Alumna Claire Wolfer-Jenkins awarded Marshall Scholarship for graduate study in U.K.

Purdue alumna Claire Wolfer-Jenkins has been selected as a recipient of the 2026 Marshall Scholarship, a program that supports the pursuit of graduate education in the United Kingdom.

Wolfer-Jenkins earned a Bachelor of Science in neurobiology and physiology from Purdue in May 2025. As a College of Science undergraduate, she immersed herself in research opportunities, assisting in labs led by Jimmy Dooley, assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, and Priyanka Baloni, assistant professor in the School of Health Sciences.

Her undergraduate research experience opened the door to an internship with the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which she completed at an addiction medicine lab at Brown University. Wolfer-Jenkins’ contributions led to co-authorships on several manuscripts under review and gave her the opportunity to present a poster at the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s annual meeting.

Wolfer-Jenkins’ interest in socio-behavioral health and substance use disorder research expanded as she co-founded the Boiler Substance Awareness Network, a student-led, grant-funded organization mentored by Carol Ott, clinical professor of practice in the College of Pharmacy, focused on substance use disorder education, harm reduction and recovery awareness. To date, the organization’s network of volunteers has reached around 5,000 community members.

Wolfer-Jenkins’ time at Purdue was also marked by her participation in mentorship programs, her role in helping share innovative ideas as a member of the university’s TEDx board, and her selection as the recipient of multiple scholarships and awards honoring her outstanding leadership and academic excellence.

Wolfer-Jenkins is currently a global health postbaccalaureate fellow at the Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies — a leader in global health technology education and research — where she’s assisting in developing and refining highly effective and low-cost health care solutions for underserved communities.

As a Marshall Scholar, Wolfer-Jenkins plans to pursue a Master of Science degree in public policy at the University of Edinburgh, followed by a Master of Science degree in drug discovery at the University of Nottingham. She aims to create a more collaborative addiction research network as she works toward becoming a public health researcher specializing in substance use disorder.

The Marshall Scholarship enables distinguished young Americans to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in science, technology, creative arts, and the humanities and social sciences at Britain’s centers of academic excellence. Up to 50 Marshall Scholarships are awarded each year for academic excellence, demonstrated leadership and the potential to create lasting ties with the United Kingdom.

Purdue faculty who wish to have their students apply for the Marshall Scholarship may contact Purdue’s National and International Scholarships Office, which coordinates university nominees’ application process for prestigious external awards.