Department of Biochemistry Awards

Source: https://ag.purdue.edu/department/biochem/awards/departmental-awards.html Parent: https://ag.purdue.edu/department/biochem/academics/scholarships.html

Awards

Arnold Kent Balls Award

This award was established in 1969 to honor the memory of Professor A.K. Balls (1891-1966) whose scientific achievements and personal virtues have made biochemistry a richer discipline. \ \ Eligibility:\

Faculty nomination
BCHM graduate student within 12 months of completion of program
Students in the Department of Biochemistry Graduate Program and the PULSe Graduate Program are eligible for these awards

Application criteria:\

A current C.V. (including a complete list of publications, with journal impact factor and your role in the study)
An electronic copy of each published paper or submitted manuscript (if not yet published)
A one-page narrative describing the significance of your scientific contributions to your field and to the broader scientific community.
All documents combined into one pdf and uploaded here: AK Balls Upload

If selected:\

Cash award
Student name engraved on a plaque in BCHM 101
The recipient may be asked to present a talk at the BCHM research retreat in August
Recognition at BCHM Award Reception\

A.K. Balls Award Recipients

2025- Sarah Stanhope\ 2024 - Steven McKenzie\ 2023 - Andrew DeMarco\ 2022 - Bingyu Yan\ 2021 - Eliana Torres Zelada\ 2020 - Emma Lendy\ 2019 - Candy Mao\ 2018 - (Cindy) Zheng Xing

Beach Travel Award

Established in 2006 from the Beach Family Endowment. The award is given twice a year to a graduate student to help defray the costs of attending a scientific meeting.\ \ Eligibility:\

Students in the Department of Biochemistry Graduate Program and the PULSe Graduate Program are eligible for these awards.
Student must present research at a national meeting
Past winners may apply more than once. Higher priority will be given to applicants who have submitted or published papers since coming to Purdue and students who have passed their preliminary exam.

Application criteria:\

Cover page located here: Beach Cover Page
Application approval by major professor
An essay of 200 words or less explaining the significance of your work to the participants of this conference and the goals you hope to achieve by attending the meeting
The meeting abstract including all authors in the official order
A current C.V. (not the annual graduate student progress report)
All documents combined into one pdf and uploaded here: Beach Travel Upload

If selected:\

Cash award to defray the costs of attending a scientific conference that requires registration between January and June
Recognition at BCHM Award Reception

Beach Travel Award Recipients

2025-Jacob Olson and Lois Luo\ 2024 - Zhiwei Luo, Yi-Kai Liu\ 2023 - Debasmita Saha, Kedric Milholland, Ji Hee Lee\ 2022 - Luopin Wang, Isaiah Mensah, Andrew DeMarco\ 2021 - Youssef Hegazy\ 2020 - Trevor Boram, Srishti Chakravorty\ 2019 - Allison Norvil, Emma Lendy\ 2018 - Erin Sorlien, Elia Farah

Bisland Dissertation Fellowship

The College of Agriculture in conjunction with the Graduate School provides Bilsland Dissertation Fellowships to assist graduate students who are within the final year of completing their Ph.D. degree.\ \ Eligibility:\

BCHM grad student whose research has resulted in scholarly contributions to their respective fields in the form of one or more publications or manuscripts in press
BCHM graduate student within 12 months of completion of program
Students in the Department of Biochemistry Graduate Program and PULSe Graduate Program are eligible for these awards

Application criteria:\

Cover sheet located here: Bilsland Cover Page
Purdue graduate transcript
Current formal C.V. (not your progress report) that includes research publications, teaching activities (formal and informal), service and leadership, honors and awards and a short summary of research progress (250-300 words)
A brief statement addressing the need for the award.
Nomination letter from your major professor addressing your academic and scholarly achievements:Include an explanation for any U and/or I grade received, student’s performance over the duration of their grad career, student’s potential, need for the funding and indicate that student will attain degree at the end of the fellowship period
All documents combined into one pdf and uploaded here: Bilsland Upload

