April 2012 – Graduate student Maggie McCormick has been selected to receive a dissertation completion fellowship within the Royster Society of Fellows for the academic year 2012-2013. Maggie is in her fifth year of doctoral study in the lab of Ellie Tzima, PhD.

In her project, “Endothelial cell-­cardiomyocyte communication in the heart,” Maggie uses genetically-modified mice that spontaneously develop dilated cardiomyopathy and explores the mechanisms that lead to cardiac dysfunction. Maggie’s work has important implications for public health, as dilated cardiomyopathy is one of the most common inherited forms of heart disease in humans and can lead to sudden death due to cardiac failure.

The Royster fellowships are endowed through the generous gifts of many friends of the University, most notably Dr. Thomas S. and Mrs. Caroline Royster, Jr., to support the most promising doctoral candidates at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the final phase of completing their dissertations.

Maggie’s award will provide tuition, fees and health insurance for the coming academic year, as well as a $20,000 stipend and $1000 toward travel to professional meetings or conferences.

In addition to the financial award, the Society of Fellows supports and nurtures members through the mentoring of senior faculty, interdisciplinary learning, and leadership development opportunities.

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