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SIGF Affiliated with ChEM-H

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The  Stanford Interdisciplinary Graduate Fellowship (SIGF) Program  is a competitive, university-wide program that awards three-year fellowships to outstanding doctoral students engaged in interdisciplinary research. Since 2016, ChEM-H has awarded six fellowships and one honorary fellowship. ChEM-H fellows are invited to join the  Chemistry/Biology Interface Training Program .  

Graduate students should apply for the fellowship through the  Bio-X Fellowship portal .  Students who are proposing research at the interface of chemistry, biology, and engineering and are interested in being sponsored by ChEM-H should select "Sarafan ChEM-H Fellowship" on their application.  Please note that all students who apply will be considered for a fellowship from  all three  institutes (Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford Bio-X, and the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute).

Eligible graduate students must be starting their second, third, or fourth year of a Ph.D. program on September 26, 2022 and must be officially active in a Ph.D. program by the application deadline. Proposals must be interdisciplinary (bringing together two or more separate fields of study) with at least two faculty members involved in the proposed project as mentors. Preference will be given to students who are jointly mentored by at least two faculty members who are experts in distinctly separate areas of science and technology. For additional eligibility, award terms, and policies, refer to the   Stanford Interdisciplinary Graduate Fellowship website .

For eligibility and application questions, contact Bria Castellano ( [email protected] ).

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ChEM-H researchers work toward new understanding of cancer camouflage

2021 sigf affiliated with chem-h - david l. sze and kathleen donohue interdisciplinary fellow: tara murty, biophysics phd student & md student (mstp).

Tara is a graduate student in the Department of Biophysics advised by Crystal Mackall and is pursuing her MD through Stanford’s Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP). She integrates immunology, cellular engineering, and computational biology to understand why CAR T-cell therapy, which has revolutionized oncology through engineered targeting of molecules on previously untreatable cancers, does not work for all patients. 

2020 SIGF Affiliated with ChEM-H Fellow: Justin Donnelly, Chemistry PhD Student

Justin is originally from New York, NY and attended high school at the Princeton Day School in Princeton, NJ. He attended the University of Chicago for college (B.S./M.S. ‘18) and did his undergraduate work with Professor Ray Moellering, developing a biocompatible, catalyst-free strategy to synthesize stapled and macrocyclic peptidomimetics. His primary research interests lie in molecular medicine, glycobiology, and immunology at the interface of chemistry and biology. His graduate work in the Bertozzi Group bridges chemistry, glycobiology, and functional genomics, leveraging genome-wide CRISPR screening technology in collaboration with Prof. Mike Bassik to investigate the biology of galectins. His research seeks to identify new strategies to control these immunomodulatory glycan-binding proteins, which play critical roles in inflammation and cancer progression, for potential therapeutic benefit. 

2020 SIGF Affiliated with ChEM-H Fellow: Brianna McIntosh, Cancer Biology PhD Student

Brianna is a graduate student in the Cancer Biology Program advised by Prof. Jennifer Cochran in the Department of Bioengineering. She is interested in utilizing yeast display and directed evolution to engineer high affinity proteins to treat and better understand cancer progression. Her project focuses on engineering a receptor recently implicated in lung adenocarcinoma to act as a decoy receptor, sequestering overexpressed ligand in the tumor microenvironment to prevent growth. 

2019 SIGF Affiliated with ChEM-H Fellow (Anonymous Donor): Daniel Mokhtari, Biochemistry PhD Student & MD Student (MSTP)

Daniel is a graduate student in the Department of Biochemistry co-advised by Polly Fordyce and Daniel Herschlag. He is developing and applying a microfluidic-based high-throughput technology to make quantitative measurements of enzyme function at an unprecedented scale. With this technology, he aims to 1) understand the molecular details of how enzymes achieve amazing catalytic prowess, 2) dissect the bases for enzyme allostery, and 3) generate foundational datasets that will train new algorithms predicting mutational effects on function. He is pursuing these aims by studying phosphatases—model enzymes central to cell homeostasis, pathogen virulence, and human disease. In addition, Daniel is pursuing his MD through Stanford’s Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP). 

2019 SIGF Affiliated with ChEM-H - Gold Family Graduate Fellow: Weijiang Zhou, Biophysics PhD Student

Weijiang is pursuing his PhD in Biophysics in the lab of professor Wah Chiu. He combines chemistry and electron microscopy to solve the structures of small molecules. He is developing a workflow for cryo-electron crystallography methodology, including sample preparation, data collection, and data processing, for solving atomic structures of small molecule nano-crystals. A high throughput and accurate methodology for atomic structure determination of small molecule crystals will impact chemical research and the pharmaceutical industry. 

2018 SIGF Affiliated with ChEM-H - David L. Sze and Kathleen Donohue Interdisciplinary Fellow: Corleone Delaveris, Chemistry PhD Student

Corleone is a graduate student in the lab of Prof. Carolyn Bertozzi in the Department of Chemistry. He studies how the glycocalyx — the various sugars of glycoproteins and other glycoconjugates on the cell surface — participates in disease and how it can be engineered. He combines organic synthesis, polymer chemistry, and immunology to study and manipulate the complex network of glycan-based interactions. Specific projects include studying how influenza viral fusion is affected by bulky glycoproteins and developing glycan-based immunotherapies for cancer. 

2018 SIGF Affiliated with ChEM-H - Honorary Fellow: Catherine Liou, Chemical Engineering PhD Student

Catherine is a graduate student advised by Professor Elizabeth Sattely in the Department of Chemical Engineering. She is interested in the roles that dietary plant molecules play in modulating human health and disease. While metabolites found in dietary plants have long been implicated in disease prevention, there is limited understanding about the specific mechanisms through which they interact with human physiology. Catherine is hoping to understand and quantitate these interactions using an approach that considers a controlled plant metabolome, a relevant food context, and the gut microbiome. 

2017 SIGF Affiliated with ChEM-H: Winston Becker, Biophysics PhD Student & MD Student (MSTP)

Winston is pursuing his PhD in Biophysics in the lab of Professor Will Greenleaf where he studies functional RNAs and nucleic acid binding proteins. He applies high-throughput methods to make millions of biophysical measurements in parallel. Using these methods, he is interested in 1) probing the folding and catalysis of large functional RNAs to better understand how RNA can be used to form complex molecular machines and 2) examining the sequence specificity of RNA and DNA binding proteins. In addition to doing research, Winston is pursuing his MD through Stanford’s Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP). 

2017 SIGF Affiliated with ChEM-H Fellow (Anonymous Donor): Jackie Carozza, Chemistry PhD Student

Jackie studies the innate immune system and its relevance to fighting cancer in Professor Lingyin Li’s lab in the Department of Biochemistry. In particular, she is interested in the regulation of cGAMP, a newly discovered second messenger signaling molecule that activates the innate immune response. She combines chemical biology, cell biology, and immunology to understand and manipulate innate immune activation by cGAMP. 

2016 SIGF Affiliated with ChEM-H Fellow (Anonymous Donor): Anna Koster, Chemistry PhD Student

Anna is co-advised by Prof. Justin Du Bois in the Department of Chemistry and Prof. Merritt Maduke in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, and splits her time between the two labs doing chemical synthesis and electrophysiology. Her project has recently evolved into studying CLC-2, which is the most abundant chloride channel expressed in the brain. She uses a combination of computational techniques, synthetic chemistry, and molecular biology to develop highly selective and potent small-molecule inhibitors of CLC-2 in order to better understand its physiological function. 

