Purdue Pharma Scholar Awards seeking applicants

Applications are open for the Purdue Pharma Scholars Award. The award’s goal is to foster graduate training in pharmaceutical sciences and neurosciences, and to foster collaborations between UNMC and Purdue Pharma.

• Second or third-year UNMC Ph.D. students.
• Preference will be given to students who have an interest in, or are already pursuing research in, the fields of pharmaceutical sciences and/or neurosciences, particularly pain research.

How many Purdue Pharma Scholars will be selected and how?

• Three Purdue Scholars will be selected annually.
• Scholars will be selected by a UNMC committee of four graduate faculty overseeing or involved in neuroscience research. The UNMC dean for graduate studies or designee will chair the meeting and vote if there is a tie upon reviewing candidates.
• Criteria will include but not be limited to GPA greater than 3.6, area of proposed research concentration and letter of support from mentor indicating likelihood of research success.
• Upon selection, the Purdue Pharma representative will be notified by the UNMC Dean for Graduate Studies.

What will the scholars receive and how will they be recognized?

• Each student selected will receive a one-year graduate assistantship (January-December 2017) at the amount paid to students in the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, and an additional scholarship of up to $10,000.
• Of the additional scholarship, half will be paid immediately upon being named a Purdue Pharma Scholar. The remaining half will be paid when the student successfully competes for a national award (e.g. NIH F30 or F31 award, national society award, etc.). This one-time payment will be in addition to any scholarship UNMC gives to students who have successfully received national awards.
• Scholars will be encouraged to visit and will have access to research facilities at Purdue Pharma at least once during the year, with travel expenses paid by Purdue Pharma.
• Purdue Pharma research leaders and personnel will visit with scholars on campus at least once annually.
• Scholars will be asked to present their research at the annual Purdue-UNMC Neuroscience Research Conference at UNMC.
• Scholars will be recognized as being a Purdue Pharma Scholar in UNMC Today and in a press announcement when selected. They also will be recognized upon their graduation during the Graduate Studies Honors Convocation Ceremony.