The Sigvardt Award and Fellowship established to honor the life and work of UC Davis neuroscientist
The Center for Neuroscience announces two new funds, the Karen Sigvardt, Ph.D. Neuroscience Award and the Karen Sigvardt, Ph.D. Neuroscience Fellowship. The award and fellowship were established in October 2021 and endowed through a generous gift from Audrey Webb, in loving memory of her late partner Karen Sigvardt, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Neurology in the School of Medicine and a valued core member of the Center for Neuroscience and the greater neuroscience community at UC Davis.
“I wanted to create a meaningful legacy to honor Karen’s life and career,” said Audrey Webb. “Karen was passionate about her work and devoted to her colleagues and students. This award and fellowship will allow her work to continue through research conducted by new generations of scientists.”
The Karen Sigvardt, Ph.D. Award and Fellowship will support neuroscience graduate students through the Center for Neuroscience’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program by providing education, training, and outreach opportunities to increase access, mentorship, and success.
“We are incredibly honored to hold the Karen Sigvardt, Ph.D. Neuroscience Award and Neuroscience Fellowship at the Center for Neuroscience,” said Kimberley McAllister, Ph.D., director of the Center for Neuroscience and a Professor of Neurology in the UC Davis School of Medicine and of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior in the College of Biological Sciences.
"Karen was an inspiration to all of us at the Center and a pioneering role model for women in science at a time when there were few women on our faculty. This award and fellowship will have a significant impact in increasing access and promoting research and training excellence for our graduate students from underrepresented groups in neuroscience,” said Kimberley McAllister, Ph.D.