The Poultry Science Association Foundation (PSA Foundation) was pleased to announce the Award of the Inaugural Ph.D. Fellowship from Merck Animal Health during the International Production and Processing Expo in Atlanta, Ga. Merck Animal Health’s generous gift will support the Poultry Research Fellowship of Emily Kimminau in the Poultry Science Department of Texas A&M University.
The Merck Animal Health Fellowship awarded to Kimminau is the first of three which will support the research of doctoral students in poultry sciences for three years with fellowships also to be awarded in 2017 and 2018. Students interested in innovative applied and basic poultry science research related to intestinal health, immunology, poultry pathology and disease, molecular biology, or vaccine technology and development will be considered for the Merck Animal Health Fellowships.
Merck Animal Health’s grant for the education of talented graduate students pursuing a career in poultry science was made through the PSA Foundation Capital Campaign: "Charting Our Course – Securing Future Leadership for Poultry."
“We, at Merck Animal Health, recognize that poultry scientists are critical to our future,” said Shannon Kellner, poultry business unit head, Merck Animal Health. “We are committed to investing in their futures through fellowships such as this, and believe this opportunity will help prepare students for their vital roles within the poultry industry and contribute to advancements in poultry health and performance.”
Nationwide student recruitment for the Merck Animal Health Fellowships for 2017 is anticipated to begin in early September, and the application process will be completed in the fall of 2016. Merck Animal Health and the PSA Foundation will announce the 2017 recipient during Merck Animal Health Luncheon at the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in January 2017.
The Capital Campaign was launched by the PSA Foundation in January 2015 and aims to develop scientific leaders in subject matter areas, such as poultry genetics, health and nutrition, and food safety and quality, for the poultry enterprise and allied industry. Funds of the Capital Campaign are used to award undergraduate internships, undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships, travel grants, and preceptor/mentoring grants.
Since its establishment in 2004, the PSA Foundation has worked to support a variety of initiatives such as the Legacy Project, which digitized and indexed issues of Poultry Science—one of PSA’s journals. To learn more about the PSA Foundation, the Capital Campaign, how to donate, or the student application process, visit www.poultryscience.org/foundation.asp.