If selected:\

The award provides funds for graduate support to be used in fall, spring or summer semesters
Recognition at BCHM Award Reception

Bisland Award Recipients

2025- Justin Gregor and Zhi-Wei Luo\ 2022 - Bingyu Yan\ 2021 - Trevor Boram\ 2020 - Eliana Torres-Zelada\ 2019 - Lee Stunkard & Fabiola Villanueva\ 2018 - Erin Sorlien

Don Carlson Award

This award was established in 2011 and is made annually to a postdoctoral fellow, research associate or staff scientist who has recently made a significant contribution to a laboratory.\ \ Eligibility:\

All postdoctoral fellows, research associates, and staff scientists including Academic Professional staff in the Department of Biochemistry
Contributions to scientific research papers can only be considered once a manuscript has been accepted for publication by a peer-reviewed journal.
Factors that will be taken into account when selecting an awardee based upon authorship of a paper will include to what extent the nominee has contributed to the work and how significant the findings of the paper are to the field of scientific study.

Additional factors that will be taken into account when selecting an awardee will include \

Evidence of impact of mentoring of grad/undergraduate students who contribute to a manuscript/poster
Contribution to the instructional mission of the department
Service to the department

Application criteria:\

Letter of recommendation
A current C.V.
Supporting material (papers, abstracts, reports, manuscripts, etc)
All documents combined into one pdf and uploaded here: Don Carlson Upload

If selected:\

Cash award
Name engraved on plaque in BCHM foyer
Recognition at BCHM Award Reception

Don Carlson Award Recipients

2025- Subhransu Sahoo\ 2024 - KanKan Wang\ 2023 - Xingqi (David) Huang\ 2022 - Jeffrey Simpson\ 2021 - Pan Liao\ 2020 - Iskander Ibrahim\ 2019 - Hana Hall\ 2018 - Joe Lynch

Henry Moses Award

Established in 2008 by Dr. Bradley Sheares and his wife Adrienne Simmons to honor fellow Purdue Department of Biochemistry alumnus Dr. Henry Moses for his contributions to research, education and service. This award is given annually to a graduate student in the Department of Biochemistry based on a scientific paper that the applicant has authored that demonstrates his/her productivity and excellence in scientific research.

Eligibility:

Scientific research papers are eligible once they have been accepted for publication by a peer-reviewed journal. The considerations that will be taken into account when selecting an awardee are:

1) how early the student has published the paper during his/her doctoral training

2) to what extent the student has contributed to the work

3) how significant the findings of the paper are to the specific field of scientific study and to society at large

The basis of this award is to recognize a student for an early publication. Therefore, strong preference will be given to students who have published a paper in the early stages of their graduate careers and are first or co-first author.
It is expected that a student submit an application within one year following the date that a paper becomes eligible.
Once a student has been given this award, they are no longer eligible to apply. However, a student who submitted an application, but was not awarded may reapply once (the following year) with the same publication.
Please note that a student entering a nomination for the Henry Moses Award cannot be considered for the A.K. Balls award simultaneously. In addition, a student previously awarded the Balls Award will not be eligible for the Moses Award. Awards will only be given in years when a suitable applicant is identified.
Students in the Department of Biochemistry Graduate Program and PULSe Graduate Program are eligible for these awards

Application criteria:

Copy of the published paper or paper in press
A current C.V. (not the annual graduate student progress report)
One-page statement that documents your contribution to the work as well as the significance of the findings. (In this statement, you should be certain to indicate your degree of involvement in the design of experiments, in the production of reagents and materials, in the generation of data used to produce the figures and tables, in the analysis of the data and in the writing of the manuscript.)
Please also include whether or not you have previously applied, but not received the award
All documents combined into one pdf and uploaded here: Henry Moses Upload

If selected:

