Dean's Predoctoral Fellowship Award Program
Purpose
The University of South Alabama Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine awards up to three one-year fellowships to eligible students in the Basic Medical Sciences (BMS) Graduate Program. Awards include the student’s stipend, individual health insurance, and $5,000 to cover travel and expenses for awardees to present their work at a national or international conference, or to attend an extramural course/workshop.
Current and Past Fellowship Awardees
Samantha Chaney | Mentor: Amy Nelson, PhD | Physiology & Cell Biology
Chanakan Suwanbongtot | Mentor: Kevin Macaluso, PhD | Microbiology & Immunology
Adeyeye Haastrup | Mentors: Ray Langley, PhD and Troy Stevens, PhD | Pharmacology
Rachel Rodenberg | Mentor: Rob Barrington, Ph.D. | Microbiology & Immunology
Amanda Tuckey | Mentor: Jon Audia, Ph.D. | Microbiology & Immunology
Edward Fiedler | Mentor: Wito Richter, Ph.D. | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rachel Rodenberg | Mentor: Rob Barrington, Ph.D. | Microbiology & Immunology
Reece Stevens | Mentor: Ji Young Lee, M.D., Ph.D. | Physiology & Cell Biology
Jenny Hewes | Mentor: Natalie Bauer, Ph.D. | Pharmacology
Lina Abou Salah | Mentor: Wito Richter, Ph.D. | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jenny Hewes | Mentor: Natalie Bauer, Ph.D. | Pharmacology
Yelitza Rodriguez | Mentor: Steve Lim, Ph.D. | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Abigail Boyd | Mentor: Wito Richter, Ph.D. | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kierra Hardy | Mentor: Jon Audia, Ph.D. | Microbiology & Immunology
Griffin Wright | Mentor: Natalie Gassmann, Ph.D. | Physiology & Cell Biology
Cinta Paptke | Mentor: Rich Honkanen, Ph.D. | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lina Abou Saleh | Mentor: Wito Richter, Ph.D. | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Abigail Boyd | Mentor: Wito Richter, Ph.D. | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Meredith Gwin | Mentor: Troy Stevens, Ph.D. and Ron Balczon, Ph.D. | Physiology & Cell Biology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Barnita Haldar | Mentor: Donna Cioffi, Ph.D. | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eligibility
Eligibility is limited to students in good academic standing who have completed the BMS Graduate Program core curriculum. Current awardees may apply for a second year of funding. It is expected that the most competitive applicants will be those in mid-training rather than being close to completion of their graduate studies.
Key Dates
- Applications must be submitted on or before Tuesday, April 1st at 5 PM
- Awards are expected to begin in May/June
Apply Now for 2025 Fellowship
Application Materials
The submission packet must include:
• A completed intramural Transmittal Form signed by the applicant, the sponsor and the relevant chair
• Applicant’s Biosketch and grades
• Sponsor’s Biosketch and proposed Training Plan and (if more than one sponsor, include Biosketch for each)
• If applying for a second year of funding, a Progress Report addressing how the work plan and outcomes were met and including list of publications (1 page limit)
• Applicant’s research plan, to contain:
Research Plan Section, Page limit
A. Specific Aims, 1
B. Background and Significance, 1/2
C. Strategy, 3
D. One-year work plan and timeline for completion of doctoral training, 1/2
E. References cited, No page limit
Application Submission Requirements
All application materials must be submitted as one collated PDF file via the University InfoReady review portal by 5 PM on April 1st.
Review Criteria
Review is based on assessment of application materials, with each element weighted equally.
Outcomes
Awardees must fulfill the following requirements:
•Participate in the COM grant writing course (IDL 641) during the award period (with the exception of those that have taken this course previously).
• Present work at a national or international conference, or attend a training/skills workshop or course during the award period
• Submit an individual extramural fellowship application (e.g., NIH F31, AHA predoctoral fellowship, other) within 4 semesters of award start date - a draft of the extramural fellowship application must be submitted for pre-review to the Associate Dean for Research one month before the application deadline (feedback will be provided with the goal of improving the likelihood for success)