CHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING
S NEW The Merck
Fellowship
I HE Board of Directors of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL
at its September meeting accepted a proposal that the Society administer a graduate fellowship in analytical chemistryfinancedby Merck & Co., Inc. The action of Merck & Co., Inc., and the Board of Directors of the Society opens a new field of service to the chemical profession by the Society; it will be the forerunner, we hope, of many similar proposals. For the first time in the history of the Society it has undertaken to administer fellowships financed by industrial concerns. It has, of course, financed a number of predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships from its own funds and for years has administered a number of medals and awards provided by industry. In March 1947 we proposed in Analytical Chemistry a four-point program for improving the profession of analytical chemistry. One of the suggestions was the establishment of a number of postgraduate fellowships. Again, in the April 1948 issue, we stressed the urgent need for support of analytical chemistry by industry, pointing out that industry isfindingit increasingly more difficult to obtain personnel capable of initiating, directing, and interpreting research in analytical chemistry, including, of course, physicochemical and purely physical methods. Turning from a specific recommendation for the profession of analytical chemistry to the broad problem of assisting brilliant graduates in all fields of chemistry and chemical engineering, we stated in the Aug. 9,1948, issue of C&EN: "Today hundreds of scholarships and fellowships are provided for through funds made available by corporations, both large and small. In this regard the record of the chemical industry and industries allied to it is an outstanding one. But much more must be done before we can say truthfully that what is being accomplished is a corrective measure and will offset the efforts of those who would make higher education in the country the full responsibility of the Federal Government." No strings are attached to the Merck proposal. The fellowship, to be known as the "Merck Graduate Fellowship in Analytical Chemistry," will carry $2,500 for one year's graduate work. The company has agreed to maintain the fellowship for at least three successive years. A fellow shall be eligible to have his fellowship renewed twice, but no person shall hold the fellowship for longer than a total of three years.
SOCIETY
Analytical
Chemistry
Each applicant or nominee must establish to the satisfaction of an ACS award committee that such applicant or nominee is acceptable for graduate work in analytical chemistry at a specified, ACS-approved institution in the United States or Canada, and a proposed research and stud}' outline must be submitted to the award committee. The ACS award committee shall award the fellowship to that nominee whom they judge likely to contribute most to the advancement of the theory and practice of the science of analytical chemistry, not merely during the tenure of the fellowship, but also during the course of his future career. The award committee will decide on the manner of payment of the fellowship money and on what, if any, reports are to be required of the fellow. The committees of the Society which administered the predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships financed by the Society's Educational Fund set a very high standard of performance. We have heard nothing but praise for the manner in which these committees carried on the admittedly difficult task of selecting applicants. The experience in administering the ACS fellowship program should make it a relatively simple matter to develop procedures based on the previous methods of operation. Our heartiest congratulations and deep-felt thanks to the directors of Merck & Co., Inc., to George Merck, who took a very personal interest in the proposal, to Randolph T. Major, and to Beverly L. Clarke for their active interest and support in bringing the company and the Society together on the fellowship plan. The action of Merck & Co., Inc., should stimulate other industrial firms to do likewise. Here is a very practical way of demonstrating that private enterprise in the chemical field has a deep and lasting interest in the progress of the chemical profession. Here is an opportunity for industry to assist the youth of America to gain professional training in one of the most challenging profession?. Here is an opportunity for industry to help to * *mde the scientific manpower which it will surely m d if the present rate of progress is to be maintained or even accelerated as it should be in the future. There are many members of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY who are in a position to influence management to offer fellowships similar to the one just presented by Merck & Co., Inc. If someone will but take the initiative, favorable results are inevitable.
