Student Award Program

Medical professors and students look a skeleton together.

Overview

The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation Student Award Program supports medical and doctoral students in Michigan who aim to improve healthcare within the state. Past successful programs have included applied research, pilot programs, demonstrations and evaluation projects.

The award offers up to $3,000 for research projects. If multiple students are working on the same project, they will divide the grant award amount equally.

Eligibility

We welcome applications from doctoral students in good academic standing who are either U.S. residents, Resident Aliens, or Holders of Student Visa enrolled at any of Michigan’s accredited universities.

Projects for Student Award grants are ineligible if:

  • The project already has results (e.g., completed dissertation, poster presentation(s), publication(s) distributing established results)
  • The student (grant applicant) has previously received this award
  • The student is a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan employee or an immediate family member of an employee. Students who are employees of any BCBSM affiliate or who are immediate family members also are ineligible
  • The proposed project is a drug trial
  • The proposed project takes place outside of Michigan
  • The proposed project includes any research involving non-human subjects

How to apply

We review potential projects for their ability to achieve real outcomes. Successful projects will show a direct impact on health and/or healthcare.

The application process is comprehensive, so it helps to understand what's involved at the outset of applying. Here is what you will be expected to deliver:

  • Completed application form
  • Project Proposal (1,000 to 3,000 words, double-spaced) outlining:
    • Background
    • Hypothesis(es)
    • Methods
    • Expected outcomes
    • How health outcomes and non-medical drivers of health are addressed
    • How this work is valuable to the population, increases the quality of care, and improves access to healthcare
    • Conclusion
    • Note: citations are not included in the word limit (use any format, e.g., AMA, APA, MLA, etc.)
  • Letter of support from advisor
  • Detailed line-item budget and justification for each line item (not included in the word limit) 
    • Funds requested, anticipated or provided by other sources for the same or similar project must be described in detail on an attached sheet and referenced in a cover letter.
    • Budget for the Student Award Program can include hourly wage/stipend for the student, other research assistants, study participant compensation, software directly related to the project, and other costs directly related to accomplishing the submitted research project.
    •  The Foundation doesn't pay for indirect costs except for limited fringe benefits, including health, personal and/or medical benefits. The allowable fringe benefit expense may not exceed the lesser of 25 percent of the salary subtotal figure or the actual cost of the fringe benefits.
    • The Foundation doesn't pay for tuition expenses or continuing education units for the student or other staff.
    • This funding program doesn't support the following: computer hardware; one-time use consumables, such as medical (e.g., medications, bandages), and office supplies (e.g., printing paper, writing instruments); furnishings and capital expenses, such as phone, rent and building insurance.
    • Conference travel is limited to $1,000.
  • If your application is awarded and you are using human subjects or otherwise protected data, a copy of Human Subjects Review Committee approval is needed before we start your award
  • Applicant's CV

Deadlines

The application period opens on September 15 and closes on November 30 of each year.

Past grant recipients

Central Michigan University
Isabella County; Mid-Michigan

College of Medicine
Nathanael Brookshire
$3,000
Conducts a statewide needs‑assessment survey of student‑run free clinics to identify key medical, social, and structural barriers, generating actionable data to enhance healthcare access

College of Medicine
Emma Butler
$3,000
Investigates clinicians’ perceived barriers and facilitators to pain assessment and treatment in patients with intellectual disability, aiming to promote standardized, patient‑focused pain‑management pathways

Oakland University 
Oakland County; Southeast Michigan  

School of Nursing
Lindsay Colby
$3,000
Examines how nurse caring behaviors, missed nursing care and nurse well‑being interrelate within virtual nursing models, providing evidence to guide supportive policies and practice redesign

Michigan State University
Ingham County; Mid-Michigan

College of Human Medicine
Tamanna Afroj
$3,000
Quantifies the independent and combined effects of maternal cardiovascular health components on preterm birth risk to pinpoint modifiable pathways for improved pregnancy outcomes

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Christophe Delay
$3,000
Creates a real-time toxic-stress reactivity tracking system and predictive risk model to guide early, targeted interventions that prevent progression to poor mental health

