Malta Alum and University of Missouri Student Receives National Institutes of Health Fellowship

Scott Kelsey, Malta, Montana, was selected as a recipient of the National Institute of Health (NIH) Initiative for Maximizing Student Development Fellowship. The program, which is highly competitive, is open to doctoral students at research-intensive universities such as the University of Missouri.

Kelsey also was awarded the Gus T. Ridgel fellowship by MU, which covers tuition and provides an additional $50,000 of financial assistance over the course of five years. The fellowship was established in 1987 to provide aid to high-achieving students who identify as members of underrepresented minority groups.

"These fellowships have allowed me to focus on my dissertation research, which I hope will someday benefit the agriculture industry,” Kelsey said. “A better understanding of my research topic could lead to the generation of plants that are more resistant to drought and shade. Even a small increase in crop plant hardiness could have an impact on food safety and the economy.”

Kelsey, who is pursuing a doctorate in cellular and molecular biology at MU, is a 2002 graduate of Malta High School. He is the son of Greg and Glenna Kelsey. Kelsey currently serves as director of science and technology at Askinosie Chocolate.

MU is the largest and oldest university of the state's major public, land-grant research institutions.