For Medical and Graduate Students

Graduate Student Pelotonia Scholars Program

Learn about the Graduate Student Pelotonia Scholars Program, providing cancer research scholarship awards to accomplished graduate student scientists.

The Pelotonia Graduate Scholars Program at The Ohio State University offers a two-year research award to exceptional graduate students interested in cancer research. Open to all graduate fields, from sciences to business, history, and engineering, the program promotes a multidisciplinary approach to understanding cancer. It allows students to immerse themselves fully in cancer research and develop independent projects.

Since its inception, graduate scholars from diverse fields — such as Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, and Psychology — have been funded. Their projects vary widely, from creating bioinformatics algorithms to predict treatment outcomes for triple-negative breast cancer to exploring the cancer-preventive effects of black raspberries on prostate cancer.

Competition is intense, and applications are critically reviewed by the Pelotonia Scholars Program Committee. The award's prestige has helped recipients stand out in their careers, leading to postdoctoral opportunities and faculty positions.

The program offers a competitive annual stipend of around $34,000, and Ohio State’s Graduate School covers tuition and fees, enabling students to focus fully on advancing cancer research without financial burdens.

Eligibility

Graduate Application Eligibility and Scoring Criteria

Application Cycle

Applications are accepted twice a year for graduate awards.
Spring: January 15 - 11:59 PM on February 15. Award begins August 14.
Fall: June 15 - 11:59 PM July 15. Award begins January 1

Contact

Pelotonia Scholars Program Manager: Marie Gibbons
Phone: 614-685-1960
Email: marie.gibbons@osumc.edu

2024 Graduate Student Pelotonia Scholars

Niyi Adelakun, MS

Niyi Adelakun, MS

Award Cycle: Spring 2024

Major: Biochemistry

Project: Targeted Degradation of the Oncogenic HER2 Using Nanobodies as Proximity-Directing Agents

Mentor: Nam Chu, PhD and Philip Tsichlis, MD

Idea Inspiration: I am motivated to advancing cancer research and improving treatments to mitigate the devastating impact of the disease.

Kyle Ernzen, BS

Kyle Ernzen, BS

Award Cycle: Spring 2024

Major: Biochemistry

Project: The Role of PRMT5 in HTLV-1 Gene Expression and T Cell Transformation

Mentor: Amanda Panfil, PhD

Idea Inspiration: I have always aspired to characterize novel therapeutic targets for cancer patients in need of treatment.

Mehdi Gharghabi, PharmD

Mehdi Gharghabi, PharmD

Award Cycle: Spring 2024

Major: Pharmaceutical Sciences

Project: Elucidating Oncogenic XPO1 Interactome in Aggressive Leukemia: A Path Toward Novel Therapeutic Frontiers

Mentor: Rosa Lapalombella, PhD

Idea Inspiration: I chose cancer research to uncover cures, revolutionize treatments, and save countless lives from this relentless disease.

Jillian Poska

Jillian Poska

Award Cycle: Spring 2024

Major: Biochemistry

Project: Determining the Mechanism of Estrogenic Endocrine Disruptor Driven Breast Cancer Risk

Mentor: Craig Burd, PhD

Idea Inspiration: I want to understand how chemicals we are exposed to in everyday life increase long-term cancer risk.

Michael BS Ruesch,

Michael BS Ruesch,

Award Cycle: Spring 2024

Major: Medical Scientist Training Program

Project: Paradoxical Effects of IL-15 Signaling in NK Maturation and KIR Acquisition

Mentor: Aharon Freud, MD, PhD

Idea Inspiration: I want to give patients hope by providing better ways to fight cancer.

Raven Vella

Raven Vella

Award Cycle: Spring 2024

Major: Biomedical Informatics

Project: The Clinical and Molecular Impact of 14Q Deletions on the Tumor Immune Microenvironment of Renal Cell Carcinoma

Mentor: Sameek Roychowdhury, MD, PhD

Idea Inspiration: Renal cell carcinoma is often treated with immunotherapy, but it is unclear why some patients respond and others don't. Our study will identify one group of patients who respond well.