Jorge Heller Postdoctoral Fellowship

Background

The CRS Foundation is pleased to announce a new postdoctoral fellowship for 2010, honoring Jorge Heller (1927-2009) whose career spanned industry and academia in the research and development of polymers. In his work at Alza from 1970-1974, Jorge first started research on controlled drug delivery, working with bioerodible polymers, leading to the synthesis of polyortho esters which became the focus of his career in subsequent years. Jorge spent much of his professional life at Stanford Research Institute, later joining Advanced Polymer Systems, and authored approximately 200 publications and 50 patents. He served as the 1989-1990 President of CRS and was honored with the CRS Distinguished Service Award and Founders Award. He also left a profound legacy as the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Controlled Release (JCR) which is still the premier journal in the drug delivery field. The JCR Award, given annually at the CRS Annual Meeting for the best published paper related to the science of controlled release, also bears his name.

Jorge firmly believed that one of the key ingredients to professional success was to openly and enthusiastically interact with colleagues in order to build collaborative relationships. Living out this philosophy, Jorge was a constant at CRS annual meetings, missing only one in recent history due to failing health. With this in mind, the Jorge Heller Fellowship has the focus of cultivating future leaders in the area of controlled delivery technologies and provides an opportunity for the recipient to follow in his footsteps.

The Jorge Heller Fellowship Recipient will:

• Receive a one-year $30,000 fellowship
• Receive a complimentary registration to the 37th CRS Annual Meeting & Exposition in Portland, Oregon, July 10-14, 2010
• Participate with an abstract and poster in the 2010 Annual Meeting Poster Session
• Serve as an invited speaker at the 2011 Annual Meeting to present outcomes of the research

Selection Criteria for the Jorge Heller Fellowship

• Candidate must be a graduate student who has completed his/her degree by July 2010 or a postdoctoral individual, currently undertaking or recently completing postdoctoral research in delivery of bioactives or an associated field.
• Candidate may be from academia, government, or industry.
• Membership in the Controlled Release Society is required.

Requirements for Acceptance of the Jorge Heller Fellowship

• Attendance at the CRS 2010 Annual Meeting & Exposition in Portland, Oregon, where the award will be presented.
• Submission of a written perspective (upon completion of the fellowship) to the CRS for publication.

Application Process

Individuals must apply in writing by April 1, 2010, using the webportal:

Only complete submission packets will be considered. A complete submission packet includes the following documents:

• Completed application form
• Curriculum vitae
• Brief summary of current research
• List of patents and patent applications
• List of publications and meeting presentations (posters and talks)
• Letter of recommendation from advisor
• Future research and professional goals

Applications can be submitted online or by mail .

All materials must be included in a complete application packet to be considered. Files should be e-mailed to Linda Schmitt, lschmitt@scisoc.org.

Selection Process

April 1, 2010, is the deadline for application. The Heller Fellowship Selection Committee will determine the winner based upon the listed criteria.

Notification

The award recipient will be notified no later than May 3, 2010. Public announcement will be made prior to and also onsite at the CRS 2010 Annual Meeting & Exposition in Portland, Oregon.

Questions
For questions regarding the fellowship, please contact:
Kinam Park, Chair
Jorge Heller Postdoctoral Fellowship
CRS Foundation
Phone +1.655.463.1989
E-mail: kpark@purdue.edu

Support the CRS Foundation

The Jorge Heller Postdoctoral Fellowship was created with thanks to a major gift to the CRS Foundation from an anonymous donor. To further the CRS Foundation’s goal to support the future leadership of CRS and the delivery of bioactives, please give to the CRS Foundation Endowment. You may give in honor of Jorge Heller, in tribute to accomplishments, in memory of a colleague, and with matching employer contributions if applicable.

To donate

Online by credit card
Donation form