Research

Two Fundraising Challenges Expand Opportunities for PhD Students

As essential members of labs that drive academic research, doctoral students play a critical role in medical research and represent the future of biomedical science, which relies on ongoing generations of highly trained investigators. 

Recognizing the critical importance of the scientific workforce, an anonymous local foundation and the BU trustees have extended generous challenge grants to support PhD students. Both commitments come at a time when federal support for research has wavered, and new and secure sources of funding are needed to maintain the pipeline of scientists and the research ecosystem they sustain. 

“PhD students are the lifeblood of a university’s research programs. If we reduce their number, we reduce the opportunities for life-changing research and discovery,” says C. James McKnight, PhD, associate dean of graduate medical sciences. 

Like many universities across the country, in 2025 the medical school made the difficult decision to reduce the number of admitted PhD students from 48 to 20 for the foreseeable future. However, thanks to the vision of generous donors, we have the opportunity to reverse course. 

Anonymous foundation challenge: funding for PhDs and neurodegeneration research

An anonymous foundation has pledged $1.5M in current-use funds for PhDs pursuing neurodegeneration research; to secure the full amount, the school must raise $1.5M in new philanthropic support. In doing so, the school will be able to admit an additional four PhD students training in internationally recognized programs such as the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, the Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Center, and other labs that are investigating the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases and the development of effective diagnostics. 

BU Trustee challenge: endowed support for PhD fellowships

For every $600,000 commitment, University trustees will provide a 1:1 match to create $1.2M in endowed fellowships providing five years of support for stipends and health insurance in addition to a full-tuition scholarship. One of three fundraising priorities of BU’s You Are Why initiative, this plan reflects the University’s commitment to nurture the next generation of researchers. Medical school leaders are eager to leverage this opportunity to establish a PhD fellowship that will be fully supported in perpetuity.

Individuals, foundations, and corporations interested in supporting either challenge can contact Associate Dean of Advancement Suzanne Maselli at
smaselli@bu.edu.