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How exciting!

Study reveals neurons rely on glial cells to become electrically excitable

August 22, 2024 - By Kathryn Sill

Husniye Kantarci, PhD and Brad Zuchero, PhD, (left to right) and their collaborators discovered that neurons require signaling from glia to become fully excitable.

The front cover of Cell

Neurons are often referred to as electrically excitable cells, transmitting data to and from the brain through electrical impulses called action potentials.

In the field of neuroscience, it was a fundamental belief that these neurons were not only excitable, but that they become electrically excitable on their own. Now, that foundational belief is shifting, according to a new study from Stanford Medicine and other institutions.

Brad Zuchero , PhD, assistant professor of neurosurgery, and his collaborators discovered that neurons require signaling from glia to become fully excitable, rather than by becoming excitable by default. Together with the lab of Justin Du Bois , PhD, Henry Dreyfus professor of chemistry, Zuchero and colleagues published their findings as the cover story of this week’s issue of Cell .

Glia are non-neuronal cells that were long-thought to only provide passive support to neurons. However, over the last few decades, it has been increasingly found that glia play many active and essential roles in controlling neural development, learning, and numerous diseases.

Neurons and glia Credit: Carlos Aizenman/Neurodoodles

Zuchero and his collaborators made the surprising observation that, when they purified developing sensory neurons away from the glia, these neurons failed to fire action potentials like they normally would in vivo.

“This was a completely unexpected result,” said Zuchero. “The thinking in the field has always been that neurons are naturally excitable cells, but our findings suggested otherwise.”

This was a completely unexpected result. The thinking in the field has always been that neurons are naturally excitable cells, but our findings suggested otherwise.

Over several years of work, Zuchero and colleagues identified a signal released by Schwann cells, the most abundant glia in the peripheral nervous system, that is required for sensory neurons to become excitable during development of the nervous system.

“We established that Schwann cells secrete prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which is critical for sensory neurons to express voltage-gated sodium channels, fire action potential trains, and support normal sensory functions,” Zuchero said. “Inactivating this signaling pathway in Schwann cells prevents sensory neurons from coming online during development, leading to profound defects in the ability to sense things like pain, temperature, touch, and balance.”

Sensory neuron ganglia Credit: Husniye Kantarci

Together, their studies uncovered that PGE2, which is known more for its role in inflammation of the body, has an unexpected neurodevelopmental role as well in enabling the maturation and development of normal sensory functions.

Zuchero’s lab focuses on the cell biology of glia in development and disease, especially how their dysfunction contributes to diseases like multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease. Their discovery helps provide answers to many fundamental questions that surround glia, much of which is still unknown. In particular, as dysregulated neuronal excitability is known to underpin diseases like chronic pain and epilepsy, these findings may lead to new treatments for these diseases.

Zuchero notes that their accomplishment would not be possible without the partnership of many mentors and collaborators. Zuchero began his career at Stanford in 2010 as a postdoctoral fellow, under the mentorship of the late  Ben Barres , MD, PhD, an acclaimed Stanford neuroscientist. Barres revolutionized the neuroscience field by uncovering the crucial roles of glial cells in controlling the nervous system’s formation, function, and disease. Barres was also recognized as an outstanding and dedicated mentor of young scientists.

Zuchero (left) wears a shirt in honor of Ben Barres while posing next to Kantarci (right)

“When I was in the Barres lab as a postdoc, Ben provided constant support and encouragement to play in the lab and follow our ideas and interests,” Zuchero said. “This project started with a new technique I created—with Ben’s encouragement—for purifying sensory neurons away from glia. But the project really started taking off when Justin’s lab made the serendipitous discovery that the neurons I had purified were not electrically excitable in the absence of glia. Together, we were able to pin down the missing signal coming from glia as PGE2.”

After these early observations, the project entered a new phase when Zuchero started his lab in 2017.

“I was very lucky to be able to recruit  Husniye Kantarci , PhD, to my brand-new lab as a postdoc,” Zuchero said. “Husniye’s remarkable creativity and perseverance enabled her to make a series of additional discoveries that revealed the importance of this new role of glia in vivo in the developing nervous system.”

Zuchero also noted that Barres’s dedication to mentorship has had a profound and sustained impact on his own commitment to mentor the next generation of scientists. “One of the most exciting outcomes is that Husniye was able to land herself a faculty position and launch the next chapter of this project in her own lab,” Zuchero said. Kantarci recently started her lab as an Assistant Professor of Neurosciences at the University of Texas at Austin.

“Through our teamwork, we’ve made a fundamental breakthrough,” Zuchero said. “I am hopeful that this is still just the beginning in determining all the roles glia play in brain function and dysfunction.”

Acknowledgements : Special thanks to support from Cell Press; Stanford Medicine; Stanford’s Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute; Stanford ChEM-H; Stanford Chemistry Department; The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience; The Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation; Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin; and others.

Graduate Programs

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Doctoral Program

The Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering is awarded after completing minimum of 135 units of graduate work, satisfactory completion of any additional university requirements, and the following departmental requirements. Completion of an MS degree is not a prerequisite. Program Overview   Program Requirements

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The Honors Cooperative Program is our part-time Master’s program that allows students the flexibility to complete a MS degree at Stanford completely online. The program also allows the flexibility to work towards a MS degree while continuing professional employment.

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Our graduate certificate , delivered online by the  Stanford Center for Professional Development , is especially designed for students in industry. Completing graduate courses for your certificate earns Stanford graduate credit.

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Study In Usa > Colleges In Usa > Stanford University > Programs > Ph.D[Chemistry]

Doctor of Philosophy [Ph.D] [Chemistry] From Stanford University

Doctor of Philosophy [Ph.D] (Chemistry)

Stem course.

This course focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics subjects, offering a deep dive into these fields to enhance your knowledge and skills in STEM disciplines.

Field of Study : 

₽5,567,587 /Yr

• Doctor of Philosophy [PhD] in Chemistry is a 4-year program.
• The program is offered full-time.
• This program is a thesis-based.
• Doctoral study in chemistry at Stanford University prepares students for research and teaching careers with diverse emphases in basic, life, medical, physical, energy, materials, and environmental sciences.
• The Department of Chemistry offers opportunities for a graduate study spanning contemporary subfields, including theoretical, organic, inorganic, physical, biophysical, and biomedical chemistry and more. 
• The student-faculty ratio at Stanford University is 5:1, and the school has 69.3% of its classes with fewer than 20 students.
• 17 Nobel laureates are currently members of the Stanford community.
• According to QS Global World Ranking, Stanford University Ranked #2.
• The average salary is 95,660 USD.

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Eligibility & Entry Requirement

Academic Eligibility:

• Students must complete a master's degree from a recognized institution.
• The average cumulative high school GPA of students admitted to Stanford is 3.96 on a 4.0 scale.
• GRE general test scores optional.

Indian Student Eligibility:

Indian students are eligible to apply if they meet one of the following eligibility criteria:

• Completed a graduate degree with first-class in a relevant field from a recognized institution

Along with the minimum eligibility requirements, international students hailing from non-English speaking countries need to prove English proficiency through  IELTS / TOEFL /any equivalent test to get admission to this program.

