Application Information

Applications for a pre doctoral fellowship award should be submitted online by October 1, 2008. Please note that no applications will be accepted after the deadline date.

Identification of the successful candidates will be made no later than December 15, 2008.

A. The candidate should provide:

1. Registration Information. Submit your information online by following the steps in the registration process.

2. An extended letter that includes all of the following information. Name, Personal Data, Education and Training - Curriculum Vitae, Experience in Research, Bibliography, if any, Statement of Career Plans, and Indication of whether or not Candidate is in an M.D./Ph.D. Program.

3. A detailed description of the thesis project, written by the student, including objectives, rationale, methods of approach and preliminary results, if any, and a bibliography of major references. The statement should not exceed six single-spaced typewritten pages of type size 12 point or larger. Applicants are requested to use a format similar to that specified for the submission of grants to the National Institutes of Health. To be competitive the research description must describe the methods in detail.

4. Candidate should arrange to have sent directly to the PhRMA Foundation official copies of undergraduate and graduate transcripts, including Graduate Record Examination/MCAT results, if available. Without these transcripts, the application will be considered incomplete. Please upload scanned photocopies of transcripts and other results with the application if available but official copies will be required for final decision.

The institutional code for the PhMRA Foundation for GRE information is #5967.

B. The thesis advisor should provide, electronically and in hardcopy:

1. A letter giving the mentor's appraisal of the candidate and the proposed research. The leadership qualities of the applicant should also be communicated.

2. A description of the facilities and financial support that will be available to the candidate.

3. The number of other trainees who will be supervised during the candidate's training period.

4. A copy of the mentor's curriculum vitae and bibliography submitted in NIH format/PHS 398. Please limit this to no more than 3 pages.

5. List of research support including current grants, pending applications, total amounts involved and period of time. (Since the fellowship provides no research funds, this information is necessary to provide a further perspective of the resources available for the conduct of the thesis research.)

It is recommended that the advisor review the research information prior to the applicant submitting it online.

C. The department chairman should provide, electronically and in hardcopy, a letter to include:

1. The chair's appraisal of the candidate and the proposed research.

2. An estimate of when the candidate will complete the requirements for the Ph.D.

3. Certification that the candidate is a full-time, in-residence candidate for the degree of Ph.D.

4. Indicate the length of time for which the award is being requested and when it is to begin.

5. Information on candidate's current source of support and applications for stipend support which are pending (if any). If none pending, state this.

6. Information on whether or not the department has a training grant, noting if it is limited to a specific area and what that area is.

7. Information on the number of graduate students in the department and how many of these are supported by the training grant.

D. In addition, a letter from an individual other than the thesis advisor, who is knowledgeable about the candidate's scientific skills, commenting on the candidate's potential for a career in research should be uploaded and sent in hardcopy directly to the PhRMA Foundation.

E. Please note if application involves research on drugs for rare diseases.

During the review process, we will be considering the following information: