Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowships
The Carolyn L. Kuckein Memorial Fellowship, awarded annually by Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA), supports medical students in their first, second, or third year to conduct research. Each School of Medicine can nominate one student for the fellowship.
Application Process
To be considered for nomination, eligible students must submit pre-application materials, including:
- Cover Page (available for download on the Hive)
- Four-page summary of research proposal, including title, hypothesis, rationale, background, methods, data analysis plan, significance, and student role in the project
- Reference List (not included in the page limit)
- Student Curriculum Vitae
Pre-applications should be compiled into a single PDF and submitted to grants@siumed.edu.
National application process
If selected for nomination, students must complete additional requirements for the final application. These include:
- Faculty support letter outlining the advisor’s commitment to mentorship
- Mentor’s NIH-style biographical sketch
- Proof of IRB or IACUC approval, if applicable
- Endorsement letters from the SOM AOA councilor and SOM Dean
- Completed AOA checklist
The nominated student should work with the Office of Student Affairs to compile their final application for submission through the AOA website.
Post-award requirements
Students awarded the fellowship will present their research at the Annual Spring Trainee Research Symposium as the AOA Speaker. They will also be eligible to compete for symposium prize money. Any publications or presentations related to the AOA-supported research must acknowledge: “Supported in part by an Alpha Omega Alpha Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship.”
AOA awards are paid directly to students as taxable income.
For complete application guidelines and instructions, please visit AOA Fellowship Pre-Application on the Hive. If you have any questions, contact grants@siumed.edu.