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Required Document List

• Online Application:  Students have to submit an online application form at the official website.
• Application Fee: Students need to submit their application fees.
• Statement of Purpose:  Reasons or intentions for pursuing studies in this program, including a description of prior experience.
• 3 Letters of Recommendation:  Three letters of recommendation are required; one letter must come from an academic source, although Stanford prefer at least two. Recommendations must be submitted online. 
• Official GRE Test Scores: Students have to submit their GRE Test Scores.
• ELP Scores:  Students have to submit their English language proficiency scores like IELTS, TOEFL, or other test scores.

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Test Scores

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You may be required to submit one or more of the following test scores. Click on each link below to learn more about each test and how requirements are determined:

• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Subject Tests
• Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT)

Each test is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) . We encourage you to register early to maximize the chances of securing your preferred test date and location and to ensure that your scores arrive by your graduate program’s application deadline.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

Each graduate program sets its own policy on GRE General Test and GRE Subject Test scores — required, optional, or not considered. Refer to the Explore Graduate Programs page to view each program’s testing policy.

Reporting GRE Scores

If you are applying to a graduate program for which the GRE is required or optional, all GRE scores we receive will be made available to the admission committee. The admission committee may decide how they wish to evaluate the scores provided. If your graduate program does not consider GRE scores, any GRE scores we receive will not be displayed to the admission committee.

Self-Reported Scores

To self-report your GRE scores, list all GRE tests you took within the past five years that you wish to be considered by the admission committee. Do not enter “superscores” (a single entry that includes your highest section scores from multiple test dates). The application system will automatically display to the admission committee the highest score you earned in each section as well as all reported scores.

Any scores you self-report on the application are considered unofficial but sufficient for the initial review process.

Official Scores

If GRE scores are required by your program, you must report your official scores directly to Stanford from ETS. Stanford’s ETS institutional code is 4704 . Individual department code numbers are not necessary. As long as you select the institutional code of 4704 , the score is electronically delivered to Stanford.

Upon successful receipt of your official scores, they will appear on the Test Scores page of your application with a status of “Verified.”

Scores expire after five years and will not be available from ETS. See below for the earliest test date Stanford considers to be valid.

Graduate programs may enforce a stricter validity period (e.g., based on their application deadline). Refer to the program’s website.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

If your first language is not English, you are required to submit an official test score from the  Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT) .

• We accept the TOEFL iBT Home Edition and TOEFL iBT Paper Edition if you are unable to take the traditional TOEFL iBT test in a test center. If you take the Home Edition or Paper Edition, you may be required to complete additional  English placement testing prior to enrollment.
• We do not accept TOEFL Essentials scores or any other English proficiency test (e.g., IELTS, PTE).

Minimum TOEFL Requirements

Stanford’s minimum TOEFL score requirement varies depending on your field of study and planned degree:

If you score below 109 on the TOEFL and you are admitted, you will likely be required to complete additional  English placement testing prior to the start of classes.

Reporting TOEFL Scores

We accept MyBest scores , which combine your highest section scores from all test dates within the last two years. All TOEFL scores we receive, including MyBest scores, will be made available to the admission committee. The admission committee may decide how they wish to evaluate the scores provided.

You may use either of the following methods to self-report your MyBest scores on the application:

• List all TOEFL tests you took within the past two years where you earned a section score that is included in your MyBest scores. - or -
• List a single TOEFL entry with your MyBest scores. For the test date, enter the “as of” date listed on your most recent score report.

If TOEFL scores are required for your application, you must report your official scores directly to Stanford from ETS. Stanford’s ETS institutional code is 4704 . Individual department code numbers are not necessary. As long as you select the institutional code of 4704 , the score is electronically delivered to Stanford.

When you arrange for your official TOEFL scores to be sent to Stanford, the report will include both your traditional scores from your selected test date and your MyBest scores. Upon successful receipt, both sets of scores will appear on the Test Scores page of your application with a status of “Verified.” You do not need to have official scores from previous tests sent to Stanford as long as the most recent official score report includes the MyBest scores you wish to use.

Scores expire after two years and will not be available from ETS. See below for the earliest test date Stanford considers to be valid.

TOEFL Exemptions

You are exempt from submitting a TOEFL score if you meet one of the following criteria:

• You (will) have a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a regionally-accredited college or university in the United States (excluding territories and possessions).
• You (will) have an equivalent degree from an English-language university in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, or the United Kingdom.

The online application will not require you to submit a TOEFL score if you meet one of the criteria listed above for an exemption.

U.S. citizenship does not automatically exempt you from taking the TOEFL if your first language is not English.

TOEFL Waivers

You may request a waiver in the online application if you (will) have a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a recognized institution in a country other than Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom in which English was the language of instruction.

You will be asked to provide the following:

• Upload an official statement certifying that your program was taught exclusively in English
• You may also link to your institution’s official website stating the language of instruction

Your waiver request will be routed to Graduate Admissions after you submit your application and pay the application fee . Allow up to 15 business days after submitting your application for a response. This will not delay the receipt of your application by your graduate program.

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• [email protected]

Principal Investigator

Nathanael s. gray, phd.

Nathanael Gray is the Krishnan-Shah Family Professor of Chemical and Systems Biology at Stanford, Co-Director of Cancer Drug Discovery, Co-Leader of the Cancer Therapeutics Research Program, Member of Chem-H, and Program Leader for Small Molecule Drug Discovery for the Innovative Medicines Accelerator (IMA). His research uses the tools of synthetic chemistry, protein biochemistry, and cancer biology to discover and validate new strategies for addressing anti-cancer targets. Dr. Gray’s research has had broad impact in the areas of kinase inhibitor and degrader design and in circumventing drug resistance. Dr. Gray’s generalized strategy for structure-based design of inhibitors that stabilize the inactive kinase conformations (type II) has been widely adopted by the research community and has had a significant impact on the development of numerous inhibitors of tyrosine kinases that are currently undergoing clinical development.

Dr. Gray received his PhD in organic chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley in 1999 after receiving his BS degree with the highest honor award from the same institution in 1995. During his PhD work, Dr. Gray developed new combinatorial chemistry and functional genomics approaches that resulted in the discovery of Purvalanol, one of the first selective inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases. After completing his PhD, Dr. Gray was recruited to the newly established Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation (GNF) in San Diego, California. During his six year stay at GNF, Dr. Gray became the director of biological chemistry. Among other accomplishments, his team discovered the first allosteric inhibitors of wild-type and mutant forms of BCR-ABL which resulted in clinical development of ABL001, and the first selective inhibitors of the Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK), an achievement that led to the development of now FDA-approved drugs such as ceritinib (LDK378) for the treatment of EML4-ALK expressing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Beyond oncology, Dr. Gray’s team revealed that sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor-1 (S1P1) is the pharmacologically relevant target of the immunosuppressant drug Fingomilod (FTY720) followed by the development of Siponimod (BAF312), which is currently used for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

