Dr. James C. Houk Fellowship in Neuroscience
In 2020, the late James C. Houk, PhD, former chair and professor of Physiology (now Neuroscience), and his wife Antoinette, established the Dr. James C. Houk Fellowship in Neuroscience through a bequest. Their gift provides funding for a graduate student or postdoctoral fellow studying neuroscience at Northwestern and also supports the annual James C. Houk Lecture in Motor Control, delivered by a renowned neuroscientist whose work reflects Dr. Houk’s broad interests.
Award and Responsibilities
Each calendar year, the Houk Award Committee solicits nominations from faculty for the Houk Fellowship in Neuroscience. One recipient is selected and designated as the Houk Scholar, with a term running from April to April, aligned with the beginning of Northwestern’s spring quarter.
The Houk Scholar receives a $10,000 award, which may be used toward:
- Research-related travel
- Computers or peripheral devices
- Books and laboratory supplies not otherwise provided
In addition, the Houk Scholar collaborates with the award committee to select a guest lecturer — an esteemed neuroscientist whose research aligns with Dr. Houk’s research interests. The scholar will:
- Serve as host for the visiting speaker
- Introduce the speaker at the lecture
- Attend a dinner associated with the speaker’s visit
Eligibility
Eligibility alternates annually between graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Postdoctoral fellows are being considered for the 2027 award cycle.
Only faculty within the Department of Neuroscience are eligible to submit nominations.
For graduate student award cycles, nominees must:
- Be a current PhD student affiliated with the Department of Neuroscience
- Have advanced to candidacy
- Have completed at least two years in their degree program
For postdoctoral fellow award cycles, nominees must:
- Be a current postdoctoral fellow affiliated with the Department of Neuroscience
Nomination Requirements
- Curriculum vitae of the nominee
- Abstract of the nominee’s primary research project (250-word limit)
- One-page letter of recommendation from the nominee’s mentor (or other nominating faculty member in the Department of Neuroscience)
- A short essay (no more than one page) naming a potential speaker for the Houk Lecture and describing what aspects of that individual’s work and career have inspired them
Contact
For questions, contact Jenna Ward.