Michigan Tech University
Houghton County; Upper Peninsula

College of Computing
Zixin Shi
$3,000
Applies causal‑inference techniques to imaging to isolate biomechanical determinants of hip fracture risk and generate individualized, actionable risk‑reduction estimates 

College of Sciences and Arts
Kamand Sedaghatnia
$3,000
Develops and validates a GLUT5-targeted PET tracer to enhance early detection of breast cancers with low glucose uptake, improving diagnostic sensitivity 

University of Michigan
Washtenaw County; Southeast Michigan

College of Engineering
Yili Wang
$3,000
Develops a data‑driven framework to select optimal recipients for marginal kidney transplants, comparing outcomes such as wait‑time, transplant rates, and five‑year graft survival

College of Pharmacy
Olubukola Tikare
$3,000  
Uses mixed‑methods research to capture breast cancer survivors’ and providers’ perspectives on medication management, creating a patient‑centered survivorship care plan to improve post‑treatment medication use

School of Dentistry
Ritwika Bera
$3,000
Investigates a radiation‑sensitizing target and biomarker in oral cancer, aiming to reduce required radiation doses and improve patient quality of life

School of Medicine
John Biziorek 
$3,000
Uses mixed‑methods to uncover disability‑related barriers throughout acute trauma care, producing a framework and recommendations for disability‑inclusive trauma protocols in Michigan

School of Medicine
Joshua Chen
$3,000
Examines how private‑equity ownership of fertility clinics influences IVF processes and outcomes, with primary focus on changes in singleton live‑birth rates 

School of Medicine
Roger Hsieh
$3,000
Identifies early, non‑invasive predictors of progression and attrition among living liver donor candidates to streamline selection and improve transplant outcomes

School of Medicine
Mitchell Mead
$3,000
Analyzes patterns in delayed time to treatment for head and neck cancer patients across clinical and patient demographics within Michigan and the overall impact on oncologic outcomes

School of Public Health
Yoonkyoung Cho
$3,000
To estimate fracture risk following different osteoporosis treatment strategies while accounting for changes across menopausal transition

School of Public Health
Zirui Zhou
$3,000
Develops an integrated modeling approach that combines incomplete data from multiple Michigan surveillance systems to produce more accurate estimates of influenza infection burden

Wayne State University
Wayne County; Southeast Michigan

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Bradley Dixon
$3,000
Validates a novel associative‑learning task for older adults, demonstrating its sensitivity to subtle cognitive changes and potential as a low‑cost early‑detection tool for dementia risk

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Nika Eringros
$3,000
Explores how childhood adversity and alexithymia predict psychosocial and functional recovery after moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury, identifying high-risk patients for targeted rehabilitation

Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo County; Western Michigan

College of Arts and Sciences
Morgan Palmer
$3,000
Tests a culturally responsive, process‑based ACT protocol tailored to perinatal participants’ most impairing psychological‑flexibility processes, aiming to reduce depression and anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum

Central Michigan University
Isabella County; Mid-Michigan

College of Medicine
Erin Mattson, Karen Nguyen, Megan O’Mara, Elsa Varughese
$3,000
Improving healthcare by conducting health needs assessments

Eastern Michigan University 
Washtenaw County; Southeast Michigan  

Department of Psychology
Maitri Jain
$3,000
Research the association of parent-child behavioral and physiological synchrony with children’s emotion regulation, especially in families with high-level family-related risk factors

Department of Psychology
Miranda Schaffer
$3,000
Investigate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a new treatment for psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) of the trauma subtype

Michigan State University
Ingham County; Mid-Michigan
Kent County; West Michigan

College of Human Medicine
Allison Cropsey, Teya Marben
$3,000
Gain insight into the factors that contribute to maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality in expectant mothers with Infectious Endocarditis and opioid use disorder

Department of Psychology
Emma Crumby
$2,975
Explore perceptions of how stressors contribute to eating pathology

Department of Psychology
Elizabeth Eberlin
$3,000
Evaluate mechanisms that drive the heterogenous cognitive decline seen in perimenopausal individuals

Department of Psychology
Joohee Lee
$3,000
Explore how intimate partner violence contributes to dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in youth and how positive parenting may buffer these effects

