Awards

The Department of Pharmacology offers awards to acknowledge the achievements of our learning community and to honor past trainers who have made a significant contribution to the Department. These awards, described in detail below, recognize specific achievements such as publications, fellowships, and leadership, and are offered in addition to Medical School, Graduate School, and University-level awards. 

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PHARMACOLOGY PUBLICATION AWARD

The Pharmacology Publication Award recognizes graduate students and postdoctoral trainees upon acceptance of their initial peer-reviewed first- or co-first author manuscript resulting from research conducted at the University of Minnesota.

Eligibility: Currently registered Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (MPaT) Graduate Program PhD and MS students, and postdoctoral trainees currently employed in Department of Pharmacology primary faculty research labs; individuals are only eligible to receive this award once 

Process: Candidates must e-mail admin staff (and copy their PI) and provide evidence of manuscript acceptance. Reminder emails (October 1, February 1, April 20) will be sent.

Amount: $500 of unrestricted funds provided directly to the student account (graduate students) or paycheck (postdoctoral trainees)

PHARMACOLOGY FELLOWSHIP AWARD

The Pharmacology Fellowship Award recognizes PhD students and postdoctoral trainees who receive a competitive research fellowship. 

Eligibility

  • Currently registered Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (MPaT) Graduate Program PhD students, and postdoctoral trainees currently employed in Department of Pharmacology primary faculty research labs

  • Recipients must secure at least 1 year of funding (e.g., NIH F- or K-level fellowships, foundation fellowships, or UMN fellowships) as specified in a formal fellowship award letter 

  • NIH T-level training grant appointments or fellowships secured on behalf of trainees (e.g. DOVE Fellowship, 3M Fellowship) do not meet the eligibility requirements for this award

Process: Candidates must e-mail admin staff and provide a formal fellowship award letter. Reminder emails (October 1, February 1, April 20) will be sent.

Amount: $1000 of unrestricted funds provided directly to the student account (graduate students) or paycheck (postdoctoral trainees)

BEN G. ZIMMERMAN TRAVEL AWARD

The Ben G. Zimmerman Travel Award supports the participation (poster or oral presentation) of MS and PhD students and postdoctoral trainees at scientific conferences.

Eligibility

  • Current Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (MPaT) Graduate Program PhD and MS students, and postdoctoral trainees currently employed in Department of Pharmacology primary faculty research labs

  • The recipient must present a scientific poster as first author or give a research presentation at a national or international conference

  • Individuals can only receive one travel award per year

  • This award cannot be used if another external travel award has been granted

Deadline: Rolling 

Process: Candidates must email admin staff (Holly Streekstra) and provide formal documentation of acceptance of their first-author poster submission or oral presentation at a national or international scientific conference. Quarterly reminder emails will be sent.

Amount: up to $500 in reimbursement for conference expenses (including registration fees for virtual conferences)

PHARMACOLOGY UNDERGRADUATE EXCELLENCE AWARD

The Pharmacology Undergraduate Excellence Award recognizes outstanding academic performance by Pharmacology Minor students based on Pharmacology coursework and research. 

Eligibility: Current Pharmacology Minor students who have completed 75% (nine credits) of the PHCL Minor curriculum, including three credits in Directed Research or Directed Studies (PHCL4994/4993), by the end of the Spring semester of the application year.

Process:  Application will open in March. Pharmacology Minor students can apply with their transcript and a 300-word research abstract from their PHCL Directed Research/Studies. The award winner will be announced in April.

Amount: $500 award of unrestricted funds provided directly to the student account

MPaT ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD (MS)

The MPaT Excellence Award recognizes exceptional academic performance by MS students, based on academic performance in Pharmacology core coursework. 

EligibilityFirst-year MS students in the Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (MPaT) Graduate Program

Process: The Course Directors of Pharmacology core courses will select two MS student recipients based on in-class academic performance. Award winners are announced in April each year.

Amount2 x $750 awards of unrestricted funds provided directly to the student account

MPaT ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD (PHD)

The MPaT Academic Excellence Award recognizes exceptional academic performance by PhD students, based on the quality of their written preliminary examination. 

Eligibility: PhD students in the Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (MPaT) Graduate Program

ProcessTwo PhD students will receive this award each year after written preliminary examinations are evaluated by Graduate Faculty reviewers. Award winners are announced in April each year.

Amount: 2 x $750 awards of unrestricted funds provided directly to the student account

FREDERICK E. SHIDEMAN STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARD

The Frederick E. Shideman Student Leadership Award recognizes exemplary contributions to the Pharmacology community, made outside of the research lab, by a senior PhD student.

EligibilityPhD student in the Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (MPaT) Graduate Program (Year 3 or above); individuals can only receive this award once

Process: Students in the MPaT Program will vote for the PhD candidate (Year 3 or above) who has provided exemplary leadership to the MPaT Program. Award winner is announced in April each year.

Amount$2000 of unrestricted funds provided directly to the student account

   

   

Departmental Award Winners 2024-25

Ben Zimmerman Travel Award
Jordan Casby
Mark Schonfeld
Ajibola Opakunle
Michael Sausen
Siddhi Joshi
Aishwarya Bhowmik
Anna Carey
Jonathan Aguirre
Niraja Soman

Pharmacology Fellowship Award
Tingyuan Yang

Pharmacology Publication Award
 

Medical School Award Winners

2024 Bacaner Award
Zhiyan Liu

2024 Brandenburg Award
Zhiyan Liu

2023 Bacaner Award
Dechen Wangmo

2023 J. Jacob Kaplan Award
Dechen Wangmo
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2022 3-Minute Thesis Competition - 2nd Place
Apoorva Limaye 

2020 Bacaner Award
Ben Brian

2019 3-Minute Thesis Competition - 1st Place
Mariya Shapovalova

Graduate School Award Winners

2024-2025 Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship
Tingyuan Yang

2021-2022 Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship
Dechen Wangmo

2019 Thomas Shevlin Fellowship
Eric Lake