Walnut Research Scholarship Program

Description

This scholarship program is funded by the California Walnut Commission for doctoral students and/or fellows to perform research on the potential health effects of walnuts primarily using data and samples already in existence in our laboratories. The scholarship will range from $12,000 to $18,000 per year based on individual needs assessment. The scholarship will be for a period of up to three years. This may be provided as either a tuition waiver or as a monthly stipend. Final award decisions are determined by the department doctoral committee.

Students/Fellows will primarily devote their research time to:

• Laboratory analysis of biological samples in storage from previous studies
  
• Perform statistical analysis on data already collected
• Gather relevant materials for research presentations
• Prepare reports and papers for the scientific literature
• Gather data for hypothesis generating and grant writing for new proposals

Students who receive this scholarship are expected to assist faculty in specified activities for a certain number of hours every week. Students will work under the supervision of a research faculty to whom they will submit progress reports regularly. Students will also be required to assist their research advisor in writing publishable papers beyond that required for their doctoral thesis.

Background

Cutting edge research, much of it conducted at Loma Linda University, Department of Nutrition, laid the foundation for the health claims now authorized by the FDA for tree nuts. LLU is the leading research institution in the world investigating the health benefits of nuts. In the late 1980s, an LLU based epidemiological study found that eating nuts regularly reduces the risk of heart disease. Findings of this study were published in the American Medical Association's journal of Archives of Internal Medicine (Arch Intern Med 1992; 152:1416-1424). Given the dearth of information on the topic, the Departments of Nutrition and Epidemiology started a research program on the potential health effects of nut consumption, particularly, in relation to heart disease, obesity and their risk factors. In 1990, the California Walnut Commission (CWC) funded the Loma Linda Walnut Metabolic Study which showed that a walnut rich diet is better than the recommended American Heart Association diet for lowering cholesterol. These findings were published in the premier medical publication, the New England Journal of Medicine in March of 1993.

Loma Linda researchers also conducted the Barcelona Walnut Trial, a dietary intervention trial of hypercholesterolemic patients from a hospital-based lipid clinic in Barcelona, Spain. The results of this study were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in 2000. This journal ranks third among the most quoted medical journals in the world. In 2000 Loma Linda University, Department of Nutrition conducted a research project on the long term effects of walnut supplementation on body weight and diet patterns. These results were published by the British Journal of Nutrition in 2005, adding to the significant data on walnuts available to the scientific community. And in 2005, the LLU Nutrition Department compared the effects of walnuts to fish on lipids and fatty acids in blood. These results are pending publication.

Requirements

Candidates must have a master's degree (for a doctoral award) or a doctors degree (for a post-doctoral fellowship) in nutrition, epidemiology, or a related field (i.e. food science, biology, etc.). An incoming GPA of 3.5 or better is required and must be maintained during the doctoral program. Candidates should possess proven quantitative skills as well as professional English writing skills and must be eligible to attend school in the United States for the duration of their program. US citizenship is not required. Applicants must have an active application for admission to Loma Linda University, Department of Nutrition.

How to apply

Please submit

1. A detailed personal statement addressing the following items:
   1. areas of research interests (broad scope)
   2. specific research interests (if any)
   3. long term career/professional goals
   4. description of skills that you currently have in: lab work, computer use, writing, public presentations, research experience, publications (include a copy if any) and teaching
2. A one-page summary of your research (or practicum project) completed for your master's program
3. A brief proposal on a specific research hypothesis that pertains to walnuts and health benefits. This should include background on the topic, hypothesis to be tested, brief outline of research methods to be employed and significance of this project to science and public health. This proposal should not exceed 4 pages (12-font size, double space).
4. One recommendation letter by mail (sealed and mailed separately) from your research advisor (master's degree) or academic advisor, specifically commenting on your research skills, analytical thinking, independent working ability, writing for scientific journals, etc.

These should be submitted as attachments to an email. In the text of the email, or by cover letter, clearly state your willingness and interest in conducting research in the area of walnuts. All documents should be addressed to:

Dr. Sujatha Rajaram
srajaram@llu.edu

The letter of recommendation and any documents that cannot be emailed should be sent to:
Dr. Sujatha Rajaram
Doctoral Scholarship Program
Department of Nutrition, NH 1102
School of Public Health
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA

Acceptance of applications for this scholarship is ongoing.