Michigan Tech University
Houghton County; Upper Peninsula

College of Engineering
Ahmad Bshennaty
$3,000
Explore the concept of digital twins for a more accurate estimation of the risk of stroke in atrial fibrillation patients

College of Engineering
Waruni Mampage
$3,000
Exploring the influence of Micro(nano)plastics on host-microbiome physiology in the human digestive system 

University of Michigan
Washtenaw County; Southeast Michigan

Department of Clinical Pharmacy
Mohamad Ismail
$3,000
Identify and quantify the barriers and facilitators affecting oral anti-cancer agent self-management among individuals with cancer

Department of Psychology
Jacqueline Katz
$3,000  
Explore how patterns in reward-driven eating behaviors and their interaction with sociodemographic and diagnostic factors predict the effectiveness of anti-obesity medications

School of Medicine
Elliott Brannon
$2,900
Develop a Chat-GPT assisted chatbot to enhance clinicians' knowledge, skills, and confidence in managing obesity through low carbohydrate diets

School of Medicine
Maximilian Wagner 
$1,500
Evaluate the implementation of the Abdominal Hernia Care Pathway (AHCP)

School of Nursing
Farida Bibi Mughal
$3,000
Investigate internal facilitators for healing among survivors of violence

School of Public Health
Morgan Perry
$3,000
Research focuses the effectiveness on dual eligible special needs Medicare Advantage plans

Wayne State University
Wayne County; Southeast Michigan

School of Medicine
Abbie Bauer
$3,000
Provide validity to the Addictions Neuroclinical Assessment (ANA), a critical framework for understanding the neurobiology of substance use

Department of Psychology
Emily Flores
$3,000
Develop and validate a Spanish-language assessment tool to identify cognitive and psychological predictors of vulnerability to financial exploitation among older adults

Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo County; Western Michigan

Department of Psychology
Sarah Dacey
$3,000
By integrating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with social support, this study aims to provide a comprehensive intervention that reduces parental distress and improves overall quality of life

School of Medicine
Sheridan Bernard
$3,000
Identify themes in how patients with Opioid Use Disorder in the emergency department perceive Medications for Opioid Use Disorder

Student Award Grants

CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Isabella County; Mid-Michigan

College of Medicine

Yashi Ballal
$2,500
Research that examines the Impact of Brief Self-Compassion Training on Stress, Empathy and Emotional Intelligence of First Year Medical Students

Christa Deban
$3,000
Research that examines the prevalence of mental health disorders and their effects on pregnant patients with intellectual disabilities

EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Washtenaw County; Southeast Michigan

College of Arts and Sciences

Kellsey Launius
$3,000
Research that examines barriers and facilitators to family-based treatment for anorexia nervosa

Julie Wojtaszek
$3,000
Research that examines barriers to seeking and completing social anxiety disorder treatment

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Kent County; West Michigan

College of Human Medicine
Pavitra Attanayake
$3,000
Research to examine polypharmacy management, medication adherence, and patient education through the development of an AI-assisted smartphone application

College of Human Medicine
Keerat Bains
$3,000
Research to examine lived experiences of birth doulas of color

College of Nursing
Arienne Patano
$3,000
Research to examine the impact of social determinants of health on mental health outcomes among family caregivers in rural areas

MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
Houghton; Upper Peninsula Michigan

College of Computing
Abel Reyes‐Angulo
$3,000
This research will examine AI-based tools to mitigate the disparities in access to healthcare resources in rural areas

College of Sciences and Arts
Meiling Zhou
$3,000
This research will examine integrating continuous and ordinal phenotypes with genotypic information

OAKLAND UNIVERSITY
Oakland County; Southeast Michigan

School of Nursing
Dali Majeed
$2,923.40
Research that examines factors influencing Chaldean adults’ intention to seek mental health services

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Washtenaw; Southeast Michigan

School of Public Health

Laura Brotzman
$3,000
Research that examines perspectives on life expectancy in cancer screening decisions

Koya Ferrell
$3,000
Research that examines training methods for Family Medicine physicians during Graduate Medical Education

Sundas Saboor
$3,000
Research that examines sexual and reproductive health chatbot interest among Arab American Muslim Women in Dearborn, Michigan

