Merck & Co. Inc. today announced the winners of the second annual Merck
Index Women in Chemistry Scholarship program. The program is
designed to foster support for women choosing to pursue advanced degrees
in medicinal or synthetic organic chemistry.
"We are pleased to be role models for these exceptional young women,"
said Maryadele J. O'Neil, Editor of The Merck Index. "This
program allows us to encourage them in a tangible way and underscores
Merck's commitment to workplace diversity as well as excellence in
science and education."
The awards will be presented on Monday, Aug. 18, as part of The Merck
Index Women in Chemistry Awards Symposium and Poster Session, being
held at the American Chemical Society 236th National Meeting and
Exposition in Philadelphia. The introductory address will be given by
Dr. Mervyn J. Turner, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Licensing and
External Research, Merck Research Laboratories. Dr. Turner will speak on “The
Challenges of Bringing Drugs to Patients in the 21st
Century.”
The five award recipients will each receive a $5,000 scholarship and
present their undergraduate research at the symposium. The award winners
are: Karen Brown, Harvey Mudd College; Sarah Goforth, Furman University;
Sandra M. King, Grinnell College; Chawita Netirojjanakul, MIT; and Amy
Tremblay, Carleton University.
Closing the symposium will be Dr. Renata Oballa, Senior Research Fellow,
Merck Frosst Canada, who will discuss her transformation “From
Organic Chemist to Drug Discovery Scientist: A Career in Osteoporosis
Research.”
An additional ten students will present their research at the poster
session and will receive special recognition awards in the form of a
travel grant. These students are: Kristen Clary, University of Calgary;
Anna Dawsey, College of Charleston; Maggie He, City College of New York;
Casie Hilliard, University of Florida; Lauren Martini, NYU; Alison
Oostendorp, Elmhurst College; Caroline Proulx, University of Ottowa;
Lindsay Repka, Barnard College; Kelly Volp, University of Kansas; and
Christina Woo, Wellesley College.
The Merck Index Women in Chemistry Scholarship program is
administered by the editorial staff of The Merck Index, Chemistry's
Constant Companion®. The application
deadline for the 2009 scholarship program is March 15, 2009.