Cash award
Student name engraved on plaque in BCHM 101
Recipient may be asked to present a talk at the research retreat in August
Recognition at BCHM Award Reception

Henry Moses Award Recipient

2025- Yi Kai Liu\ 2024 - Justin Gregor\ 2023 - Sarah Stanhope\ 2022 - Stephanie Diaz\ 2021 - Luopin Wang\ 2020 - Steven McKenzie\ 2019 - Melaku Garsamo\ 2018 - Fengyi Mao

Outstanding TA (Teaching Academy Graduate Teaching Award)

This award honors graduate students with teaching responsibilities from across campus for their dedication to Purdue students and their outstanding teaching contributions. Recipients are selected by each academic department for their commitment to undergraduate education. Departments may select one recipient for every 50 graduate teaching assistants they support. The Graduate Teaching Award is sponsored by the Teaching Academy and the Office of the Provost and is given annually to recognize a student’s outstanding performance as a teaching assistant.

Applications criteria:

The selection process for the Teaching Academy Graduate Teaching Award occurs at the departmental level. The specific number of departmental awardees is based upon the number of graduate teaching appointments (TA) within a department. Each department selects its awardee(s) according to its own departmental procedures. Students in the Department of Biochemistry Graduate Program and the PULSe Graduate Program are eligible for these awards.

Outstanding TA Recipients**2025- Robin Chen\ 2024 - Kate Eastman*2023 - Isaiah Mensah*2022 - Kedric Milholland\ 2021 - Rui (Gary) Gan\ 2020 - Trevor Boram\ 2019 - Kortany Baker\ 2018 - No winner

Ross-Lynn Research Scholar Fund (Former PRF Research Grant)

The College of Agriculture in conjunction with the Office of the Vice President for Research provides the Purdue Research Foundation (PRF) Research Grant to the Department of Biochemistry. For each grant, successful candidates will have shown excellence in research. The primary criterion for the one (1) PRF Award allotted to the Department of Biochemistry will be that candidates will have shown excellence in research. The evaluation of research excellence will include the quantity and quality of published work the applicant’s role in published research and the quality of scholarship demonstrated in the written application. In close decisions, preference will be given to students who have also demonstrated a commitment to the Department of Biochemistry through service such as serving as a departmental teaching assistant.

Eligibility:

Graduate students who are appointed as a PRF Research Assistant must be in good standing (minimum GPA=3.0) and be actively working on their Ph. D. research (e.g. registered for credit in a departmental 699 graduate research course) and have passed their prelim. The PRF Research Grant is established with an initial June 1 - May 31 project period. An alternate start date can be requested, but it may not be earlier than June 1 and no later than September 1.

Application criteria:

Cover sheet located here: Ross-Lynn Research Scholar Fund Cover Page
A current C.V. (not the annual grad student progress report)
A one page statement of teaching philosophy that describes your teaching experience as well as your strategies for effectively engaging students in learning. (This is optional for the award based only on research.)
A one page research statement that briefly details your research accomplishments to date and what you plan to accomplish during the one year period of this award. As part of this statement, the significance of the research should be addressed. If you were previously awarded a PRF, please indicate what was accomplished during the last award period.
A statement of whether or not you have applied for a PRF (or SIRG) through any other department.
Documents should have 1in margins/Arial 12pt font and be combined in one pdf and uploaded here: Ross-Lynn Upload

If selected:

Each grant is a 7-month award that provides the salary for a grad student and funds to cover fringe benefits. The student who receives a grant will receive a remission of all tuition and fees except for the grad appointment and the repair & rehabilitation fees. The student is also eligible to participate in the grad staff insurance program.
Recognition at BCHM Award Reception

Ross-Lynn Research Scholar Fund Recipients\ **2023 -Isaiah Mensah**2022 - Andrew DeMarco\ 2021 - Juan Pablo Jauregui

*PRF Award Recipients\ *2020 - Emma Lendy\ 2019 - Eliana Torres-Zelada\ 2018 - Ruixin Wang

Weiner Travel Award

Established in 2012 from the Weiner Family Endowment. The award is given twice a year to a graduate student to help defray the costs of attending a scientific meeting.

