Beatrice Z. Milne and Theodore Brandenburg Award

The Beatrice Z. Milne and Theodore Brandenburg Award recognizes exceptional thesis research by graduate students in the basic biomedical sciences. The award reflects the thoughtfulness and generosity of Ms. Beatrice Z. Milne and serves as a lasting expression of her commitment to improving the health of the people of Minnesota, the nation, and the world. The award is given annually to up to six currently enrolled graduate students in one of the following graduate programs: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biophysics (BMBB), Integrative Biology and Physiology (IBP), Microbiology, Immunology & Cancer Biology (MICaB), Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology & Genetics (MCDB&G), Neuroscience, Pharmacology, and Rehabilitation Science.

The Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. Graduate Programs Council in the Medical School will coordinate the selection process. The award will be presented in the spring and each award will include a $6,000 award.

Eligibility

Applicants must be currently enrolled Ph.D. students in one of the following graduate programs: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biophysics (BMBB), Integrative Biology & Physiology (IBP), Microbiology, Immunology & Cancer Biology (MICaB), Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology & Genetics (MCDB&G), Neuroscience, Pharmacology, or Rehabilitation Science.

Applicants must have at least one published or in press first-authored publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal focused on the applicant’s thesis research. 

Students who have defended their Ph.D. thesis prior to the application deadline are ineligible.  Previous recipients of the Milne & Brandenburg Award are also ineligible.

Application process

Appropriate applications should include:

  • Completed application form
  • A cover letter describing the status of the applicant’s graduate training (i.e., years in the program, expected date of completion) and a one-paragraph statement that clearly and specifically describes the applicant’s career goals.
  • A one page summary of the applicant’s thesis research and the significance of the research.
  • A copy of the applicant’s most significant first-authored publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal focused on the applicant’s thesis research.  On a separate page, the applicant should describe the specific contributions that each author made to the publication.
  • A CV or resume.  Publications that describe the applicant’s thesis research should be highlighted.
  • Two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from the applicant’s thesis advisor.  The letter from the thesis advisor should address the specific intellectual contributions of the student to his/her published thesis research.

The application form, cover letter, research summary, publication, author contributions, and CV should be submitted as one PDF document by Email to mcand003@umn.edu (Office Associate for Biomedical Graduate, Research, Education and Training). The two letters of recommendation should also be submitted by email to mcand003@umn.edu.

Applications will be evaluated by the BSGC, a faculty committee consisting of Directors of Graduate Studies and faculty from the BMBB, IBP, MICaB, MCDB&G, Neuroscience, Pharmacology and Rehabilitation Science graduate programs.
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