Biophysics Graduate Program Awards

John Clements Award

John Clements was one of the founding members of the UCSF Biophysics graduate group, and he endowed a Biophysics thesis prize in 1996 to be awarded to the Biophysics graduate whose thesis "represents the highest standards of scholarship" filed during the academic year.  The award carries a cash prize as well as a spot in the BBC Seminar Series. All graduating students can be nominated once.

Roger Cooke Award

Roger Cooke was one of the longest serving members of the Biochemistry & Biophysics Department. His understated manner belied his highly influential work on motor proteins ranging from the definition of the lever arm mechanism of myosin to a comprehensive understanding of kinesin action. He was not just a creative biophysicist and fabulous collaborator but multidimensional: captain of his sailboat, ocean swimmer, car builder, and overall, a gem of a person. In his honor, this award will go to the most impactful paper of the academic year by a Biophysics student. The award carries a cash prize and reception. All students are eligible for nomination.

Mel Jones Legacy Award

The Mel Jones Legacy Award honors the memory of Mel Jones by awarding excellence in graduate student research. At UCSF, Mel made major contributions across the macromolecular structure groups, including in the areas of protein crystallography, electron microscopy, computational systems, and design and implementation of the supporting infrastructure. Mel bridged the gap across these areas in support of the entire department and in the pursuit of his own research. He made many lasting contributions at the heart of major developments in structural biology at UCSF for over 30 years. A true renaissance man, Mel brought his multifaceted knowledge to every problem big or small, be it a simple hardware issue, or deeply complex scientific challenge. Mel’s beloved family is delighted to celebrate the current awardee who embodies Mel's spirit of dedication, outstanding creativity, skillful execution, and exceptional wit. The award carries a cash prize as well as a lecture and reception. All 5th year students are eligible for nomination.

Discovery Fellowship

The Discovery Fellows Program in Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs at UC San Francisco supports all PhD students in the basic and biomedical sciences at UCSF through an endowment of over $150 million. Each year, 79 students ("Discovery Fellows") serve as ambassadors for the initiative and for basic science education. Discovery Fellows are selected once a year in late summer, based on leadership potential, excellence in research, community-mindedness, and communications skills. Each basic science PhD program selects students entering their third year of study and submits their names to the Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs Dean’s Office for participation in the Discovery Fellows Program. The per program allotment of fellows each year is based on the size of each program's cohort of third year students. All third year students who have passed their qualifying exam are eligible for nomination.

Internal Merit Awards

GEPA facilitates numerous internal merit awards each spring, providing students and their mentors an opportunity to receive financial support as well enhance the student's CV. All students are eligible for nomination based on the criteria for the specific award.

QBC Retreat Awards

Acknowledgment for best poster in its discipline, TAs from the prior academic year, and general mentorship are awarded at the annual QBC Retreat. All students are eligible for nomination.

For detail on selection processes, please click here (link only available to UCSF account holders).

UCSF does not use race, gender, sex, or other protected categories or proxies for protected categories in the selection process.