The Wilfred R. Chan Award of Excellence for Research in Natural Products Chemistry (The W.R. Chan Award of Excellence)

1. PURPOSE & DESCRIPTION OF SCHOLARSHIP
The Wilfred R. Chan Award of Excellence for Research in Natural Products Chemistry (The W.R. Chan Award of Excellence) is established to stimulate interest in the field of Natural Products and to facilitate career development of the awardees in this area of Chemistry.
 
2 .ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
The applicant must be/have:

1. Full-time graduate student researchers in the field of Natural Products Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at The UWI, Mona Campus
2. Satisfactorily completed at least one year of their natural products research programme.
3. Demonstrated creative personal contribution to assigned research projects, resulting in notable development of the project.
4. natural products researchers that are involved in interdisciplinary collaboration;
5. Sustained good citizenship/ meet all other requirements of the University pertinent to student behaviour, discipline and performance.

 
A.Final Report

• Each recipient of The W.R. Chan Award of Excellence is required to submit a report within one month after receipt of the Award. The report should list the project's activities and accomplishments to that project period leading up to the Award.
• A copy of the report will be sent to the Chan family.

 
B.Intellectual Property

• All intellectual property emanating from the efforts leading to The W. R. Chan Award of Excellence will be held by The University of the West Indies, according to the University's Intellectual Property Policy, unless otherwise negotiated.

 
C.Acknowledgement and Publicity

• All recipients of The W.R. Chan Award of Excellence are required to acknowledge receipt of support from The W .R. Chan Award of Excellence in all publications supported by the Award.

 
D.Inactive The W.R. Chan Award of Excellence

• An Award will be regarded as inactive if work has been suspended on the project for over a period of six months from the award date.
• In the event that the Award remains in a state of inactivity the Research Awards Committee will terminate the grant

 
E.Termination/Withdrawal of Award

• The W.R. Chan Research Award of Excellence may be withdrawn if recipient’s fail to continue their research work for six months after receiving the Award

  
3. VALUE OF AWARD

1. Each successful recipient will obtain a maximum of US$2,500 in funding to be distributed in two tranches of US$1,250 each at six-month intervals over a year.
2. An awardee can receive The W.R. Chan Award of Excellence only once.

 
4. DURATION OF AWARD:                 1 year 

5. AWARD APPLICATION REQUIREMENT
    All applications shall be accompanied by the following documents:

1. Transcript from The UWI covering at least Year 1 of your programme in the field of Natural Products Chemistry
2. A one-page essay on the Applicant providing a summary of their first year’s research in the field of natural products, and also highlighting your involvement in interdisciplinary collaboration
3. 2 character reference letters

 
6. CRITERIA FOR SELECTION & SELECTION PROCESS
Criteria for Selection
In the selection process, priority will be given to:

1. Applications, submitted in writing to the Head, Department of Chemistry, by graduate students of the Department at Mona, in the field of Natural Products Chemistry.
2. Applications from such researchers who have satisfactorily completed at least one year of their natural products research programme.
3. Applications that have demonstrated creative personal contribution to assigned research projects, resulting in notable development of the project.
4. Applications from natural products researchers that are involved in interdisciplinary collaboration;

 
Selection Process

1. Applications are considered by the Research Awards Committee.
2. Having been vetted by the Head of Chemistry to ensure compliance with the selection criteria, applications are reviewed, evaluated and assessed by the Research Awards Committee;
3. The Research Awards Committee will consist of members of the Department of Chemistry. The Chan Family reserves the right to designate an external member to the Research Awards Committee.
4. In a year in which there are no worthy student researchers in natural products chemistry, no award will be made for that year. The Research Awards Committee will make an announcement to that effect.

1. HOW TO APPLY                   

1. Submit the completed application form with all the other relevant documents to the School for Graduate Studies and Research, Regional Headquarters via email at gsr@uwi.edu, on/before June 30, 2025 under the captioned subject The W.R. Chan Award of Excellence 2025.