Trainees in the U-M Medical School Department of Biological Chemistry are eligible for awards that have been established over the years in honor of members of our community. Each award, which carries with it a cash prize, is presented by the Chair of the Department at a special ceremony held annually.
The Halvor N. and Mary M. Christensen Award
This award is presented to an outstanding PhD student who has demonstrated excellence in academic scholarship and research. The award honors Professor Halvor N. Christensen, who was Chair of the Department from 1955–1970, and his wife Mary M. Christensen. James Stone, who was mentored by Michael Marletta and graduated in 1995, was the first recipient of this award in 1992.
The Adam A. and Mary J. Christman Award
This award is presented to an outstanding PhD student who has demonstrated excellence in academic scholarship and research. The award is dedicated to the memory of Professor Adam A. Christman, an early faculty member and Chair of the Department from 1953–1954, and his wife Mary J. Christman. Catherine Drennan, mentored by Martha Ludwig, and James Drummond, mentored by Rowena Matthews, were co-recipients of the first award in 1990.
The Minor J. and Mary Lou Coon Award
This award is presented to a graduate student who exhibits overall excellence in academic performance and has provided exemplary service and/or teaching to the department. The award commemorates Professor Minor J. (Jud) Coon, who was Chair of the Department from 1970–1990, and his wife Mary Lou Coon. William Ziehler, a 2000 graduate who was mentored by David Engelke, was the inaugural recipient of the award in 1998.
The Anthony and Lillian Lu Award
This award is presented to an undergraduate, graduate, or postdoctoral fellow based on academic background, achievement in research, and potential as a scientist. The award was established by the Lu family: Anthony Lu was a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Minor Coon from 1966–1970, his wife Lillian Lu worked in the laboratory of Robert Greenberg, and their daughter Deborah Lu, PhD, JD, is a 1996 graduate of the department who was mentored by Jerry Menon. In 1999 Dong Xu, then a graduate student mentored by Vince Massey and Dave Ballou, became the first awardee.
The Lee Murphy Memorial Prize
This prize is awarded to a graduate student who embodies the highest ideals of scientific integrity and who has published a significant paper, or series of papers, in the last year. The prize honors the memory of Lee Murphy, PhD, a 1978 graduate of the department who passed away unexpectedly in 1983. Murphy was mentored by Irwin Goldstein, and his PhD thesis describes his work purifying and characterizing several plant lectins. The prize was first awarded in 1985 to David Duncan, a 1983 graduate who was also mentored by Dr. Goldstein and studied plant lectins.
The 2022 trainee awards were presented by Chair Phyllis Hanson at the department's annual research retreat, where each awardee gave a research talk.
Meredith Skiba (right), recipient of the 2017 Murphy Prize, alongside former Chair Dan Goldman, Lee Murphy's graduate mentor Irwin Goldstein, and Meredith's graduate mentor Janet Smith.
Grace Kroner (right), a graduate student in the Freddolino lab, received the 2016 Lu award from Deborah Lu (left), a 1996 graduate of the department.
Former Chair David Engelke presented the 2014 Coon Award to current faculty member Chase Weidmann, when Chase was a graduate student mentored by Aaron Goldstrohm.
Current faculty member Bruce Palfey was the winner of the Christman Award in 1991, and Rebecca Fagan received the same honor in 2007, when she was a graduate student mentored by Bruce.