In 2006, Dr. Gray joined faculty of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School in Boston. There, he established a discovery chemistry group that has been focusing on developing first-in-class pharmacological agents for newly emerging biological targets, including resistant alleles of existing targets, as well as well-validated targets, such as Her3 and RAS, that have previously been considered recalcitrant to small molecule drug development. Additionally, his group has been employing these novel small molecule tools to investigate the therapeutic potential of a range of targets in cancer. His success in developing and translating experimental anti-cancer agents has been due to his highly collaborative and integrative approach to research, as Dr. Gray has developed and led large project teams that combine expertise in structural biology, biochemistry, cancer cell biology, and translational research. Dr. Gray has also built a reputation as a strong partner for commercial entities needed to further clinical development, resulting in establishment of number of companies. For example, Dr. Gray’s development of covalent inhibitors for the T790M mutant EGFR inspired the development of Osimertinib (AZD9291), now FDA approved for treatment of patients with relapsed lung cancer due to resistance to first generation EGFR inhibitors. Dr. Gray has also developed structure-based, generalizable approaches for designing drugs to overcome one of the most common mechanisms of kinase drug resistance, mutation of the so-called “gatekeeper” threonine (T) residue. This approach has resulted in development of Ponatinib, a drug that overcomes T315I gatekeeper mutant of BCR-ABL. Amongst the additional notable achievements of Dr. Gray’s research laboratory are: development of the first ATP-competitive mTor inhibitor, Torin1, and its use to discover that rapamycin is an incomplete inhibitor of mTOR; development of the first inhibitors of ERK5 (BMK1), which are currently under preclinical development; development of efficient approaches for the discovery of covalent kinase inhibitors that have contributed to the resurgence of interest in this approach; development of the first selective inhibitors of LRRK2, a kinase that is activated by point mutations in a subset of sporadic and familial cases of Parkinson Disease; and discovery of the first potent and selective inhibitors of BCR-ABL, FGFR, MPS1, JNK and BMX which have resulted in new insights into their function and, in several cases, inspired drug discovery efforts. Dr. Gray’s research team developed approaches to covalently target CDK7 and CDK12, key regulators of gene transcription, and compounds inspired by these efforts are approaching clinical trials. Dr Gray’s lab has been involved with developing small molecule protein degraders, especially their application towards degrading protein kinases. The impact of these new pharmacological agents is amplified by the laboratories approach to ‘open-source’ discovery: all the compounds are made immediately available to any interested researchers with no strings attached.

Dr. Gray has also been involved in establishing new companies to advance projects from the lab into the commercial sector including: Gatekeeper (acquired), Petra, Syros (IPO), C4, Soltego, B2S, Allorion and Jengu Therapeutics.

These contributions have been recognized through numerous awards including the National Science Foundation’s Career award in 2007, the Damon Runyon Foundation Innovator award in 2008, the American Association for Cancer Research for Team Science in 2010 and for Outstanding Achievement in 2011, the American Chemical Society award for Biological Chemistry in 2011, and the Nancy Lurie Marks endowed professorship in 2015 and the Paul Marks Prize in 2019.

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Explore Our Department

Department of biochemistry, phd students, postdocs and scientists, why biochemistry.

Our core goals are to perform foundational research, mentor and train scientists, and foster a strong scientific community. Research in our laboratories ranges from atomic level investigation of biomolecules to integrated studies of organismal biology and disease.

Congratulations to Mandi Ma from the Rohatgi Lab for being awarded the Porter Prize in Research Excellence from the ASCB!... Read More

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We are thrilled to announce the election of 120 members and 24 international members to the National Academy of Sciences... Read More

Please save-the-date for the annual Biochemistry Department Conference at Stanford Sierra Camp at Fallen Leaf Lake Monday, October 21st to... Read More

Ivan (Vanya) Zheludev’s Ph.D. Thesis Defense: “Obelisks”   Tuesday, July 9, 2024 10 am – 11 am PST Munzer Auditorium... Read More

  Presented by Prof. Suzanne Pfeffer Biochemistry Special Seminar: “Unravelling the inner secrets of cells with live-cell super-resolution microscopy” with Francesca... Read More

“Mapping variation in the morphological landscape of human cells with optical pooled CRISPRi screening.” 📅 Friday, May 24, 2024 🕙... Read More

The Precourt Institute for Energy is part of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability .

Stanford Energy Postdoctoral Fellowship program introduces nine new fellows

The energy-centered postdoctoral research program is nurturing a global community of future leaders to realize sustainable, affordable, secure energy for the world.

Stanford University welcomes nine energy-focused postdoctoral scholars as the second cohort of its Stanford Energy Postdoctoral Fellowship . The program is run by the Precourt Institute for Energy , with support from Stanford’s TomKat Center for Sustainable Energy , Bits & Watts Initiative , and StorageX Initiative , and from several philanthropists.

The recent PhD graduates arrive from nine different universities and from six home countries over three continents. Five of the incoming energy fellows are women, and four are men. Between the first two cohorts of Stanford Energy fellows, 83% of the 17 fellows are international, and 41% identify as non-male.

The objects of the newest cohort’s sustainable energy research at Stanford are also diverse, ranging from technological solutions to adapting to climate change. Their mentors are in 16 different academic departments. In addition to faculty members, scientists at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and at Carnegie Institution for Science's two departments at Stanford – Plant Science and Global Ecology – also mentor these early-career scholars.

“This fellowship is designed to identify, cultivate, and connect the next generation of pioneers in search of sustainable energy for all people,” said Yi Cui , the program’s founder and faculty director. “Each of these postdocs are working on projects that may lead us in promising new directions in technology, research, analysis, and policy.”

Successful candidates emerge through a demanding, competitive process. Each potential fellow must be nominated by at least two Stanford researchers from different disciplines to be their co-mentors, among other requirements. The program’s faculty advisory board , led by Nobel laureate and former U.S. secretary of energy, Steven Chu , selects the successful candidates following a rigorous interview process. 

“Congratulations to each of our new fellows. We’re excited to welcome you to campus and to the Stanford energy ecosystem,” said William Chueh , faculty director of the Precourt Institute. “As you get to know each other, members of the first cohort, and our fellows’ Stanford mentors, we hope that the multidisciplinary nature of our program will provide you with new insights on how to solve the energy challenges you take on.”

The fellowship covers full living and professional costs for three years, one year longer than most postdoctoral programs. This extra year affords fellows the opportunity to mine a new research vein that diverges from their PhD work.

Aspiring scholars interested in forming next year’s cohort of energy postdoctoral fellowships are encouraged to apply now . The deadline for applications is Oct. 1. Third cohort fellows will begin their term between July 1 and Sept. 1, 2025.

Building a community

The new postdocs will research various energy-related topics. These include biofuels, hydrogen production, climate adaptation, new battery designs, a modern electricity grid, energy-efficient AI, and airborne methane, which is one of the more egregious of the greenhouse gases.

“These fellows come with a broad range of expertise in fields stretching from advanced microscopy and engineering to data science and economics. In common, though, they now pursue solutions for the global energy transition through interdisciplinary research,” said Audrey Yau , the fellowship’s director. “We look forward to seeing how their work grows through faculty mentorship, engagement with their peers, and exposure to novel, interdisciplinary ways of thinking.”

The fellows join a broad sustainability-minded scientific community at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, of which the Precourt Institute and its many programs are a significant segment. This sense of community is critical to the fellows’ success, Yau said. The fellowship hosts monthly “lab crawls” where fellows visit other fellows’ research spaces to learn about their studies, as well as regular leadership lunches where fellows learn from the lived experiences of leaders in their field. The program also organizes social activities for fellows and their mentors, and it offers a professional development program as a springboard to what comes after the fellowships are complete. 

“This second cohort, just as the first, can put their stamp on this fellowship, which we expect to contribute significantly to the clean energy transition around the world for decades,” said Yau. “The 2025 cohort will also help define this program’s culture of collaboration and early history of high-impact research.”

