Student Research Fellowship

Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowships

The Opportunity
Research support for a continual period of a minimum of 8 to 10 weeks, 30 hours or more per week, for clinical investigation, basic laboratory research, epidemiology, or social science/health services research. Funds from the fellowship are expected to be the major source of support for the student. Only one candidate from each school may be nominated. Councilors should keep "runners-up" applications on file in case additional funds become available. The name of the fellowship program honors Carolyn L. Kuckein, long-time administrator of AΩA and an honorary member of the society, who died in 2004.

The Awards
$5000, one-half paid on announcement of the award, and one-half on approval by AΩA of a final report of the research. Up to $1000 will be reimbursed for travel to present research results at a national meeting.

Eligibility
First-, second-, and third-year students from schools with active AΩA chapters are eligible. Ph.D.s and candidates for Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. are not eligible.

Dates for Application

1. Proposals must be submitted to the councilor before December 31, 2009.
2. The final application to the national office must be postmarked no later than January 31, 2010.

Application to the Councilor
The councilor and his or her selection committee will choose the proposal judged to be the most promising and with a high probability of completion during the year.

1. A three-page summary of the research project written by the applicant in 12-point type with 1-inch margins, as follows: title, hypothesis, rationale, background information, methods and sample size, plan for data analysis, and potential significance. Details of the role of the student in preparation and execution of the project must be provided, along with an estimate of the number of weeks that the student will devote to the project.
2. The student's curriculum vitae and bibliography, social security number, current address, telephone number, e-mail, school and year of graduation.
3. A letter of support from the faculty supervisor that indicates his or her commitment of time and interest to the project and student.
4. The mentor's curriculum vitae.

Application to the National Office
The proposal selected by the councilor's selection committee must be sent to the national office, and should include, in addition to the items included in the submission to the councilor:

1. A letter of endorsement from the AΩA councilor; and
2. A dean's endorsement that should comment upon the student's achievements and potential and the suitability of the faculty sponsor for mentoring.

All materials must be submitted in triplicate by regular mail. All supporting letters must accompany the original submission; incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Mail the original and two copies of the application to:

The Review Process
A committee of physician scientists and AΩA's board of directors will evaluate each proposal. Additional information or clarification may be requested.

Date of Award Announcement
On or about April 15, 2010.

Other Important Information

1. Approval of clinical or animal projects by the local medical center IRB or IACUC will be necessary before funding is approved.
2. No later than December 31, 2010, the student must submit a report of the research to the Menlo Park office, detailing methods, results and discussion. Any publication of the AΩA-supported research project should contain the following acknowledgment: Supported in part by an Alpha Omega Alpha Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship.

More Information
Contact Carol Wong at (650) 329-0291 or c.wong@alphaomegaalpha.org.

Download the form (MS Word Document)