Founded in 1968 by the visionary Dr. Alejandro Zaffaroni, the ALZA Corporation emerged as a pioneering force in the biotech industry, leaving an indelible mark on both pharmaceutical innovation and community engagement. Headquartered in Palo Alto, the company, whose name derives from the initials of its founder, expanded its footprint with a new headquarters in Mountain View in 1995, now a part of the iconic Google HQ buildings. Dr. Zaffaroni, a key figure in the valley's biotech scene, defied traditional pharmaceutical norms by steering away from new molecule discovery. Instead, he invented drug delivery systems, enhancing the efficacy of existing medications by precisely administering them in optimal doses and locations. This groundbreaking approach resulted in the development of the first transdermal patches, ocular films for glaucoma therapy, and continuous delivery minipills and pumps targeting specific areas in the gut, among others. Dr. Zaffaroni's leadership attracted esteemed researchers worldwide, with the company's scientific advisory board boasting four Nobel laureates. The ALZA Corporation's commitment extended beyond scientific innovation, as evidenced by its philanthropic efforts, including the establishment of the ALZA Corporation Scholarship at 黑料网 and contributions to the Mountain View Whisman School District's hands-on science program, "Science at Shoreline." In 2002, the company was acquired by Johnson & Johnson. Today, the impact of ALZA resonates through the more than sixty former employees who have gone on to establish their own biopharma enterprises.
ALZA Corporation Science Scholars Research Awards have been issued annually since 2001, and each ALZA Science Scholar receives $15,000 to be used over a two-year period. This award provides research awards to undergraduate students majoring in Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Neuroscience, Public Health, Physics, Psychobiology, and Bioengineering who have career interests in biology, chemistry, the pharmaceutical industry, or medicine. Applicants must also be in good academic standing with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
APPLY THROUGH SPUR
Faculty Mentor: Korin Wheeler
Project: Protein Corona Formation Around Erlotinib-Treated Fullerene Nanoparticles
Faculty Mentor: Steve Suljak
Project: Development of Affordable Paper-Based Analytical Devices for Medical Diagnostic Tests
Faculty Mentor: Ian Carter-O'Connell
Project: PARP Mediated Steroid Receptor Function
Faculty Mentor: Lindsay Halladay
Project: Investigating the Relationship between Early Life Stress-Induced Behavioral Deficits and Immune Response
Undergraduate researchers are welcome to apply through our portal, the Single Portal for Undergraduate Research (SPUR).
By applying through a University-wide, single application portal with a common set of guidelines, research proposals will be evaluated for quality prior to consideration for specific grants and awards for which the student and research project may be eligible
ALZA Science Scholars are required to submit an annual report. Direct any questions regarding this annual report to Sam Herman: sherman2@scu.edu
Please follow this streamlined process to upload your report:
- Review the questions that will be asked on the report using this link.
- Use this Qualtrics link to submit your annual report on or before August 1.
- A copy of the report will be sent to your personal email. Additionally, a copy will be sent to your Faculty Mentor for review. Your Faculty Mentor will receive instructions regarding how to approve or revise your report.
- If revisions to your report are needed, you will receive an email from Nikki Meshkat.