Sanofi-aventis sponsors new Department of Nutrition scholarship program (Spring, 2010)

April 23, 2010

Pharmaceutical company sanofi-aventis is sponsoring a new Department of Nutrition scholarship program that will help bring top international doctoral students to UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.
Through the sanofi-aventis – UNC Global Nutrition Scholars Program, the company will fund half the cost of a five-year doctoral program for three international students, or about $410,000. The company’s sponsorship will be matched with funds from the UNC Graduate School, the Department of Nutrition and faculty funding sources.

“We’re trying to think more globally in our research and nutrition programming,” said June Stevens, PhD, department chair. “This is a great step forward in accomplishing that goal.”

Stevens says that the economic downturn has meant many qualified and enthusiastic international students have not been able to attend UNC. The scholarship will make that opportunity possible and will prepare more students to address nutrition and other health challenges around the world.

The first Scholars will arrive at UNC in fall 2010. After their first year of study, they will have the unique opportunity to develop skills and broaden their understanding of the global pharmaceutical industry through an internship with sanofi-aventis U.S.

– by Natalie Gott

Carolina Public Health is a publication of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health. To view previous issues, please visit www.sph.unc.edu/cph.