Alvin and RosaLee Sarachek

Fellowship fosters future faculty: In 2002, Alvin and RosaLee Sarachek created the Sarachek Predoctoral Honors Fellowship in Molecular Biology to enhance opportunities for postdoctoral career development of students who have demonstrated outstanding achievements during doctoral studies in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Identifying a need: “After more than a quarter century of advisory and evaluative work on higher education in science across the country, it became clear that the terminal portion of the doctoral program is a particularly challenging time for career development,” said Alvin, a founding member of Wichita State University’s biology department. He earned his doctorate in genetics at K-State in 1957.

How the fellowship makes a difference: “The Sarachek fellowship will help me purchase computer software to enhance research design, data analysis and manuscript writing of my research,” said recipient Am Detvisitsakun, who plans to return home to Thailand and join the Faculty of Science and Technology at Thammasat University. “The funds will cover all stages from moving expenses to initiating a research program. Being able to purchase relevant textbooks and subscribe to scientific journals will ensure an effective start to my teaching and research careers.”

Measuring the impact: “The $15,000 award makes this one of the biggest science awards anywhere,” said Forrest Chumley, associate director of the K-State Agriculture Experiment Station. Chumley leads the multidepartmental selection committee for the Sarachek fellowship. “What a remarkable lesson there is in philanthropy. Because the Saracheks have the resources to make this annual gift, they make a big impact on students’ lives. High-impact philanthropy like this is within reach of more people than would realize it.”