Paxton Sample, Doctoral Student, Earns Prestigious NIH F31 Fellowship
The R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy continues to highlight excellence in student research, with doctoral student Paxton Sample recently being awarded a highly competitive National Institutes of Health F31 individual training grant.
The F31 fellowship is a prestigious award that supports predoctoral students pursuing research careers in the biomedical, behavioral, and clinical sciences. In addition to providing funding, the award recognizes the strength of a student’s research proposal, academic achievements, and potential to make meaningful contributions to the field.
“Paxton was initially supported by the T32 grant, which is awarded to the institution,” said Nathan Cherrington, PhD, associate dean for research. “That is a nice honor and indicates that he is competitive enough to be recognized at the institutional level. Competing successfully for an individual F31 grant is something that is his accomplishment alone and is a true indication of the quality of his work and his training to be able to compete nationally as an individual. This is a great honor for him.”
Sample’s research focuses on how environmental factors, particularly heat, can influence an individual's response to chemicals and medications. “My research focuses on heat as a driver of increased chemical toxicity,” Sample explained. “We’re really asking what causes some people to react to chemicals differently from others. While genetics plays a role, it only explains a small portion of that variability. My project looks at environmental temperature, specifically heat, as a contributing factor, which may help explain why people living and working in high-heat environments like Arizona can have different responses to drugs and chemicals.”
Receiving an F31 fellowship represents a major milestone in a student’s academic career. The application process requires developing a detailed research proposal and the ability to clearly communicate the broader impact and its relevance to human health.
Reflecting on the award, Sample shared, “Receiving an F31 fellowship has been hugely impactful. It helps lessen the financial burden for both me and my lab, allowing us to take on bigger and more innovative projects during a time when funding can be uncertain. It has also given me a boost in confidence in my work. During a PhD, it’s easy to get caught up in the details and experience imposter syndrome, so having the NIH support my ideas is a meaningful validation that I’m on the right track.”
In addition to recognizing individual achievement, awards like the F31 reflect the strength of the research environment and mentorship within the College of Pharmacy.
Catharine Smith, PhD, director of the Pharmacology and Toxicology Graduate Program, emphasized the role of mentorship and training in supporting student success. “The Pharmacology and Toxicology graduate program is committed to graduate student success by providing opportunities to sharpen scientific skill development,” she said. “Our required courses and flexible curriculum build a strong knowledge base, while additional workshops and training help students develop critical skills in scientific communication, including grant writing.”
She added that these resources are intentionally designed to prepare students for competitive opportunities like the F31. “We actively connect students with courses and workshops that support the development of F31 applications, and we are currently working to expand these efforts through a dedicated grant-writing course." Smth continued, “It is very gratifying to see students take advantage of these opportunities and build on their success.”
Through this experience, Sample continues to build the skills necessary for a career in scientific research, contributing to work that has the potential to advance both knowledge and patient care.
Looking ahead, Sample hopes to apply his research in ways that directly impact public health. “After completing my PhD, I hope to go into pharmaceutical or environmental regulation,” he shared. “One of the most rewarding aspects of my research is its potential to make a direct impact on people living in high-temperature environments. I want to take what I’ve learned about variability and risk assessment and apply it in real time to drugs and chemicals currently being used. Ultimately, I want to use my science to do good.”
The recognition highlights both Sample’s dedication and the collaborative environment that supports student success at the College of Pharmacy, as students continue to engage in research that addresses complex challenges in healthcare.