Two awards of $20,000 a year for two years are offered to fund graduate students undertaking research in the biology and epidemiology of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver or pancreas.

They must be working towards their PhD degree.

The award includes $18,000 for stipend and $2,000 to be used towards fringe benefits such as medical insurance and travel to a national meeting.

Objectives:

To provide a salary stipend for graduate students performing doctoral research related to the gastrointestinal tract, liver or pancreas.

Fellowship Application Eligibility Criteria:

• Applicants should have completed at least one year and no more than three years of training towards the doctoral degree and have selected and confirmed the laboratory or department in which they will conduct doctoral research.
• Research is to be conducted at an accredited academic institution within North America and the research advisor must be a Member of the AGA (please visit www.gastro.org for membership information).
• Applicants should be US citizens, permanent residents or overseas students who have a current visa to pursue education within North America.

Award Overlap:

If an award recipient receives notification of another award with overlapping scientific objectives, prior to the start date of an AGA or FDHN award, the applicant must choose between the two awards.

Requirements:

• Awards are made for salary support for the recipient. Indirect costs, excluding travel, are not allowed. Tuition costs are expected to be covered by the institution or host department and laboratory.
• Applicants must submit a one-page description of their long-term career plans and goals.
• Three letters of recommendation must accompany the application including one from the research advisor, one from the department head or director of graduate student research and a third individual familiar with the student’s academic credentials and research potential.
• Applicants must demonstrate how they will obtain additional knowledge through the proposed project and how that knowledge may be used in their future research.
• Upon notification of receipt of this award, awardees must provide approval from the appropriate committee at his/her institution for use of human subjects or animals. If approval is not necessary, awardee must provide explanation.
• At the end of the award, the recipient will be required to indicate how the funds were used, the accomplishments made during the project and how the additional training contributed to his/her research career development. A complete financial statement and scientific progress report are required annually and upon completion of the program.
• All publications arising from work funded by this program must acknowledge support from the AGA Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition.

Selection Criteria:

Recipients will be selected based on scientific merit, credentials and long term potential of the candidate for a research career.

Priority will be given to students aiming for long term careers in research in the biology and disease of the gastrointestinal tract, liver or pancreas.

Review Process: A selection committee comprised of members of the AGA Research Awards Panel will review the proposals and select the recipients in May.

Deadline:

An electronic copy of the application must be submitted by the deadline to awards[at]fdhn.org

If the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, applications must be received by midnight the following business day.

Application Process:

Copies of Foundation applications and complete electronic submission guidelines can be accessed at www.fdhn.org

The deadline for receipt of applications without exception is March 14.

Letters of Recommendation may be e-mailed by the signatories to awards[at]fdhn.org or mailed to the Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition, 4930 Del Ray Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA., postmarked by the deadline.

Questions regarding the application submission process should be addressed to the Foundation, by telephone at (301) 222-4005, facsimile at (301) 222-4010, or e-mail at info [at] fdhn.org

For more information and scholarship applications, see: Graduate Student Research Fellowship Awards