Grants and Writing Resources for Western University of Health Sciences

On January 30, 2026, WesternU students brought 47 posters and five oral talks to the third annual WesternU Research Symposium. The winning oral presentation described a new assay for measuring the redox activity of lipase maturation factor 1. In April, 89 dental students and 27 faculty authors filled the College of Dental Medicine's fourth Research Day with 27 posters. Some of those taking part had already presented original research at the International Association for Dental Research meeting earlier in the year.

Symposiums and Research Days

The Office of Research and Biotechnology organizes the WesternU Research Symposium, which awards oral and poster presentations separately. In 2026 first place in each category paid $500, second place $250 and third place $150.

Several colleges hold events for their students. Dental students show work at CDM Research Day; in 2026 the DMD Class of 2028 presented eight posters from its Introduction to Evidence-Based Dental Research course. The Master of Science in Medical Sciences ends its curriculum with the MSMS Research Symposium, held on May 6 in 2026.

A Student-Edited Journal

The College of Podiatric Medicine publishes Extremitas Journal of Lower Limb Medicine once a year. Podiatric medicine students serve as its editors, and the journal takes submissions from any WesternU student. Students who publish there present at the annual Extremitas Research Symposium, which had 20 posters in March 2026. Osteopathic medicine students were among the presenters.

Graduate Research and Funding

The College of Pharmacy runs WesternU's research degrees in biotechnology and pharmaceutical sciences. Students in the PhD program write a grant before they reach candidacy: the qualifying exam includes a small grant application, which the candidate presents and defends before the Dissertation Committee. Under the 2026-2027 catalog, financial support is limited and competitive. It pairs a teaching assistantship stipend with a tuition waiver, runs 12 months a year including summers, and lasts up to six years. A travel stipend and funds for a student research project may be added.

The MS in Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences is built on the thesis. Research and thesis credit makes up 19 of the 36 required credits, and the written proposal is due within seven months of starting. A teaching assistantship stipend and full tuition payment may be available for up to two consecutive years, on the same limited and competitive basis.

Writing Courses, Tutoring and Thesis Filing

PHSC 5002 Scientific Writing, a one-credit course required in the MS program, teaches students to build a thesis or dissertation, a grant application or a manuscript. Classmates help grade the written assignments, and the PhD catalog lists the course as well.

For study help, LEAD (Learning Enhancement and Academic Development) offers peer tutoring, learning skills appointments, workshops and confidential academic counseling, free to all students on the Pomona and Lebanon campuses. The Pumerantz Library schedules one-on-one consultations and provides EndNote for citations.

A finished thesis or dissertation goes to the Student Services Coordinator as a PDF, with a signature page signed by the full committee and a WesternU Publishing Agreement. A copy then goes into CONTENTdm, the library's digital depository.

Before a thesis goes to the committee or a manuscript goes to Extremitas, our editors can check grammar, consistency and format in a final edit. See our Western University of Health Sciences dissertation and thesis editing and Western University of Health Sciences essay editing pages, or write to editors@editorsforstudents.com.

From Our Writing Guides

• Formulating the PICOT Question: The DNA of Your Capstone
• The Results Chapter: Presenting Data with Forensic Clarity
• ESL Academic Writing: Overcoming Common Grammar Habits