American Egg Board -  Egg Nutrition Center 

Dissertation Fellowship in Nutrition

Introduction:

The American Egg Board - Egg Nutrition Center (AEB-ENC) has established a dissertation research fellowship program to support students during the final three years of their doctoral research on nutrition topics related to eggs, egg products or functional nutrients in eggs. The primary emphasis of the program is on human nutrition and health related issues, and the contributions of eggs or egg products to a healthy diet. The initial year of the award will be based on a national competition, and the second and third years of funding are contingent upon satisfactory progress on the dissertation research project.

One AEB-ENC dissertation fellowship will be awarded each year. Applications will be reviewed by an expert panel of nutritional scientists. The award will be made to an individual who, in the judgment of the review panel, has demonstrated superior scholarship and shows the greatest promise for future achievement as a nutrition researcher and teacher in institutions of higher education.

Eligibility:

Eligibility for the AEB-ENC dissertation fellowship competition is restricted to:

• PhD degree candidates at an accredited nonprofit U.S. institution of higher education offering a PhD degree in nutrition or nutrition-related field.
• Individuals who aspire to a teaching and research career in nutrition.
• Persons who have not earned a doctoral degree at any time, in any field.

Research Criteria:

Research projects must have substantial relevance to the role of eggs in a healthy diet. Areas of interest include:

• the relationship between egg consumption and the concentrations and metabolism of plasma lipids and lipoproteins;
• the contributions of eggs to the quality of the diet in various socioeconomic segments of the population;
• the roles in health of the protein, vitamins, minerals, carotenoids and other nutrients in eggs;
• the bioavailability of egg nutrients and/or effects of egg consumption on nutrient bioavailability and/or metabolism from other foods,
• analysis of epidemiological data on the nutrient contributions of eggs.

Preference will be given to studies related to human; however, animal model studies with appropriate justification of relevance to human health and to the egg industry will be given appropriate consideration.

Funding:

Stipend support: up to $30,000 per year dependent upon the institutional stipend rate which can be supplemented by the applicants advisor.

Supply budget: $7,500 per year.

Travel funds: $2,500 per year to attend national meetings and to present results of the dissertation research project.

Expenses will also be paid in FY03 for the fellow to attend the July meeting of the American Egg Board Nutrition Committee for presentation of the dissertation research findings. No dependency allowances will be provided by this fellowship program.

Application Requirements:

[1] Letter of Intent:

Prospective applicants are requested to submit a two [2] page Letter of Intent describing the planned project, its objectives and relevance to the egg industry. Following review of the Letters of Intent, applicants whose projects meet the criteria of the program will be invited to submit a complete application.

[2] Application [not to exceed 10 pages]:

•  Introduction and Background
•  Materials and Methods
•  Experimental Design
•  Expected Outcomes and Potential Pitfalls
•  Relevance to the Egg Industry
•  References

[3] Support Materials:

• Letters of Recommendation [dissertation advisor, department head plus 2 additional letter]
• Curriculum Vitae/Bibliography
• Undergraduate and graduate transcripts
• Career Objectives [1 page]
• Curriculum Vitae/Bibliography of dissertation advisor

Obligations:

The AEB-ENC fellowship awardee will be required to submit semi-annual and annual progress reports and to present the final results of his/her study during the third year [FY03] of support to the Nutrition Committee of the American Egg Board at its annual July meeting. AEB-ENC funding is to be acknowledged in any publications resulting from the supported research.

AEB-ENC dissertation fellows should be engaged full-time in a program leading to a PhD degree in nutrition or nutrition-related field. A fellow may not accept remuneration from another fellowship or similar external award while on the AEB-ENC fellowship tenure; supplementation from institutional funds are allowed. After an award is offered, any substantial changes in the research plan or fellowship site requires written approval from the Egg Nutrition Center. The fellow is wholly responsible for the conduct of the research, timely submission of progress reports, and preparation of research results for publication within the guidelines of the fellowship institution. Neither the American Egg Board nor the Egg Nutrition Center assumes responsibility for the research findings or their interpretation.

Dates and Deadlines:

Send Letters of Intent postmarked no later than 31 January to:

Donald J. McNamara, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Egg Nutrition Center
1050 17th St. NW, Suite 560
Washington, DC 20036
202 833-8850 / FAX 202 463-0102
e-mail: enc@enc-online.org