Research Service Award

Judith Podskalny, PhD

National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

The AGA presents Judith M. Podskalny, PhD, with the 2009 Research Service Award. The award was established in 2006 to recognize an individual who has significantly advanced gastroenterological science and research.

Dr. Podskalny is a program director in the Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition (DDDN), NIDDK, where she manages the current DDDN portfolio of fellowships, career development awards and education grants, as well as small research grants and the digestive diseases core centers and development centers. She also is the NIDDK representative to the NIH Training Advisory Committee.

Dr. Podskalny is an experienced basic scientist who began her career at NIH. By advocating on behalf of the young investigators who will eventually succeed their mentors and open and pursue new frontiers in the field, Dr. Podskalny’s work is integral to gastroenterology inquiry. Her dedication to ensuring funding opportunities are available enables young gastroenterologists to make terrific progress in the field of gastroenterology. She is an invaluable resource for the next generation of gastroenterological researchers and is generous with good advice and with her time. She has actively participated in the AGA’s Academic Skills Workshop, during which she remains upbeat and encouraging to the young applicants, and selflessly gives applicants whatever time it takes to provide genuine advice regarding their potential application, qualifications and what they need to do to secure NIH funding.

Dr. Podskalny began her career at NIH in 1972 as a guest worker in the pediatric metabolism branch of the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism, and Digestive Diseases, Bethesda, MD immediately after graduating from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA with a bachelor of science degree in biology. She remained in the intramural program, moving to the Diabetes Branch, NIDDK, for more than 13 years. During that time she earned her PhD in genetics from The George Washington University, Washington, DC. Dr. Podskalny then became a Scientific Review Administrator in the review branch of the division of extramural activities, NIDDK, in 1987 before moving to her program position in 1991.