Kandis Wright was selected as a recipient of a 2018 Dissertation Fellowship from The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all disciplines. Wright is one of only ten recipients nationwide to receive the $10,000 fellowship.

Wright is an M.D./Ph.D. student at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. She currently is completing her Ph.D. in Biochemistry, in the Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry with a specialty in transplantation immunology. Her ultimate goal is to conduct clinically relevant research while also providing health care for patients both in the U.S. and abroad.

Wright was selected for the award based on a number of criteria including how the fellowship will contribute to the completion of the dissertation, the significance of original research, and endorsement by the dissertation chair. She will receive $10,000 to apply toward 12 months of dissertation writing.

Established in 2014, the Dissertation Fellowships are part of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi’s award programs, which give $1.4 million each biennium to outstanding students and members through study abroad grants, graduate fellowships, funding for post-baccalaureate development, member and chapter awards and grants for local, national and international literacy initiatives.