Jared Wood '20, Ph.D.'25

Jared Wood’s path to pursue a doctoral degree in pharmaceutical chemistry at UNCW has been driven by a lifelong passion for science, particularly chemistry. This passion was nurtured during his undergraduate studies at UNCW, where he majored in chemistry and biochemistry, graduating in 2020.  

The pivotal moment in Wood’s academic journey came while working on a master’s degree at UNCW, with guidance from Thomas Williamson, the Sayed Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Williamson’s mentorship was instrumental in helping Wood find his niche in pharmaceutical chemistry.  He transitioned into the Ph.D. program, becoming among the first students to enroll after its launch.  

“He challenged me to think critically and push my limits, which inspired me to pursue a Ph.D. to apply my knowledge in the pharmaceutical industry,” said Wood.  

The pharmaceutical chemistry doctoral program, which began in 2023, prepares students for academic and private careers as scientists for pharmaceutical companies and related chemical industries. A $5 million gift from Dr. Yousry Sayed and his wife, Linda ’78, ’85M, assisted in establishing the program. Woods is the first recipient of the Yousry and Linda Sayed Graduate Student Fellowship, which provides fellows with a stipend during their studies.  

“Dr. Yousry and Linda Sayed have made incredible contributions to our department, and receiving the stipend in their name was both exciting and humbling,” said Wood. 

Wood will be the university’s first student to earn a doctorate in pharmaceutical chemistry in May.  He has also published 10 peer-reviewed papers during the program, four of which are first-author publications. Many of his projects have focused on solving unknown chemical structures and developing new techniques in his field. 

One of his most significant achievements was obtaining a U.S. Patent for discovering two mirror-image forms of a molecule called cannabicitran, derived from cannabidiol (CBD) extracts. Determining its three-dimensional structure was a significant challenge, Wood said. However, once the discovery was made, the rest of the process was straightforward. 

His advice to aspiring chemists is always remembering the big picture during research.  

“It’s easy to get caught up in the small details, but understanding how your work fits into a larger goal will inspire your efforts and make you a more effective researcher,” he said. “When you focus on the broader impact, the smaller details tend to fall into place naturally.” 

A significant influence on Wood’s career path was his nine-month internship at Merck & Co. Inc. This experience allowed him to collaborate with top scientists and immerse himself in an environment of innovation and cutting-edge research.  

“The cutting-edge tools and resources at Merck allow researchers to explore groundbreaking ideas, and that environment solidified my decision to pursue a career in pharmaceutical research,” he said.  

During his time at Merck, Wood contributed to developing advanced methods for determining chemical structures.  

“These techniques are valuable to industry and academia and will serve as a foundation for future innovations,” he said. “I’m excited to expand upon this work in the near future.”  

Upon completing his doctorate, Wood accepted a position at Merck in South San Francisco.  

“I am incredibly excited to begin my career at Merck after graduating with my first Ph.D. in pharmaceutical chemistry from UNCW,” said Wood. “I hope my journey highlights the strength of UNCW’s chemistry department and serves as proof that our Ph.D. program is highly competitive and provides invaluable experiences for its students.”