Meet the 2024 fellows

Liat Adler is in the very challenging pursuit of biofuels from algae. Some algae can use the energy from light to produce hydrocarbon oils. A barrier to harvesting that sustainable fuel: the production of oil is limited by energy delivery from photosynthesis and is too low to be economically viable. Adler’s energy fellowship will look to boost algae productivity by tweaking how they convert light into chemical energy, potentially doubling oil output. Adler completed her PhD studying algal photosynthesis at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Adler is advised by Matthias Garten in Stanford’s Departments of Microbiology and of Bioengineering, as well as Adrien Burlacot and Arthur Grossman , both of Carnegie’s Department of Plant Biology.

Every time you scroll through your phone or browse the internet on your computer, there is a high chance that there is an artificial intelligence (AI) behind what you see on the screen—and it's using a lot of energy. Fabia F. Athena studies emerging materials and devices that aim to lead us toward low-power AI hardware. Athena’s research will explore fabricating emerging semiconductor devices at low temperatures for energy-efficient computer logic and memory, supporting low-power AI systems. That would align this great technological progress with sustainability. Athena earned her PhD in electrical and computer engineering at Georgia Tech studying energy-efficient emerging materials for brain-inspired computing. Athena is advised by H.-S. Philip Wong in electrical engineering, and Alberto Salleo in materials science and engineering.

Cong Chen studies how distributed energy resources – like rooftop solar, electric vehicles, home batteries, heat pumps, and HVAC systems – can be aggregated to support an electric grid increasingly reliant on intermittent supplies, like wind and solar power. In her fellowship, Chen’s focus will be threefold: equitable and efficient energy dispatch and pricing, understanding energy customers' preference, and improving power grid resilience. She recently earned her Ph.D. in electrical engineering at Cornell University studying power system engineering, optimization theory, and power system economics. Chen is advised by Kuang Xu and Omer Karaduman at the Graduate School of Business and Itai Ashlagi in management science and engineering.

Elemental sulfur, usually considered an industrial byproduct, could speed the shift from liquid to solid-state batteries while driving down costs. But there are technical challenges standing in the way. Yukio Cho will center on the molecule-by-molecule construction of atomic-scale interfaces inside these solid-state batteries to prevent degradation and boost redox kinetics. A material chemist, Cho has a special interest in nanomaterials and electrochemical applications. During his doctoral studies at MIT, Cho used a similar self-assembly platform to create a novel nanomaterial with remarkable stability and robustness for use in recyclable batteries and one-dimensional nanocatalysts. Cho will be advised by Stacey Bent in chemical engineering and Jagjit Nanda at SLAC.

Xinyu Dou studies methane emissions monitoring. She earned her PhD at Tsinghua University exploring how global greenhouse gas emissions are evolving in response to the energy transition and their correlated climatic implications. While at Tsinghua, Dou helped develop the world’s first nearly real-time, grid-level carbon emissions database. Her overarching goal is to improve such systems. By using satellite monitoring of key communities and through machine learning that can generate insights from vast emissions datasets, such monitoring could guide policy decisions and technological advances. Dou is advised by faculty members Rob Jackson in Earth systems science and Adam Brandt in energy science and engineering.

Kieran Orr will research highly conductive solid electrolytes to replace the harmful and flammable liquid electrolytes currently used in batteries. The precise ion transport mechanisms in solid electrolytes are poorly understood, so, in his fellowship, Orr will employ SLAC’s X-ray diffraction capabilities to develop atomic-scale, real-time structural probes to understand exactly how ions move through solid electrolytes. Previously, at the University of Cambridge, Orr used techniques to understand how strain affects halide perovskite materials used in solar energy, lighting, and detector technologies. Orr will be advised by Aaron Lindenber g in materials science and engineering and in photon science at SLAC, William Chueh in materials science and engineering, energy science and engineering, and photon science, and David Reis in applied physics and photon science.

Lisa Rennels works at the intersection of economics and computer science, researching the economic impacts of climate change, climate policy, and decision-making under uncertainty. She focuses on integrated assessment modeling and how bringing a rigorous treatment of uncertainty and risk to these models informs, and complicates, economic analysis for policy. In her fellowship, Rennels will focus on impacts to human health and building software for climate change research. She earned her PhD in Energy and Resources at UC-Berkeley. At Stanford, Rennels will be advised by Inês Azevedo in energy science and engineering and Marshall Burke in environmental social sciences. 

Microscopes have long been essential tools for exploring material at small scales, driving significant advancements in energy technologies. However, optical microscopy technologies capable of observing down to the single-ion level are yet to be developed. Yecun Wu ’s fellowship aims to address this gap by employing quantum sensors to optically capture and visualize the behaviors of individual ions, providing deeper insights into the complex physics and chemistry of batteries and other sustainable energy systems. Wu earned his Ph.D. in electrical engineering at Stanford in 2023, where he studied two-dimensional materials for use in quantum and energy applications. Wu will be advised by Steven Chu in physics and in energy science and engineering, and Yi Cui in materials science and engineering, energy science and engineering, and photon science.

Zisheng Zhang did his doctoral work at UCLA in theoretical and computational chemistry where he advanced models for dynamic restructuring catalyst surfaces. Catalysis is key in energy conversion and storage, and for other environmental and green chemistry applications. Developing high-performance electrocatalysts that do not use noble metals is especially desirable for sustainability and scalability. Zhang thinks that boride, a compound of Earth-abundant boron and various metals, could be an exceptional electrocatalyst. He has dedicated his fellowship to developing and applying computational models to understand and design mixed boride electrocatalysts for applications in hydrogen evolution, nitrogen reduction, and other important reactions. Zhang will be advised by Thomas Jaramillo in chemical engineering, energy science and engineering, and photon science, and Frank Abild-Pedersen at SLAC.

Cui is also faculty director of the Sustainability Accelerator at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability , co-director of the Precourt Institute's StorageX Initiative, past director of the Precourt Institute for Energy, and senior fellow at the Precourt Institute and the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment . Chu is also professor of molecular and cellular physiology at Stanford School of Medicine . Bent is also Stanford's vice provost for graduate education and postdoctoral affairs. Jackson is a senior fellow at the Precourt and Woods institutes. Brandt is also director of the Precourt Institute's Natural Gas Initiative . Reis is also director of the Stanford PULSE Institute . Azevedo is co-director of Precourt's Bits & Watts Initiative. Burke is also a senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute , at the Woods Institute, and at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR). Jaramillo is also director of the SUNCAT Center for Interface Science & Catalysis , where Abild-Peterson is the co-director.

The Precourt Institute is part of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.

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From curing all diseases, to consulting patients on new approaches to health care, to using data from social media in training diagnostic algorithms, experts from health care, the tech industry, humanities, and more explored what the future of health care could look like at the Big Ideas in Medicine conference Sept. 6 and 7.

“Big ideas are really important,” said Bryant Lin , MD, a clinical professor of primary care and population health who welcomed attendees at Stanford Medicine’s Li Ka Shing Center for Learning and Knowledge. “I want to share a couple of stories of what I think a big idea is today.” Although he has never smoked, he told the audience, he was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic lung cancer earlier this year.

“I was in pretty bad shape. I had to be hospitalized. But I look pretty good today – I can talk, not short of breath, not coughing. I’m here today because of a big idea in medicine, which is tyrosine kinase inhibitors,” Lin said of a cancer treatment that blocks proteins controlling cell growth and division. “I attribute my ability to have a high quality of life, to be able to be here and share this conference with you and listen to our fantastic speakers…[to] this really big idea.”

