UT Southwestern department of biochemistry holds an annual contest for undergraduate researchers from across the country. Prizes will be given in three areas: Chemistry, Biophysics or Quantitative Biology, and Biological Chemistry. The McKnight Prize was instituted by Dr. Steven McKnight, chairman of UT Southwestern's Department of Biochemistry, in honor of his parents, "because they have been the best parents imaginable," he said.
Several finalists will be invited to travel to New Braunfels in mid-November for the biochemistry department's annual retreat to give poster presentations on their work. Winners will be chosen both for the significance of their work and the quality of their presentation.
This competition is open to undergraduates in their senior year who have conducted outstanding research in chemistry, biological chemistry, biophysics or quantitative biology.
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Three cash prizes will be awarded in each discipline:
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1st place - $2,000
2nd place - $1,000
3rd place - $500
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2008 McKnight Prize Winners in Chemistry
2008 McKnight Prize Winners in Molecular Biophysics
*To view previous winners click here.
The McKnight Prize in Chemistry, Molecular Biophysics, and Biochemistry pdfs have additional submission and award details, as do the FAQs below.
How to apply:
By October 1, send an application by email to mcknightprize@utsouthwestern.edu. Include on the subject line Chemistry Prize, Biological Chemistry Prize or Biophysics or Quantitative Biology Prize. The application should include the following:
- A brief (generally 250-750 words) abstract describing an undergraduate research project.
- A letter of recommendation from your research advisor (may be sent separately).
- Self-reported grades and GRE’s (if available).
- A mailing address.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Prize?
Senior undergraduates who have done laboratory research in chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics or computational biology
What is the application deadline?
October 1, 2009.
How long should the abstract be?
There is no formal length requirement or limit. Most competitive projects can be well abstracted in 250-750 words.
How do I report my score/grades?
Undergraduate GPA and GRE scores may be self reported. We expect that competitive candidates will report these accurately.
What if I haven’t taken the GRE?
We recognize that many students will not have taken the GRE yet. In this case, send only your GPA.
What about the letter from my research mentor?
As with the abstract, there is no formal length requirement or limit. Again, most applicants and their projects can be adequately described in 1-2 pages. This letter should be sent directly from the research mentor as described below.
How do I submit my application?
By October 1, send an application by e-mail to mcknightprize@utsouthwestern.edu. Include on the subject line Chemistry Prize, Biological Chemistry Prize or Biophysics or Quantitative Biology Prize.
Regular mail may be sent to:
Christina Sims
Department of Biochemistry
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75390-9038
What if I don't meet one of the criteria?
While it is expected that competitive applicants will meet the application criteria, we encourage applications from all undergraduates who feel that their research should be considered.
What happens next?
The selection committee will review all applications and select several finalists who will be invited to present posters to the selection committee at the UT Southwestern Biochemistry Research Retreat to be held in New Braunfels, Texas, November 6-8, 2009. Travel and accommodations for finalists will be provided by UT Southwestern.
What if I have questions?
Contact:
Molecular Biophysics: Kevin Gardner, Ph.D.
(kevin.gardner@utsouthwestern.edu)
Quantitative Biology: Nick Grishin, Ph.D.
(nick.grishin@utsouthwestern.edu)
Chemistry: Joseph Ready, Ph.D.
(joseph.ready@utsouthwestern.edu)
Biological Chemistry: Benjamin TU, Ph.D.
(benjamin.tu@utsouthwestern.edu)
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