Biochemistry Department

Mary and Randolph T. Wedding Prize

Description

 The Mary and Randolph T. Wedding Prize is presented annually to one or two meritorious graduate students in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Graduate Program at the University of California, Riverside. The award is determined by a faculty jury which identifies the student who has made the most significant contribution to the peer reviewed scientific literature in biochemistry and molecular biology. The Prize consists of a cash award of at least $2000, inscription of the recipients’ names on a plaque on permanent display in the Biochemistry Department, as well as certificates signed by the Biochemistry Department Chair.

 Eligibility

 All graduate students currently enrolled and in good standing in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Ph.D. program, and who have authored a peer reviewed, scientific publication describing work carried out while she/he was a graduate student in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Graduate Program are encouraged to apply.

 Application process

 Applicants are required to prepare a file that consists of the following five items:

 1. A copy of one or more peer reviewed papers on which the applicant is a co-author; the paper must be published or in press (with a signed letter of acceptance or an e-mail of acceptance from the journal Editor).

 2. A written statement prepared solely by the applicant, that clearly describes the significance of the research and the nature and extent of her/his, meritorious contribution(s) to the nominated paper; this document should not exceed 16,000 characters, plus spaces.

 3. A letter of recommendation from the student’s major professor; the letter should include acknowledgement by the major professor that the applicant’s description of her/his role in the nominated paper is correctly stated in the student’s application document.

4. An official copy of the applicant’s UC-Riverside transcript, which reports her/his GPA as a graduate student.

 5. The applicant’s curriculum vitae summarizing her/his higher education and professional activities for each year since leaving high school (including a bibliography of scientific publications).

 One original and four copies of items 1 – 5 should be submitted to the BCMB Graduate Program Student Affairs Officer, Ms. Dawn Loyola, no later than Monday, September 3, 2012.

 The applicants will be evaluated by the R. T. Wedding Prize Selection Committee. The R. T. Wedding Prize Selection Committee is appointed by vote of the Biochemistry Department faculty. The award luncheon and ceremony is planned for Thursday, September 30 at noon, to take place during the annual Research Symposium.  

 Background

 The Mary and Randolph T. Wedding Prize is made possible by a generous endowment given to the Department of Biochemistry by Sheila O’Brien and Randolph Wedding, in honor of their parent’s enormous contributions to the University of California. Professor Randolph T. Wedding was one of 6 founding professors of the Department of Plant Biochemistry in 1960, which evolved into the present Department of Biochemistry in 1962. Professor Wedding played a leadership role in the development and initiation in 1962 of the graduate program in Biochemistry, which is now the graduate program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The first students matriculated into the graduate program in the fall of 1962. Professor Wedding served as Chair of the Department from 1966-1971. Professor Wedding participated actively in graduate classroom teaching, the mentoring of graduate students and conducted research into plant enzymology until his retirement in 1993. He was a loyal and dedicated member of the UC-Riverside academic community over the 45 years he was an active faculty member. He was also an active participant for decades in daily noontime tennis and, as well, expressed his artistic talent in a large number of oil paintings.