Speakers at the two-day event, sponsored by the Medical Humanities and the Arts Program , discussed a variety of topics that encouraged attendees to reimagine what the health care field could look like, if only some of their big ideas came to fruition. The ideas included using AI to create new antibiotics; the value of compelling, accurate science storytelling; retooling the ever-cumbersome electronic health record; and treating anxiety as a stage of grief.

Addressing the mental health crisis

Vivek Murthy, MD, surgeon general of the United States, shined a light on something he’s called “the loneliness epidemic.” From CEOs, members of Congress, and parents, Murthy has heard about isolation and feelings of being disconnected. “I realized there was something important happening here,” he said. About 1 in 3 Americans struggle with loneliness. Not only does loneliness increase the chance of developing depression and anxiety and contribute to suicide, it impacts physical health, raising risk for cardiovascular disease, dementia among older people, and premature death, Murthy said. It was clear “that loneliness was a public health concern that’s just as important as any traditional concerns, like smoking and obesity,” he said.

What’s missing is quality social connection, the decline of which is likely a result of social media. “I worry that the people who are paying the greatest price for this are young people,” Murthy said. He argues that safety standards and healthy boundaries on technology use are necessary to protect young people and help them build social skills. “When our kids are involved, we have to prioritize safety,” Murthy said. Yet there’s a lack of guardrails for infinite scrolling, visuals that depict self-harm and other problematic content. “That reflects, in my mind, a failure for us to fulfill our most sacred responsibility – to take care of our children.”

Mental health was a theme throughout the conference, with several speakers focusing on physician wellness. It’s no secret that health systems nationally are contending with physician burnout, and the pandemic only exacerbated the problem. Among the outsized contributors: electronic health records, patient messaging, and an overall dearth of providers across the country, according to Lisa Rotenstein, MD, and Megan Mahoney, MD, primary care physicians at the University of California, San Francisco, and others. The distribution of a patient’s care among various doctors and health systems can harm patients and increase stress for physicians trying to navigate a patient’s complicated medical history.

Lloyd Minor, dean of the Stanford School of Medicine, addresses conference attendees. | Kevin Meynell

Those factors contribute to another pervasive challenge in health care – access to care.

Though these problems loom large, health care and technology experts are determined to find – or create – new short- and long-term solutions that build a multipronged support system equally beneficial for patients and providers.

Improving access, inclusion, and wellness

Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD, clinical assistant professor of primary care and population health, has taken a special interest in care fragmentation, in which several clinicians care for one patient without sharing information. The solution, she said, involves “the three Ts,” – technology, team, and time.

According to Yurkiewicz and others, technology must evolve to meet the needs of doctors and patients, such as shareable electronic health records and other tools they can customize as well as consistent coworkers who work with the same teams. If the first two Ts – technology and team – are successfully addressed, ideally, physicians will have the time they need to provide quality care without overextending themselves. (According to the conference’s keynote speaker Amir Rubin, former president and CEO of Stanford Hospital and now CEO of Healthier Capital, health care systems need “the five As” – accessibility, availability, affordability, accommodation, and acceptability.)

Yurkiewicz said that Stanford Coordinated Care , a program for patients with multiple health conditions, embraces the three Ts. Under the program, a physical therapist, a nurse, a social worker, a pharmacist, a dietitian and four care coordinators – all of whom are medical assistants trained on relevant health care tech such as electronic health records – work closely with the physicians. “This is just one example of a successful clinic,” she said.

Rotenstein and others also pointed to technology such as AI-based algorithms that take clinical notes for the doctor and draft patient emails for them to review as near-term solutions.

Holly Tabor , PhD, professor of primary care and population health, emphasized the need to make care more accessible for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. “Everybody thinks it’s somebody else’s job to take care of this population,” Tabor said. “Health care providers, health systems and society have a moral, ethical and legal obligation to make health care more accessible to full participation by people with all forms of disability.”

Tabor and her colleagues have piloted a project, IDD Transform , to improve health outcomes for adults with disabilities in a measurable way. “We need to listen to people with [disabilities] and their caregivers about what they need, what their barriers are, what they’re not getting, and then use design thinking and other models to think about how we can do a better job.”

Bold solutions

“How can we allow you to be your most creative self?” asked Priscilla Chan, MD, co-founder and co-CEO of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. “How can we de-risk things, make things faster so that you can pursue your wildest ideas instead of your safest ideas …?”

Eleni Linos enjoying a speaker’s talk. | Kevin Meynell

The self-stated goal of the initiative, to “cure, prevent and manage” all diseases, sounds lofty, the panelists said, so it’s not uncommon for people to hear that and balk. In science, people aren’t used to thinking about progress on a 100-year timescale, said Stephen Quake , PhD, professor of bioengineering and applied physics, the Lee Otterson Professor in the School of Engineering, and head of science for the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. But maybe they should start. “We think of grant-level, three-year timescales,” he said during a conversation with Chan. “Part of the initial reaction of skeptical people [is] they’re just not used to thinking about what happens over the course of 100 years. And if you get kind of scholarly about that, you realize a whole lot can happen in 100 years.”

Researchers shared a variety of other tantalizing ideas for the future of health and medicine. James Zou , PhD, associate professor of biomedical data science, spoke about the evolution of AI, from a predictive puzzle solver to a tool that accelerates research by generating protein sequences for therapeutics, creating images, spitting out text, or supplying a variety of other products. Boris Heifets , MD, PhD, associate professor of anesthesiology, perioperative, and pain medicine, shared his exploration of psychedelics in mental health management. And Anna Lembke , MD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, introduced a new type of self-restriction known as “dopamine fasting,” which requires a person to resist behaviors that release the hormone dopamine (like scrolling through social media or eating junk food) to curb addiction and restore dopamine balance in the brain.

Eleni Linos , MD, DrPH, professor of dermatology, took the stage as a storyteller. In May, Palo Alto, California, was treated to a rare celestial phenomenon: the northern lights. Linos begrudgingly joined a friend for a late-night stroll to a dark hill on campus, only to look up at the sky and see … nothing. “As I started to leave, someone I didn’t know tapped me on the shoulder. They said, ‘No, no, no, take out your phone,’” recalled Linos, the Ben Davenport and Lucy Zhang Professor in Medicine. She found that her phone could capture the beautiful pinks and greens streaming across the sky. “That was the moment where I was like, ‘Oh, this is real-life, augmented reality. This is exactly how it should be in my clinic.’” An AI-enabled app on a doctor’s smartphone, for instance, could scan skin lesions and help them make diagnoses based on details unseeable by the naked eye.

Linos added that years ago, on a flight, she sat next to a blind passenger. Her first reaction was to help – did he need assistance maneuvering around the plane? Pouring his drink? He did not. (It turned out he was a motivational speaker named Hoby Wedler who shared ideas about accessibility and science. He even earned a PhD in organic chemistry by feeling the relationships between molecules.) They struck up a conversation.

“We were flying to the East Coast, so we had a really in-depth conversation about accessibility and how educational institutions need to give more opportunities to people with disabilities, including blindness,” Linos said. They talked about her work as a dermatologist and concluded jokingly that there are some fields that would be extra difficult for a blind person to do. There could never really be a blind dermatologist, they agreed.

Fast forward five years. “That’s totally changed. Algorithms aren’t just as good as a dermatologist; in many cases, they’re better.” Linos reached out to Wedler. “I called him, and I was like, ‘You know what? We were wrong five years ago. You could become a dermatologist.’”

