EDUCATING LEADERS IN PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES SINCE 1886
Incoming UB pharmacy PhD scholars recognized with prestigious fellowships
By Katie Brigham
Published October 27, 2025
The University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (UB SPPS) continues to attract and support some of the nation’s most promising pharmaceutical scientists and clinical researchers. This year’s incoming PhD students in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Division of Clinical and Translational Therapeutics have earned top university honors and competitive national fellowships, underscoring UB’s reputation as a leader in drug discovery, development, biotherapeutics, translational science and novel delivery systems.
“Our programs have long been recognized for preparing the next generation of scientists,” said Gary Pollack, PhD, dean of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. “These awards reflect both the caliber of students we are fortunate to recruit and the strong institutional commitment to fostering their success.”
These awards are part of a broader effort at UB to enhance doctoral education through the PhD Excellence Initiative, which invests in fellowships, programming and mentorship to ensure students are positioned to thrive as researchers, educators and leaders. With these resources, UB SPPS graduate scholars are empowered to make lasting contributions to science and health.
UB Presidential Fellowship
The UB Presidential Fellowship is among the university’s most prestigious graduate awards. It is awarded annually to the top 10 % of enrolled doctoral students and provides a generous stipend, full tuition waiver and travel funds.
Emma Evereth, a PhD student in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, is one of this year's UB Presidential Fellowship recipients. In addition, she has been named a Graduate School Fellow and awarded a National Institutes of Health (NIH) T32-Initiative for Maximizing Student Development at UB (IMSD@UB) scholarship — further highlighting her exceptional academic promise.
“I am honored to be a NIH T32-IMSD Scholar, as well as the recipient of the UB Presidential Fellowship and Graduate School Fellowship. I am eager to use these awards to jumpstart my career as a young scientist and explore the groundbreaking research conducted at UB. I look forward to combining my background in neuroscience and chemistry with the new concepts I learn to make strides in drug delivery and bioengineering.”— Emma Evereth
Emma Evereth
UB Graduate School Fellowships
The UB Graduate School Fellowship supports outstanding graduate students with significant funding and recognition, helping them build strong foundations for careers in research and academia.
Five students from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences — Curtis Changjun Chen, Emma Evereth, Claire Gao, Nicole Tran and Laura Weinstein — have been named recipients of Graduate School Fellowships.
“I am extremely thankful to receive this award and I am excited for the opportunity to attend this institution. I hope to learn more about the field of pharmaceutical sciences and to gain more experience in both research and industrial settings, and I'm looking forward to the chance to bridge my engineering background with the field of pharmaceuticals.” — Curtis Changjun Chen
Curtis Changjun Chen
“I am deeply grateful for the support of the UB Graduate School and the Fung Laboratory Fellowships. The research environment at UB has been exceptionally welcoming, and I look forward to continuing to learn and grow as I pursue my research interests in drug development and pharmaceutical sciences.” — Nicole Tran
Nicole Tran
“I’m really grateful for the recognition I’ve received, and for the mentors and peers who have guided me along the way. As I start my PhD at the University at Buffalo, I’m excited to dive into research on nanomedicine while also giving back to the community that’s supported me. I hope to create a collaborative, encouraging environment where my peers and I can grow and succeed together.” — Laura Weinstein
Laura Weinstein
T32 – Initiative for Maximizing Student Development at UB
The T32-Initiative for Maximizing Student Development at UB (IMSD@UB) is a predoctoral training grant awarded by the National Institute of General Medical Science of the NIH that funds incoming PhD graduate students and offers career and professional development to support and promote their academic success in scientific discovery.
Emma Evereth and Laura Weinstein have been awarded fellowships through the T32-IMSD@UB this year.
Fung Laboratory Graduate Fellowships
The Fung Laboratory Graduate Fellowships support students engaged in high-impact research in pharmaceutical sciences under the mentoring environment of the Fung Laboratory at UB.
Claire Gao and Nicole Tran have each received a Fung Laboratory Graduate Fellowship in addition to their Graduate School Fellowships.
NIH T35 Short-Term Research Training Grant
The NIH Short-Term Institutional Research Training Grant (T35) supports full-time, intensive research experiences for health-professional students, providing early exposure to academic and translational research careers. Funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, it is designed to engage PharmD students in hands-on biomedical research under the mentorship of physician-scientists.
Daniyal Atiq, a student in the Clinical and Translational Therapeutics program within the Division of Pharmacy Practice, was selected as one of only two PharmD students for the 2025 NIH-funded T35 cohort.
“Receiving the NIH T35 fellowship was an amazing opportunity since it allowed me to explore my interest in clinical and translational science, through research revolving around fungal and multidrug-resistant pathogens. I am excited to build on this foundation within the highly collaborative environment at UB SPPS as I work toward my PharmD/MS and learn what I can achieve as a scientist.” — Daniyal Atiq
Daniyal Atiq
For over 135 years, the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences has continually been a leader in the education of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists, renowned for innovation in clinical practice and research. The school is accredited by the American Council of Pharmaceutical Education and is the No. 1 ranked school of pharmacy in New York State and No. 19 in the United States by U.S. News & World Report.