The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences is proud to announce the 2021 recipients of the Dr. John J. and Charlene Kopchick Fellowships:

2021 Dr. John J. Kopchick Fellows

Brian Anderson
Advisor: Kristy K. Brock, PhD

Yasaman Barekatain
Advisor: Raghu Kalluri, MD, PhD

Nathaniel Berg
Advisor: Holger K. Eltzschig, MD, PhD

Medina Colic
Advisor: Traver Hart, PhD

Carolina Garcia Garcia
Advisor: Cullen M. Taniguchi, MD, PhD

Jovanka Gencel-Augusto
Advisor: Guillermina Lozano, PhD

Archit Ghosh
Advisor: Kunal Rai, PhD

Jennifer Hurtig
Advisor: Ambro van Hoof, PhD

Walaa Kattan
Advisor: John Hancock, BChir, PhD, ScD

Yiyun Lin
Advisor: Nicholas E. Navin, PhD

Elia Lopez
Advisor: Edgar T. Walters, PhD

Brigid McDonald
Advisor: Clifton D. Fuller, MD, PhD

Nabina Paudyal
Advisor: Vasanthi Jayaraman, PhD

Deborah Silverman
Advisors: Patrick Hwu, MD, and Moran Amit, PhD

2021 Charlene Kopchick Fellow

Soleil Hernandez
Advisor: Laurence E. Court, PhD 

These fellowships are funded through a generous $10.5 million endowment established by alumnus John J. Kopchick, Ph.D., and his wife, Charlene. 

The Dr. John J. Kopchick Fellowships are awarded to students who demonstrate exceptional character, extracurricular leadership, research excellence and scholarly merit. Each fellowship provides $7,500 directly to the student and an additional $7,500 to support their research and training. These fellowships may be renewed for a total award period of up to two years.

The Charlene Kopchick Fellowship is awarded to a GSBS student who demonstrates unique characteristics beyond merit and financial need. Such characteristics may include but are not be limited to first-generation college graduates entering graduate research; students who exhibit exemplary personal character; uniqueness of background and culture; strong work ethic; perceived leadership qualities and an enthusiastic scientific curiosity. These fellowships provide $8,250 of direct aid to the student and an additional $8,250 to support the student’s research and training. This is a one-time award to the student and is not renewable.