Eligibility:

Students in the Department of Biochemistry Graduate Program and the PULSe Graduate Program are eligible for these awards
Student must present research at a national or international meeting either as an oral presentation or poster
Past winners may apply
Higher priority will be given to applicants who have submitted or published papers since coming to Purdue and students who have passed their preliminary exam. Applicants who have not fulfilled these criteria are welcome to apply and could be selected depending upon the depth of the applicant pool.

Application criteria:

Cover page located here: Weiner Cover Page
Application approval by major professor
An essay of 200 words or less explaining the significance of your work to the participants of this conference and the goals you hope to achieve by attending the meeting
The meeting abstract including all authors in the official order
A current C.V. (not the annual graduate student progress report)
All documents combined into one pdf and uploaded here: Weiner Travel Upload

If selected:

Cash award to defray the costs of attending a scientific conference that requires registration between January and June
Recognition at BCHM Award Reception

Weiner Travel Award Recipients\ **2025- Jiaxin Long, Yi Kai Liu\ 2024- Jiaxin Long, Jacob Olson*2023 - Isaiah Mensah, Subhransu Sekhar Sahoo, Sarah Stanhope*2022 - Samadhi Kulathunga, Bingyu Yan\ 2021 - Luopin Wang\ 2020 - Kortany Baker, Saleem Dar\ 2019 - Candy Mao, Lee Stunkard\ 2018 - Benoit Boachon, Funmilayo Adebesin\ 2017 - Rachel Stegeman, Chuan-Chih Hsu

Howard Zalkin Award

This award was provided by Dr. J Tso to honor Dr. Howard Zalkin who was a faculty member in the Department of Biochemistry from 1966 to 1999. The goal of the award is to fully fund training experiences for graduate students that will have a transformative impact on their research trajectory.

The intended funding range for these awards is from $1,000 to $5,000. Examples of appropriate training experiences include attending and presenting at meetings, going to a scientific course or workshop (e.g. CSHL, Woods Hole), or learning techniques in another lab.

Nominations should be submitted by the research mentor. Nominations should include:

Brief description of the proposed training activity
Brief estimate of costs (including travel-related expenses)
Statement of support by the research mentor
CV of the student
Statement (<1 page) by the student regarding how this experience will benefit their research program currently and/or in the future

Students eligible for consideration will have passed their prelim, have a GPA of 3.3 or higher, and have received no U’s in research credit in the three semesters (e.g. spring, summer, and fall) preceding the nomination. Students in the Department of Biochemistry Graduate Program and the PULSe Graduate Program are eligible for these awards.

There is no due date for nominations, which will be considered on a rolling basis. It is anticipated that we will make 3-5 awards per year. Students with unsuccessful nominations will be eligible to be nominated again in the subsequent semester.

Submission:\ Please submit all required materials to Jessica Orr at jessorr@purdue.edu \ Subject line: Zalkin Travel Award Submission - [Student Name]

Howard Zalkin Award Recipients\ \ Fall 2025-Geethma Lirushie\ Fall 2025-Brielle Skrutskie\ Spring 2025-Kendall Cottingham\ Spring 2025-Jiaxin Long\ Spring 2025-Zhi-Wei Luo\ Summer 2024-Michelle Lihon\ Fall 2024-Grace Meng

Linda Siersema Award

This award was established in 2013 in recognition of Linda Siersema who worked in the department her enitre 41 year career. Linda started in 1973 and retired in 2014. At the time of retirement she was the supervisor of the BCHM storeroom. The award is given periodically to a staff member who has demonstrated outstanding performance and service to the department.

The award recipient receives a monetary award and gets their name added to a plaque located in the foyer of the Biochemistry building.