Awards and Funding

Dr. J. David Johnson received his PhD in biophysics from Michigan State University in 1976. From 1983 until his death in 2000, Dr. Johnson served first as an associate professor and then a full professor in the Department of Medical Biochemistry (the forerunner of the Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology) here in The Ohio University College of Medicine. He was an outstanding teacher who was admired by both medical and graduate students for his unique style of lecture presentations. His many scientific contributions include determination of the role of calcium binding proteins in the regulation of diverse physiological processes such as muscle contraction and plant growth.

With the death of Dr. Johnson, his family and friends established an endowment to fund an annual award to the Outstanding Graduate Student in the Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology. The Executive Committee of the Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology requests all graduate students who have passed the candidacy exam submit application for the Johnson Award annually. This award includes a $2,000 cash prize. 

Eligibility Requirements

All of the following eligibility requirements must be met:

1. At the time of application submission and the business travel trip, the student must be working as a graduate research associate with at least a 50 percent FTE appointment and directly reports to and is supervised by a faculty member whose tenure initiating unit is the Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology
2. The student must be on the PhD or MD/PhD track in one of the graduate programs affiliated with the department, such as OSBP, MCDB, BGSP, biophysics and neuroscience. The student must have passed the candidacy exam.
3. The student cannot be a previous recipient of the Johnson Academic Award.

How to Apply

The application has two parts:

1. The form should include a copy of the student's CV, indicating the year of entry into the graduate program, publications, abstracts, awards, fellowships and any other information the student wishes to provide.
2. A nomination letter from the student's BCP faculty adviser clearly stating the reasons why the student is deserving of consideration for the award.

Review Criteria

Publications: Quality and scientific rigor of publications that were based on the Ph.D. work in the Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology will be important review criteria. Any publications from the student’s prior work outside of that specific department will not be considered.

Awards and Fellowships: Receipt of locally or nationally competitive awards and fellowships based on the student’s work in the graduate program and in the Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology.

Presentations: Oral or poster presentations at university symposia, regional or national meetings.

Services: Service related to the Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, the student’s graduate program, The Ohio State University, or professional society.

Application materials are to be sent to Kirk Mykytyn by October 31.

The 2023 Johnson Academic Excellence Award winner: Benjamin Pastore.

The G&S Roth Memorial Fund is to assist graduate students in the Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology (BCP) on research in heart disease, eye disease, or cancer.

BCP requests all interested graduate students who have passed the candidacy exam to submit an application/abstract. The research abstract must be in the field of heart disease, eye disease, or cancer, which the applicant plans to present at a conference or other research event. This award includes financial assistance to cover business travel expenses up to $1,000 on one approved trip to present the submitted abstract in the calendar year following the award. For example, if awarded in December 2018, the financial assistance for the associated business trip must occur in 2019. This award is subject to all university, college, and department policies and regulations on travel. No extension requests will be considered.

Eligibility Requirements

All of the following eligibility requirements must be met: 

1. At the time of application submission and the business travel trip, the student must be working as a graduate research associate with at least a 50 percent FTE appointment and directly reports to and is supervised by a faculty member whose tenure initiating unit is the Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology
2. The student must be on the PhD or MD/PhD track in one of the graduate programs affiliated with the department, such as OSBP, MCDB, BSGP, biophysics, and neuroscience. The student must have passed the candidacy exam. 
3. The student cannot be a previous recipient of the G&S Roth Memorial Award.

Review Criteria

The application will be reviewed on the quality and scientific rigor of the abstract based on the Ph.D. work in the Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology.

How to Apply

View the application form. Only this form will be accepted. Submit the application to Kirk Mykytyn by October 31.

The 2023 G&S Roth Memorial Travel Award winner: Xiaoyuan Yang.

The Flora Gluck Fund is to assist graduate students in the Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology (BCP) on research in hypertension.

BCP requests all interested graduate students who have passed the candidacy exam to submit an application/abstract. The research abstract must be in the field of hypertension, which the applicant plans to present at a conference or other research event. This award includes financial assistance to cover business travel expenses up to $1,000 on one approved trip to present the submitted abstract in the calendar year following the award. For example, if awarded in December 2018, the financial assistance for the associated business trip must occur in 2019. This award is subject to all university, college, and department policies and regulations on travel. No extension requests will be considered.

Eligibility Requirements

All of the following eligibility requirements must be met: 

1. At the time of application submission and the business travel trip, the student must be working as a graduate research associate with at least a 50 percent FTE appointment and directly reports to and is supervised by a faculty member whose tenure initiating unit is the Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology
2. The student must be on the PhD or MD /PhD track in one of the graduate programs affiliated with the department, such as OSBP, MCDB, BSGP, biophysics and neuroscience. The student must have passed the candidacy exam.
3. The student cannot be a previous recipient of the Flora Gluck Award.

Review Criteria

The application will be reviewed on the quality and scientific rigor of the abstract based on the Ph.D. work in the Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology.

How to Apply

View the application form. Only this form will be accepted. Submit the application to Kirk Mykytyn by October 31.

The 2023 Flora Gluck Travel Award winner: Benjamin Pastore.