College of Pharmacy Graduate Student Awarded National Research Fellowship
| Prisha Warikoo, a Ph.D. graduate student in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ (UAMS) College of Pharmacy, was recently awarded a prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF).
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is one of the nation’s most prestigious fellowship programs, providing three years of financial support to graduate students who have demonstrated potential for significant achievements in research. Warikoo will receive an award of $159,000 over three years, which will cover tuition and stipends.
“Prisha’s NSF fellowship is a highly prestigious recognition at this stage of her career and sets a strong foundation for her future as an independent scientist,” said Amit Tiwari, Ph.D., the college’s associate dean of research and graduate studies. “Her work in biomedical and molecular engineering is both innovative, purposeful, and clearly resonated with reviewers. The fellowship’s support not only enables her to focus fully on this work but also strengthens our graduate program by helping us build a sustainable, research-driven training environment.”
Tiwari, who mentors Warikoo, added that the award also reflects the “thoughtful guidance” of her thesis committee, particularly Mulu Tesfay, Ph.D., an instructor in the UAMS College of Medicine’s Department of Pathology.
“Receiving the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship feels both humbling and deeply affirming,” Warikoo said. “The process of building this proposal taught me how much thought, patience, and persistence it takes to shape a meaningful research question. More than anything, it gave me confidence in how I think as a scientist.
“I am very grateful to my lab mates, the staff scientists, and Professor Tiwari for their constant guidance and support. I also want to thank the UAMS College of Pharmacy for creating an environment where this kind of work is possible.”
Warikoo also received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the UAMS Graduate School in recognition of the fellowship. Tiwari received an Excellence in Mentoring Award.
Warikoo’s research focuses on developing receptor-independent, nonviral delivery platforms that could redefine how biologics and viral therapeutics are designed and deployed, Tiwari said. It involves developing cell pathways to overcome drug resistance within the cell itself.
“I am drawn to work that connects chemistry, cell biology, and pharmacology in a way that is both rigorous and translational,” Warikoo said. “The opportunity to contribute to platforms that can make ‘undruggable’ targets accessible is what continues to drive my research forward.”
“As a graduate student, receiving NSF-GRFP award is one of the most rewarding moments in my journey,” Warikoo added. “I hope to build on this fellowship by continuing to ask mechanistic questions and pushing my work toward meaningful innovation, especially at the interface of medicinal chemistry and translational medicine.”