Brianda Elzey awarded George Washington Carver Fellowship to further graduate studies

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  — Brianda Elzey, a graduate research assistant in Purdue University’s College of Agriculture, has been awarded the George Washington Carver Doctoral Fellowship, which includes a 5-year stipend of $20,400. 

Elzey, who was nominated by the Food Science Graduate Committee, said the fellowship will enable her to spend more research time in the lab as part of her doctorate studies in food science. She currently is exploring underutilized sources of protein, including certain types of fish and bugs. Her focus is on making these sources of protein more edible. 

“I like to see the impact my research is making on the lives of people around the world,” Elzey said. “We’re able to help address challenges like food insecurity in countries that are less fortunate.” 

Elzey, who is from Great Mills, Maryland, graduated with a master’s of science degree in chemistry from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in 2016. She enrolled in Purdue when she learned about the food science program, which opened up additional opportunities to research oils used for foods, the subject of her master’s thesis. 

The fellowship, which is named after the prominent educator, researcher and botanist George Washington Carver, is awarded annually to encourage students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Hispanic-serving institutions (HSI), or Tribal colleges, who have demonstrated superior academic achievements, to attend Purdue. Students selected for the fellowship must be seeking a doctorate and aspire to teach in higher education. 

Writer: Shari Finnell, 765-494-2722, sfinnell@purdue.edu 

Agricultural Communications: (765) 494-8415;
Shari Finnell, Manager/Media Relations and Public Information, sfinnell@purdue.edu  
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