GSK Graduate
Fellowship Program

Enhancing biostatistics-related expertise and strengthening ties between GSK and faculty and graduate students at Penn State

The GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Graduate Fellowship Program supports promising doctoral students and promotes development and application of quantitative expertise in disciplines related to biostatistics that will raise the visibility of GSK among graduate students at Penn State and strengthen relationships between faculty and GSK.

In addition, these fellowships allow the students and faculty advisers to seed new research projects which may lead to additional funding with GSK business units and/or federal agency programs in the future.

Eligibility

Applications and nominations will be considered from and for students meeting the following criteria:

• Enrolled in a graduate program in the Eberly College of Science, College of Medicine, or Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences.
• Have strong academic qualifications enabling them to succeed in graduate studies at Penn State. Students can apply at any point during their time at Penn State. Preference, however, is given to those past their qualifying exams, and those who have completed their comprehensive exam by the time of selection and are in their final two years of their program.
• In good standing for a Ph.D. degree and with experience in biostatistics, statistics (quantitative/applied), bioinformatics and genomics, or data analytics.

Candidates from other related fields (e.g., biology, microbiology and molecular biology, chemistry, and mathematics) may be eligible with demonstrated activity of  interest in the above areas and in the application of statistical methods and tools to discovery, development, and delivery of new medicines.

Acknowledging that diversity of its workforce is a significant priority for GSK and advancing opportunities for our students remains paramount to Penn State, all eligible students who contribute to the diversity of the student body will be considered.

Application

For full consideration, interested or nominated students must submit the GSK Graduate Fellowship application by December 14, 2023. The online application includes:

1. Curriculum vitae (CV)
2. Graduate transcript
3. Three short essays that addresses why they are interested in the GSK Graduate Fellowship and how it supports their career goals; a brief description of their graduate research and highlights of any expertise as it relates to statistical, computational, or data sciences; and a brief description of any activities that they have done that contributes to the enhancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Applicants should also request two letters of support—one being from their principal investigator (PI)/adviser—to be submitted by the letter writers to gskfellowship@psu.edu by December 20, 2023. To the extent possible, letters of support should comment on the student's expertise, experience, and training as it relates to statistical, computational, and/or data sciences.

Any questions should be directed to gskfellowship@psu.edu.

Awards

One fellowship position will be created per academic year. The awardee will be selected early in the spring semester and extended an optional internship with GSK for the summer prior to or during the academic year of the award.

A $31,000 stipend will support each student on the fellowship for one academic year. The fellowship program will cover tuition, benefits, and fees. During the optional co-op or internship at GSK, students will receive a separately negotiated salary.