Announcing the annual competition for our student summer fellowships in MCB. These distinguished fellowships are made possible by very generous donors and are offered on a competitive basis to the most highly qualified students in MCB.  Additional information about the named fellowships, including short biographies of those they are named in honor of can be viewed on the MCB website.

To facilitate the nomination, review and selection process, it is requested that nomination materials be submitted electronically as a single PDF to the Selection Committee at mcboffice@uconn.edu.  The application deadline for each award is February 12.

Please be mindful the Awards Committee is required to follow the fellowship indentures when considering nominations. Please pay close attention to the requirements of each fellowship as they vary and include examples where student research meets requirements along with dates of exams if applicable. The committee cannot consider any nominations which do not adhere to the requirements.

Claire M. Berg Graduate Fellowship in Genetics

Requirements are for a female graduate student in the field of study of genetics who has completed most course work requirements, made progress in her research, and been an active member in the University, local, regional or national scientific community. Nominations should include a one page letter of recommendation, transcript and a short CV.

Arthur Chovnick Graduate Fellowship in Genetics

Requirements are for a graduate student in the field of study of genetics who has completed most course work requirements, made progress in their research, and been an active member in the University, local, regional or national scientific community. Nominations should include a one page letter of recommendation, transcript and a short CV.

Richard C. Crain, Jr. Memorial Fellowship

Requirements are for a Ph.D. student in Molecular and Cell Biology who has completed three years of graduate studies with a minimum GPA of 3.2, demonstrated academic promise and has established research in the field of biochemistry. Nominations should include a one page letter of nomination including how the student's research meets the requirement for the award, a CV, current transcript and GPA.

Dr. Edward A. Khairallah and Dr. Lamia H. Khairallah Graduate Fellowship

Requirements are for a PhD student in Pharmacy or Molecular & Cell Biology who is producing promising research beyond the second year of study in the fields of Biochemistry, Cell Biology, or Toxicology. Preference will be given to candidates who best demonstrate the interests and talents of the late Drs. Edward A. and Lamia H. Khairallah through integration of the above disciplines in their dissertation research.  Interested applicants should submit:  (1) a brief letter of nomination from their major advisor, (2) a second letter of recommendation from another UConn faculty member, (3) a 2-page CV that includes a 250-word summary of their research project, and (4) a UConn (unofficial) grade transcript.

Jean Lucas-Lenard Special Summer Fellowship in Biochemistry

Requirements are for a graduate student actively pursuing research in gene expression, protein secretion, protein folding or membrane receptors and demonstrated academic promise. Nominations should include a one page letter of nomination including how the student's research meets the requirement for the award, a CV, current transcript and GPA.

 Jean Lucas-Lenard Special Summer Fellowship in Molecular and Cell Biology

Requirements are for a graduate student in Molecular and Cell Biology, actively pursuing (a) any aspect of COVID-19, be it immunology, therapeutics, inflammation, or (b) studying the microbiome, microchondrial diseases, and immunology in general along with exceptional academic promise. Nominations should include a one page letter of nomination and a CV, including current transcript and GPA.

Philip I. Marcus Graduate Student Fellowship in Virology

Requirements are for a graduate student in the field of virology doing research with animal viruses and/or interferon research. Nominations should include a one page letter of recommendation including how the student's research meets the requirement for the award, a CV, current transcript and GPA.

Pfizer Summer Fellowship in Molecular and Cell Biology

Requirements are for a student who has completed at least three years of graduate studies with a minimum GPA of 3.2 and demonstrated academic promise. Nominations should include a one page letter of nomination and a CV, including current transcript and GPA.

Antonio H. and Marjorie J. Romano Graduate Education Fellowship

Requirements are for a student pursuing a graduate program in microbiology. Nominations should include the advisor’s recommendation, a graduate transcript and current CV.

Cross-Disciplinary Fellowship in MCB and Pharmaceutical Sciences

A competitive fellowship to be awarded to a PhD student conducting dissertation research in either Pharmaceutical Sciences in the School of Pharmacy, or in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology in CLAS. The student must have passed the general exam, demonstrated scientific promise, and contributed to the fundamental understanding of biological systems as evidenced by a record of publications and presentations. Priority will be given to students who are actively engaged in work that combines the interests of both departments.

Nominations should include a CV, a one-page letter of recommendation and the semester/year the student passed the qualifying examination. The awardee will be chosen by a joint awards sub-committee composed of two faculty members, one each appointed by their respective departments.  A student may receive the fellowship once during their tenure at UConn.

Biohaven Fellowship

A summer fellowship for an MCB PhD student conducting dissertation research in the Department of MCB and demonstrated academic promise. Nominations should include a CV and a one-page letter of recommendation. This will be an open award (no limitations on AOC) to be managed by the awards committee with our other fellowships. A student may receive the fellowship once during their tenure at UConn.

UNDERGRADUATE

 Todd M. Schuster Award in Molecular and Cell Biology

Requirements are for an undergraduate student pursuing an MCB major to provide an opportunity to have the practical experience of carrying out a research project developed in the laboratory of a faculty member of MCB. The student must have an established working relationship with a faculty member in MCB, demonstrate a deep interest in science, demonstrate academic promise, and be working on a project that involves the use of chemical and physical methods to investigate biological problems. Candidates whose research projects involve the use of whole animals directly or indirectly (as a source of materials used in experiments) will not be eligible for the award.

Nominations should include a CV, description of the proposed research project, that includes an explicit statement that no whole animals were involved with the research, student transcripts and a letter of recommendation from the student’s faculty research advisor.