“He doesn’t want to,” she said with a laugh. But it poses new questions for Linos: What does it mean for dermatologists’ practice and careers? What will be possible in five years that isn’t today? “I just want to leave you with that optimism and that question.”

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Seven fully funded scholarships for PhD students In 2024-25

The scholarships for PhD students provide funds to many aspiring learners who face financial issues in pursuing their academic and research goals. These opportunities help doctorate researchers earn their advanced degrees by offering them a stipend, paying living expenses, and promising work opportunities.

The process of hunting for a doctorate scholarship is challenging. Financially speaking, it's continuing distress if you have to earn a living while you are trying to make innovations and discoveries. There are many incredible scholarships available for PhD students. From government scholarships highlighting Fulbright to organisations offering some seasonal options, you will count on many.

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Now, you must be wondering about some good options for the upcoming batch. Here, we are discussing the 7 most important fully funded PhD scholarships for international students 2024-25. Keep reading to make meaningful contributions to specific research fields. Let's first learn a little about such PhD grants.

A fully funded scholarship is a grant to cover the full cost of your education and associated expenses while you enrol in a PhD program. Some researchers may also get paid for travelling, which is necessary to complete their degree. Many hurdles can hinder you from proceeding with your doctorate studies.

For instance, it requires energy, time and an expensive proposition. Although it's a daunting sum, scholarships for PhD students can be a ray of hope for fulfilling their research goals. After getting a scholarship, the researcher can use stipends to better their research journey. During their studies, they can benefit from expert writers for their writing projects and can ask them for “help with my PhD dissertation” while they peacefully work on other crucial tasks.

A List of Scholarships In 2024-25 For PhD Students

Looking for good scholarships for PhD students may be a test of your patience. Browsing each option manually that you may read in the newspaper or recommended by teachers or seniors, is challenging.

However, with the below given precise list of the best options, you can save time to invest it in a good cause. Continue reading to be aware of funding options for your research needs.

Find below the assaulted benefits or perks of these scholarships.

It is a postgraduate award supporting students all around the University of Oxford. This grant was established in 1902 as the oldest graduate scholarship in the world. In general, these PhD scholarships in the UK for international students will cover your college fees, health insurance, two economy class tickets, settling allowance, etc. In this regard, a class of 95 scholars are selected every year to add valuable knowledge in their selected field.

Awards and Benefits

It covers course and tuition fees.

The researcher will benefit from £18,180 per annum stipend.

The International Health Surcharge (IHS) at the National Health Center.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must fulfil the residency requirements as given by the Rhodes constituency.

You should not be more than 24 years old.

For medical and engineering students, the allowed age to apply is 25 years.

The scholarships for PhD applicants must complete their bachelor's degree and the grades must meet the specific entry requirements as given by the institution.

Given the intense international competition, you will have a great chance of acceptance if you complete an honours degree outside your country.

Fulfil English language requirements given by the university.

2. Fulbright Foreign Student Program in the USA

It is one of the most popular PhD scholarships in America for international students that enables young graduates or artists from abroad to study in the US for one or more years. The application details and grant may vary based on the country you are applying from.

So, the applicants must go through the country pages to see the list of current programs and their availability. This program awards 4000 foreign students to conduct research on campus across the US.

By securing these scholarships for PhD students, you will get a J-1 visa sponsorship.

There is a proper health benefit plan.

You get 12 months of NCE hiring status within the federal government.

A monthly allowance will cover your living costs.

The applicant must reside within the country of nomination at the time of selection.

A bachelor's degree holder with a good academic record may apply for the grant.

The applicant must be fluent in English. For instance, the TOEFL score should not be less than 550. Moreover, the overall IELTS band should be at least 6.5.

You should not be a US resident or hold dual citizenship.

Securing fully funded PhD scholarships for international students and maintaining good performance can be challenging. This is especially true when you go through the process of thesis writing. Therefore, it is recommended that you buy a dissertation online and get a paper composed by experts.

3. AAUW International Fellowships in USA for Women

The program is offered by the American Association of University Women, USA, to cover $20,000 to $50,000 expenses per year. This PhD fellowship was started in 1917 to exclusively help women pursuing doctoral studies. Women who are not US residents can pursue full-time study with these grants and allowances. Such scholarships for PhD students will cover their educational expenses, living costs, dependent childcare, travel costs, etc.

A PhD researcher may get $25,000, which is enough to cover educational and living costs.

The applicant must provide certification to prove their proficiency in English.

Applicants from all around the globe are eligible to apply except the USA.

Must be admitted in full-time course studies.

The doctorate applicant must enrol in a U.S.-accredited institution.

This fellowship does not provide funding for part-time study or research.

The program does not support distance learning courses.

The previous recipients of the AAUW national fellowship may not apply to get a grant on repeat.

4. Knight-Hennessy Scholarship at Stanford University

These scholarships for PhD students cultivate diverse and emerging leaders all around the globe to address the complex challenges faced by society. It will broaden their knowledge and skills as scholars will go through the community experience and personal development opportunities.

The research scholars span 7 schools at Stanford for purposeful leadership development and a large-scale positive impact around the globe.

It directly covers tuition and associated fees.

The stipend covers living and academic expenses such as local transportation, personal expenses, room and board, books, etc.

The travel allowance may also cover economy-class air tickets and one annual trip.

The newly enrolled scholars will receive a one-time relocation stipend to cover the cost of residence shifting.

You are currently a PhD student at Knight and intend to apply for funding in the second year.

You must have earned your graduate degree in January 2018.

For those applicants who have served in the military, the eligibility window extends by two years. They must graduate in January 2016 to enrol in 2025.

You can apply even if you are an undocumented student who does not hold any formal citizenship.

5. Italian Government Scholarships for Foreign Students

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs grants favour to foreign citizens who are residing outside Italy to participate in research activities. It is meant to foster cultural and scientific cooperation to support the Italian economic system in the world. These scholarships for PhD students are offered to pursue research programs in publicly recognised universities.

The grants are exempted from the payment of the university enrolment fee.

It will cover medical and health insurance.

The total amount is 9000 euros which is paid in three instalments.

If you want to learn the Italian language or pursue any cultural course, a grant of 3000 Europe will be given in a single instalment.

The applicant must be residing outside Italy.

Your age should not exceed 30 years by the deadline of the call.

Those who pursue research projects under academic supervision shall not exceed the age of 40 years.

To enrol in Italian-taught courses, you must provide the relevant certification.

6. Chinese Government Scholarships

You can start your PhD study adventure with this sought CSC scholarships for PhD students in 2025. This fully funded scholarship is available for undergrads, Masters and PhD students. In general, you get 3500 Yuan to cover your health insurance and monthly allowances. The intent is to promote cultural exchange and increase mutual understanding between other countries and China.

Type A will cover your registration fee, accommodation, basic medical and personal expenses.

Type B is exempt from the personal expense allowance.

Type C is a partial scholarship with few benefits.

You should not own any other scholarships for PhD students issued by the Chinese government.

For a PhD degree, the age limit is 40.

Dual nationality holders are exempt from applying.

If your degree is not completed at the time you are applying for the grant, the application will be rejected.

Fullfill all the documentation requirements as given by the China Scholarship Council.

7. DAAD Scholarship Germany

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) supports international researchers who want to improve their academic qualifications by earning a doctorate. It is the world’s largest funding organisation, primarily aimed at assisting graduates, doctoral students, and postdocs. Since its founding, around 3 million scholars have received DAAD funding.

