We are pleased to announce the Blavatnik Family Graduate Fellowship in Biology and Medicine. This new, competitively awarded fellowship is merit-based and open to advanced doctoral students with high academic achievement in the Division of Biology and Medicine.

Eight Blavatnik Family Fellows will be selected this year. This is an exciting opportunity to recognize doctoral and MD/PhD students for outstanding academics and contributions to advancing the clinical and basic life sciences. The fellowship provides one academic year of stipend, tuition, health insurance, health fees, and other expenses in addition to a $7,500 student research fund. Support for the Blavatnik Family Fellows has been generously provided by the Blavatnik Family Foundation.

Detailed eligibility and nomination criteria and instructions are provided below. Nominations are due via email to Associate Dean Beth Harrington by August 31, 2023.

 

Brown University Blavatnik Family Graduate Fellowship in Biology and Medicine

Nomination and Selection Process

Fellowship Description
The Brown University Blavatnik Family Graduate Fellowship in Biology and Medicine is competitively awarded, based on academic merit, to advanced doctoral students in the Division of Biology and Medicine. The Fellowship supports outstanding students with the potential to contribute significant advancements across the clinical and basic life sciences. The recipients of the funds shall be known as “Blavatnik Family Fellows.” In its inaugural year, the Fellowship shall support eight students, covering one academic year of stipend, tuition, health insurance, health fees, and other expenses in addition to a $7,500 student research fund. The Fellowship is awarded in one-year increments.

Eligibility
Division of Biology and Medicine doctoral (PhD or MD/PhD) students who have advanced to candidacy, are active in the program, remain in good academic standing, and are mentored by a Brown faculty member.

Selection Criteria
Blavatnik Family Fellows are selected on the basis of outstanding academic achievement and contribution to advancing the clinical and basic life sciences. Fellows will have demonstrated potential for producing original research that advances scientific and/or technical knowledge and understanding in the life sciences. Indicators of these criteria will include:

  1. Consistent record of sophisticated research experiences in which the nominee’s unique contributions are clearly identifiable, original, and potentially transformative.
  2. Engagement in successful scientific dissemination and discourse such as peer-reviewed publications and presentations at disciplinary relevant conferences.
  3. Academic awards, recognitions in the form of merit-based fellowships/scholarships, and leadership positions.
  4. Excellence in graduate level life science courses, with particular focus on advanced courses in the nominee’s sub-discipline.
  5. Demonstrated success communicating science to audiences within the disciplinary field and to the general public / students (via teaching assistantships and related roles).

Nomination Process
The Division of Biology and Medicine invites faculty to nominate outstanding eligible students for the Blavatnik Family Graduate Fellowship in Biology and Medicine. The following nomination materials will be submitted by email, as a single merged PDF, to Associate Dean Beth Harrington no later than August 31, 2023:

  1. Maximum 2-page letter of nomination specifically addressing all of the following:
    a.The context in which you know the nominee and date they advanced to candidacy.
    b. How the nominee meets each of the five specific selection criteria (above). Here, the selection committee will look for evidence over anecdotes.
    c. Statement of ranking - how does the nominee compare to others mentored, based on the selection criteria. Here, note the time frame of comparison (i.e. Jane Smith is in the top 1% of PhDs mentored in my research group since 2010).
  2. Nominee’s up-to-date CV (any format).
  3. Nominee’s Brown transcript and other relevant transcripts showcasing graduate level course performance (informal copies suffice).

Selection Committee
A committee of divisional faculty members, chaired by Dean Harrington, will make selections in early September.