg?VersionId=VsXEMjcN9LHQuPwTtBszJK8EmZqJF1Gt&h=62c27c7e&itok=1GvBzSJY)
![Image of a book and notebook laid out on a table in front of a bookcase.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/Overall%20Story%20Visual_1.jpg?VersionId=TghK1RRIOSW0r0Dr5ekMaNWfx1BT8EX.&h=8faa3f92&itok=EaLR85gp)
Kent State University has recently received a flurry of grants totaling more than $3 million in funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), which will support research and innovation in a wide range of fields within the College of Arts and Sciences.
![Photo of a filled bookcase](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/Highly%20Cited%20Jaroniec%20Story_0.jpg?VersionId=4M_0HnWnq2vhjga_onCpVD2RTgEnFUlm&h=c6633d97&itok=XkWNVtew)
There are just a handful of chemists worldwide with h-indices above 200. The h-indices of chemists awarded the Nobel Prize during the last five years range from about 30 to 160. Mietek Jaroniec, professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry has an h-index of 125, which places him among the top chemists worldwide.
![Image of cells](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/additional%20pixabay%20image.jpg?VersionId=wRFi0anx3LF2k21SJCAR.N1eSlMjnHyD&h=036f3151&itok=5kWG_2bO)
For students going into the medical research field, having a chance to learn, succeed, fail and be inspired under the supervision of an accomplished researcher during their education is a priceless experience. This experiential learning would not be possible without outside funding, and now, students in Manabu Kurokawa’s lab can elevate their efforts thanks to a grant awarded to the group.
![A collage of images from a CENRS research site.](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/My%20Post%20%285%29_0.jpg?VersionId=OPXM9iTOJitFvcbOOFRSFaLz0gwicO0a&h=2e916daa&itok=2RsotsIo)
![Nico Rushh, owner of Pure Sodalite](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/styles/1_5_2_thumbnail/public/article/Nico%20Photo_0.jpg?VersionId=DKzupdMxJ1Y0cklziv0pUA_OfnUBX9kd&h=11a72f85&itok=cI41HTKF)