Usually, it consists of € 1,300 along with other allowances.

The additional perks of the program will be granted depending on the scholarship program you want to avail of.

It offers additional benefits to people with disabilities.

The researcher gets a spouse-child allowance for 6 months.

You must have been involved in a graduate assistantship for at least two years.

The bachelor's degree should not be completed in more than 6 years.

The minimum CGPA requirement for scholarships for PhD students is 85%.

You must have lived in your country of residence at least for one year at the time of application.

How do I get a full PhD scholarship?

It may come as a surprise but if you are applying for PhD, the difficult part is not securing a position at university but getting a scholarship is an uphill battle. It may take you several tries, continuity, or years of struggle to secure a PhD scholarship at your first-choice university.

If you are struggling with this mean cause, here is a step-by-step guide that can make your life easier. Give your best and then leave the rest on luck, to cash the outcome.

Explore various potential options scholarships for PhD students.

Choose the most appropriate one that can cover all the costs so that you can be focused on your work without worrying about expenses.

Provide the required documents for the application. It involves a CV, personal statement, undergraduate transcript, research proposal, references, application, or any other required documents.

Wait patiently unless you hear back.

Is It Easy to Get a Fully Funded PhD?

The scholarship is the most prestigious part of PhD; therefore, it can be tough to secure. There are different types of funding options such as Cambridge PhD scholarships for international students, chemistry PhD scholarships for international students, etc. each with its own set of challenges.

However, it can be a sort of luck. You might be struggling for years and are habitual of reading emails like “Unfortunately, we found another potential candidate”. OR you may listen to positive remarks on your first try. It’s all about continuity and patience while keeping an eye on the final goal.

Scholarships for PhD students are an immersive opportunity for those who intend to make innovations in a field but high educational costs restrict them. A doctorate requires the utmost attention and focus for the successful completion of the degree. However, if you are worried about earning during this tenure, it will not foster good outcomes. Many research students may employ services from a dissertation writing company online to focus on research work while handing the writing task to academic writing experts.

Searching for the appropriate scholarship option to fund your PhD studies may be a hard job. It requires extensive browsing and manual checking of the eligibility criteria. It might be frustrating for researchers and they may leave the process in the way. However, it's not a solution to the situation. In the guide above we have compiled a list of grants that you may find attractive for your research endeavour. Go through the details of each option so that you can make a wise choice out of it.

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Congratulations to Our 27th Annual Meeting Award Winners

We're looking forward to celebrating our 2024 award winners at the upcoming Annual Meeting May 7-11 in Baltimore, MD.

The Outstanding Achievement Award (OAA) recognizes an ASGCT Member who has achieved a pioneering research success, specific high-impact accomplishment, or lifetime of significant contributions to the field of gene and cell therapy. It is the Society’s highest honor. The recipient is celebrated at the Annual Meeting by presenting a keynote lecture highlighting their scientific accomplishments that led to the award.

David Liu, PhD

Broad institute of mit and harvard.

Outstanding New Investigator Award

Winners of the Outstanding New Investigator (ONI) Award come from academia, research foundations, government, or industry, and are recognized each year based on their contributions to the field of gene and cell therapy. Each awardee will present a keynote lecture at the ASGCT Annual Meeting highlighting their scientific accomplishments that led to the Award.

Agnieszka Czechowicz, MD, PhD

Stanford university.

Pietro Genovese, PhD

Dana-farber cancer institute + harvard medical school.

Jennifer Hamilton, PhD

Innovative genomics institute (igi).

Sharif Tabebordbar, PhD

Kate therapeutics.

Sonia Skarlatos Public Service Award

Named for its inaugural co-recipient and tireless gene therapy advocate,the Sonia Skarlatos Public Service Award (PSA) recognizes a person or group that has consistently fostered and enhanced the field of gene and cell therapy through governmental agencies, public policy groups, public education, or non-governmental charitable organizations.

Pat Furlong

Parent project muscular dystrophy (ppmd).

Jerry Mendell Award for Translational Science

Named for the first person to study viral mediated gene therapy for muscular dystrophy in humans, and the principal investigator in the study that led to the FDA approval of Zolgensma to treat SMA, the Jerry Mendell Award for Translational Science recognizes the extensive work required to bring gene and cell therapies to clinical trial. Supported by a generous grant from Dr. Suku and Ann Nagendran.

John Tisdale, MD

National heart, lung, and blood institute (nhlbi).

Catalyst Award

The ASGCT Catalyst Award recognizes an ASGCT member or team of professionals who have had an extraordinary impact on the translation of gene and cell therapies.

Maritza McIntyre, PhD

Advanced therapies partners llc.

Founders Award

The Founders Award recognizes a pioneering contributor to the gene and cell therapy field. It is among the Society’s highest honors and the recipient presents a keynote lecture highlighting their accomplishments that led to the award.

Kathy High, MD

Rockefeller university.

The Exemplary Service Award recognizes individuals for their outstanding contributions to ASGCT and their commitment to the Society’s mission to advance knowledge, education, and awareness of gene and cell therapy. Exemplary service may include significant and sustained leadership, expertise, and/or creativity in addressing issues of importance to ASGCT.

Roland Herzog, PhD

Indiana university school of medicine.

Award for Advancing Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

The Award for Advancing Excellence in DEI recognizes individuals, organizations, or other entities for their outstanding contributions toward the Society’s principles and programs advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. The award may honor individuals who have demonstrated excellence in the development of a more diverse and inclusive field of gene and cell therapy; career development of underrepresented minority students, trainees, and early career professionals; or advancement of gene and cell therapies benefitting more diverse and inclusive patient populations.

The Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI) is a joint effort between the Bay Area’s leading scientific research institutions, UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco, with affiliates at UC Davis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Gladstone Institutes, and other institutions. The IGI’s diverse group of leading scientists have powerful interdisciplinary expertise. They conduct world-class research, driven by the real possibility of using genome engineering to treat human diseases, end hunger, and respond to climate change. In addition to our scientific efforts, the IGI is committed to advancing public understanding of genome engineering, providing resources for the broader community, and guiding the ethical use of these technologies.

The Mentorship Award recognizes individuals for their outstanding contributions toward the mentorship, training, education, or support of students, residents, fellows, trainees, or other early career professionals either through formal training programs or through non-traditional means. The award will highlight the contributions of mentors that have had a profound impact on the gene and cell therapy community and/or individual mentees. 

The name of this award honors the legacy of George Stamatoyannopoulos. This award is possible thanks to a generous contribution from Thalia Papayannopoulou, MD, Dr Med. Sci.

Cynthia "Cindy" Dunbar, MD

National institutes of health (nih).

Hear more from these awardees at the 27th Annual Meeting

Related Articles

2025 annual meeting awards open through sept. 16.

Dr. Chamberlain (far right) serves as session chair  with (from left) Gary Gibbons, MD, Joni Rutter, PhD, Amy Jenkins, PhD, and Amir Tamiz, PhD.

Bridging the Gap: Why Translational Research is Key to Unlocking Cell & Gene Therapy Innovation

Maria Santaella, PhD (c), MSN, RN-BC, CPHON serves as the Vice President of Research for the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation. During the workshop she spoke on clinical trial enrollment by sharing strategies to address barriers in recruiting.

Inclusive Trial Design Amplifies Patient Voices and Drives Meaningful Outcomes

Patient advocates connect at the annual meeting, register for the asgct policy summit.

September 23-24, 2024 | Washington, D.C.

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