Fellowships and Awards

Please contact [email protected] for questions about any of these awards.

BMBB Graduate Fellowships and Awards

Frederick J. Bollum Award

The Frederick J. Bollum Award is given annually to a graduate student whose thesis research focuses on molecular biology. This award, administered by the University of Minnesota Foundation, is open to any BMBB graduate student but is designed to recognize particularly noteworthy findings concerning the biology of nucleic acid structure, function, regulation or any aspect of gene expression.

Charles Carr / William Peterson Award

The Carr-Peterson Award is presented annually to a BMBB graduate student whose research emphasizes metabolism and regulation. This award is administered by the University of Minnesota Foundation and is in recognition of the careers of BMBB emeritus faculty member, Charles Carr, and his student, William Peterson.

Ross A. Gortner Award

The Ross A. Gortner Award is given annually to an advanced graduate student in recognition of their scholarly contributions. This award, sponsored by the University of Minnesota Foundation, emphasizes the areas of Enzymology and/or Protein Chemistry and is given to a BMBB graduate student in recognition of consistent, high-quality research as measured by their publication record.

Hogenkamp Award in Enzymology

The Hogenkamp Award is presented annually to a BMBB graduate student whose research emphasizes enzymology. This award is administered by the University of Minnesota Foundation and is in recognition of the career of BMBB emeritus faculty member, Dr. Henricus P. C. Hogenkamp.

Thomas Reid Award

The Thomas Reid Award is given annually to recognize novelty and innovation in graduate research. Dr. Reid is the founder of Life Science research and development at 3M Company and an alumnus of the University of Minnesota. He was presented with the Alumni Society Outstanding Achievement Award in 1998. This award is administered by the University of Minnesota Foundation and is open to any BMBB graduate student. The award will recognize original or groundbreaking work and also can be applied to a research contribution that focuses on techniques or methodologies that are particularly new or likely to lead to significant changes in how research in a particular field is conducted.

Armstrong-Pothapragada Graduate Fellowship

The Armstrong-Pothapragada Graduate Fellowship is supported through the generous contributions of Dr. Wallace D. Armstrong and Dr. Venkateswarlu Pothapragada. This fellowship will be given to a full-time BMBB graduate student who is in good standing and shows potential in their chosen field. The fellowship is aimed at promoting a diverse student body.

Victor Bloomfield Graduate Fellowship in Molecular Biophysics

The Bloomfield Graduate Fellowship in Molecular Biophysics has been established through the generous contribution of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics Professor Victor Bloomfield. This endowed fund shall be used to attract and retain highly talented students in the BMBB graduate program who are conducting research in Structural Biology or Biophysics. The fellowship can be renewed for one year provided the student maintains good standing in the Ph.D. program.

Arnold H. Johnson Fellowship

The Arnold H. Johnson Fellowship honors Dr. Arnold Johnson, one of the country’s outstanding contributors to the fields of nutrition and food technology. The purpose of this fellowship is to provide an independent source of funds to investigate new ideas and establish new grounds for important work rather than supplementing already well-funded areas. The award will be given to a BMBB graduate student pursuing innovative research in the areas of nutrition and/or metabolism. This fellowship is annually renewable, for a maximum of 4 years, provided the student maintains good standing in the Ph.D. program.
Note: Applicants should submit an additional letter of support from a BMBB faculty member.

Edith Walters Jones and Robert Jones Fellowship in Memory of Stanford Robert Jones

The Edith Walters Jones and Robert Jones Fellowship is given through the Minneapolis Foundation and supports a full-time BMBB graduate student who demonstrates academic merit and is working toward their Ph.D. degree. Students may be working in any field within the biological sciences that take a molecular or chemical approach to the investigation of the dynamics of living systems. A preference will be given to students who are of Jewish heritage and self-identify as Jewish, or students who have converted to Judaism.

Huber Warner Fellowship in Molecular Biology

The Huber Warner Fellowship in Molecular Biology is supported by the generous contribution of Professor Huber Warner who was a former faculty member in Biochemistry and Associate Dean for Research in the College of Biological Sciences. This fellowship will be given to a student in the BMBB graduate program who works in the area of Molecular Biology. Preference will be given to a student working on mechanisms of aging.

Cyrus Barnum Teaching Award

This award will be given to BMBB graduate students in the name of Cyrus Barnum in recognition of excellence in teaching. The awards may be for any aspect of the teaching experience including tutorials, lab classes or traditional classroom activities but may not be awarded to individuals for mentoring undergraduates in research within a faculty member's laboratory.
Note: The application materials must include a letter of nomination by the faculty member in charge of the course and be accompanied by course evaluations or student-derived commentary on the performance of the nominee as a teaching assistant.

BMBB Postdoctoral Awards

Paul D. Boyer-James B. Peter Award

The Boyer-Peter Award is given to a BMBB postdoctoral fellow (up to 5 years post-Ph.D.) who has made significant research contributions in any area of biochemistry under the direction of a BMBB faculty member. This award is funded by an endowment established by Nobel Prize winner and former faculty member, Paul D. Boyer, as well as his postdoctoral fellow, James B. Peter, in recognition of the many contributions postdoctoral fellows made to his research career. The recipient will present a departmental seminar to the faculty, staff and students as well as invited guests.