KU News Release

KU medicinal chemistry doctoral students receive $23,000 in fellowships

LAWRENCE — Three University of Kansas doctoral students in medicinal chemistry have received $23,000 in fellowships from the American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education.

Adam Duerfeldt of Urbandale, Iowa, received an $11,000 Josiah Kirby Lilly Memorial Pre-Doctoral Fellowship to pursue research for drug synthesis and development for cancer treatment. His faculty mentor is Brian Blagg, associate professor of medicinal chemistry. Duerfeldt received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry in spring 2006 from Central College in Pella, Iowa. He is the son of Scott and Kristin Duerfeldt and a graduate of Urbandale High School.

Gary Brandt of Alpharetta, Ga., received a $6,000 pre-doctoral fellowship for his research in peptidometrics and studies of the interface of synthetic chemistry and biochemistry. Bragg is his faculty mentor. Brandt received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 2005 from Georgia State University. He is the son of Gary and Lynette Brandt and a graduate of Milton High School in Alpharetta.

Wendy Jeanne Hartsock of Lawrence received a $6,000 Pre-Doctoral Fellowship for her research in receptor-peptide interactions. Jane Aldrich, professor of medicinal chemistry, is her faculty mentor. Hartsock earned a master’s degree at the University of Arizona-Tucson and a bachelor’s degree at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.

Brandt and Duerfeldt are recipients of KU’s prestigious Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellowships for doctoral students. Hartsock received one of 56 American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education pre-doctoral fellowships in pharmaceutical science for 2007-08.

“All three are outstanding young researchers and very deserving of these prestigious national awards,” said Ken Audus, dean of KU’s School of Pharmacy.

Top priority for the American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education, located in Rockville, Md., is to help educate more pharmaceutical scientists to solve an increasing shortage of pharmacy college faculty and an emerging shortage of pharmaceutical industry scientists trained in drug development and manufacturing technology. The money awarded to KU students was among $300,000 in pre-doctoral fellowships given to 47 students nationwide.

The numbers of teaching faculty in pharmacy schools nationwide is monitored closely by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. The results of its 2008 study predicted nearly 20 percent of full-time faculty positions in U.S. schools of pharmacy will be vacant compared to 11 percent in the 2006 study. By 2015, that percentage is predicted to be 40 percent.

“Given the present tightening of employment in the pharmaceutical industry, is an opportune time for AFPE to reward outstanding graduate students and encourage their consideration of the growing numbers of opportunities in academia,” Audus said.

KU has 60 pharmacy faculty in full- and part-time appointments with about 420 doctor of pharmacy students, 120 doctoral students and 80 post-doctoral research associates. In addition, about 150 students who are practicing pharmacists with bachelor’s degrees in pharmacy are enrolled in a Web-based program leading to a nontraditional doctor of pharmacy degree.

Established in 1885, KU’s School of Pharmacy is the only accredited program in the state and consists of four academic departments: medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacology and toxicology, and pharmacy practice. For the last seven years, the school has ranked in the top five among pharmacy schools nationwide in National Institutes of Health funding; this year it is fourth.

KU’s doctor of pharmacy degree, or PharmD, is a six-year professional-level degree similar to a law or medical degree. U.S. News and World Report’s 2009 “Best Graduate Schools” ranked KU’s PharmD program 19th in the nation out of 102 accredited schools of pharmacy.

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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.