School of Social Work
Olivia Chang
$3,000
Research that examines physical and psychological well-being among youth in child welfare settings

Medical School
Linda Ma
$3,000
Research that examines healthcare accessibility for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing

College of Pharmacy
Amna Rizvi‐Toner
$3,000
Research that examines symptom management use of unplanned healthcare services in patients taking oral anticancer agents

WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
Wayne County; Southeast Michigan

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Owen Fleming
$3,000
Research that examines the impact of parental divorce on the use of preventive care in childhood

Marjorie Heule
$3,000
Research that examines brain-based education and stress reduction psychotherapeutic intervention

College of Nursing

Krista Wonderly
$3,000
Research that examines black family surrogates use in the intensive care unit

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Kalamazoo County; West Michigan

College of Education and Human Development
Winifred Wilson
$3,000
Addressing Health Disparities by Examining Black Adolescent’s Biopsychosocial Reactions to Racial Trauma

Central Michigan University
Isabella County; Mid-Michigan

College of Medicine
Paige Benard
$1,500
Identify the challenges pregnant people with intellectual and developmental disabilities face in obtaining healthcare

College of Medicine
Nicolas Sirhan
$1,500
Identify the challenges pregnant people with intellectual and developmental disabilities face in obtaining healthcare

Eastern Michigan University
Washtenaw County; Southeast Michigan

College of Arts and Sciences
Sarah Freeman
$3,000
Evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of a revised perinatal Dialectical Behavioral Group Therapy
Curriculum

College of Arts and Sciences
Michelle Lobermeier
$3,000
Explores neuroimaging while resting as a neural (brain) correlate of executive functioning development

Michigan School of Psychology
Oakland County; Southeast Michigan

Breanna Thornton
 $2,368
Investigate how a woman’s spirituality, religious practice, and psychological coping contribute to post-pregnancy quality of life and psychological adjustment

Michigan State University
Ingham County; Mid-Michigan

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Basma Klump
$3,000
Develop an evidence-based approach to incorporate opioid, vaping, and marijuana misuse topics in high school

College of Nursing
Teresa Ng
$3,000
Understanding the relationships between family resilience, adolescents’ intrapersonal resilience, and adolescents’ experiencing suicidal ideations

College of Social Science
Hannah Tokish
$3,000
Improve autism intervention services for underserved families by understanding the factors influencing active parent engagement in intervention sessions

College of Human Medicine
Orezime Uyeh
$3,000
Assess African American mental health literacy to decrease mental health disorder stigma and enhance help-seeking efficacy

Michigan Technological University
Houghton; Upper Peninsula Michigan

College of Engineering
Seyedehfatemeh Razaviamri
$3,000
Design self-activating antimicrobial hemostatic nanoparticles to satisfy all the criteria for an effective hemostatic material

College of Engineering
Seyedmostafa Rezaeitaleshmahalleh
$3,000
Develop a machine learning tool to investigate how the intraluminal thrombus structure may correlate to abdominal aortic aneurysm growth

University of Michigan
Washtenaw; Southeast Michigan

Medical School
Courtney Burns
$3,000
Investigate the under-diagnosis of heart failure in females with cardiovascular disease

Medical School
Zoey Chopra
$3,000
Aid health systems redesign care practices to overcome biased heuristics and produce equitable outcomes

Medical School
Sophia Gutterman
$3,000
Identify critical themes that leverage support from family and friends during patients’ consideration of bariatric surgery

Medical School
Alesha Kotian
$2,800
Determine cesarean delivery's maternal/infant benefit for birthing persons with these hypertensive disorders

Wayne State University
Wayne County; Southeast Michigan

School of Social Work
Jennifer Clift
$3,000
Promote the well-being of urban Black and African American emerging adults

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Christina Dandar
$3,000
Investigate the relationship between hypoxic-ischemic risk and motor functioning

School of Social Work
Laura Sutherland
$3,000
Understand how art activities can assuage the biomedicalization of dementia

Questions?

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Mailing Address
BCBSM Foundation | Mail Code X101 | 600 E. Lafayette Blvd. | Detroit, MI | 48226-2998