The chemistry and biology departments will each receive research grants of $167,251 from the United States Department of Education.
The grant will allow seven graduate students each year to receive doctorates in biology and chemistry.
John Winn, chairman of the chemistry department and co-author of the proposal said, "the money is to allow both departments to increase graduate student enrollment by providing money to allow us to recruit more students each year."
The College was one of the 70 schools chosen out of a pool of 285 to receive a grant through an Education Department program, called the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need.
In 1991 the chemistry and biology departments received a similar grant for three years.
This grant will allow the two departments to maintain the same level of students enrolled in the program.
"The grant's purpose is to attract students of the highest academic ability and demonstrated financial need with an emphasis on increasing the number of traditionally underrepresented minorities," Winn said.
The program is also designed to increase the proportion of women studying for a doctorate in each department.
In a press release issued by the College, Winn said "Our chemistry department has long had a percentage of women graduate students that is about twice the national average."
Biology Associate Professor Carol Folt co-authored the proposal with Winn.
