JOHN WALLACE FEllowship AWARD
Purpose
To expand access to AIC participation for emerging researchers whose work and career development would be significantly advanced by attendance at the Autumn Immunology Conference. This fellowship honors Dr. John Wallace’s legacy of excellence, perseverance, and mentorship.
Awards
Available to graduate students or post-doctoral fellows (US citizen or residents only) presenting at AIC, and includes:
Registration fee waiver
$200 honorarium
Up to three nights lodging (room only) at the conference host hotel, while attending the conference
Lunch with current and past awardees and representatives from the NIH, AAI, and AIC (when available)
Overview
The Wallace Diversity Program honors the late Dr. John H. Wallace, a co-founder of the AIC. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, March of 1925, he majored in zoology at Howard University, graduating with honors in 1947. Although accepted as a medical student at Meharry Medical College, a summer of research with Dr. Albert Sabin at Cincinnati Children's Hospital changed his life. John chose a career in Bacteriology, earning both MS and PhD degrees at Ohio State University. After postdoctoral training at the same institution, he worked as a Research Associate and a Bacteriologist at Harvard Medical School, followed by a distinguished professional career at Meharry Medical College, Tulane University, Ohio State University, and the University of Louisville, where he was chairman of the Department of Microbiology & Immunology from 1972-1990. He also served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Morehouse University. During his career, Dr. Wallace published over 130 manuscripts and abstracts and mentored more than thirty-five graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. He had an extensive service record, serving on numerous scientific, academic, social and community organizations, boards and committees. Among his many distinguished accomplishments was his commitment to improve education and participation in the sciences. He was also very active in promoting the interests of high school, middle school, and elementary students in scientific careers.
Candidates
The number of awards is limited and only applicants presenting an abstract at the meeting will be considered for this award. To be eligible, candidates must be a graduate student or postdoc presenting at AIC, and a US citizen or permanent resident. Applications from students in labs with limited financial resources (no R01 level funding), or limited conference experience (first time presenter, or ≤1 national meetings attended in last 2 years) are encouraged.
Applications
To apply, please submit a complete application to Dr. Sabrina Scroggins by October 6, 2025. A full application package consists of a completed Wallace application, a copy of your accepted abstract, a full CV, a brief (250-300 word) statement on “How this award will advance my training”, a statement from your mentor/department highlighting financial need and/or lack of recent national conference attendance. In addition, two letters of recommendation are required, one from your advisor and one from another faculty member. For your convenience and that of your referees, we prefer electronic recommendations.
Sabrina Scroggins, PhD
University of Minnesota, Duluth
Duluth, MN
Dr. Sabrina Scroggins
AIC2024 JOHN WALLACE SCHOLARS
Abigail Cheever (Brigham Young University)
Andrea Benavides (University of Iowa)
KaReisha Robinson (Unversity of Illinois at Chicago)
Lyric Lane (University of Kentucky)
Nicholas Armas (University of Michigan)
Nicholas Bockenstedt (Iowa State University)
Nicholas Jackson (Saint Louis University)