Doctoral students receive national research awards

JOHNSON CITY (July 23, 2018) – Two East Tennessee State University doctoral students have received prestigious fellowship awards for their research efforts within the ETSU Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy.

Hannah Oakes, of Bristol, earned a Pre-Doctoral Fellowship Award from the American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education (AFPE). The highly competitive fellowship award includes $10,000 per year to be used toward research and educational costs. 

As part of the application process, Oakes submitted research proposals that were reviewed by a panel and selected based on novelty, relevance and feasibility of the proposed research.

Oakes’ research is related to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and the long-term consequences of the most common drug used to treat the disorder. This marks the second time in as many years that Oakes received the honor for her work alongside Dr. Brooks Pond, an associate professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Jessica Bouldin, of McMinnville, earned a $5,000 Gateway to Research Scholarship from the AFPE for research focusing on the effects of synthetic drugs known as “bath salts” on individuals who abuse them. 

In order to apply, Bouldin must have demonstrated superior academic performance, provided a mentoring plan, and shown interest in research, as well as present a relevant topic.

“I am so proud of Hannah and Jessica and of the entire lab for receiving this recognition for our research,” said Pond, a mentor to both award recipients. “No one from the college has ever received a fellowship from AFPE, as they are extremely competitive awards. Renewal of these awards is even more rare, which is a wonderful testament to Hannah and the quality of her work.”

The goal of the AFPE fellowship program is to positively impact patient and public health by supporting high performing students who possess the skill and aptitude to become outstanding scientists and leaders in the pharmaceutical industry, academia and the government/nonprofit sectors.

The primary goal of the Gateway to Research Scholarship program is to help students gain an understanding of the importance of research by enabling them to apply that knowledge to improve their clinical skills and facilitate better communication with patients and medical team members, and as a result, equipping them for the changing healthcare workforce.