Merck Name Lectureships

The Merck Sharpe and Dohme Pharmaceutical Company has a program (The Board of Directors' Scientific Award) in which especially valued scientific leaders within the company are provided with funds to endow a Merck Lectureship at a University of their choice. The Department of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin has received three lectureships of this type, the Folkers in 1951, Sprague in 1959, and Hirschmann in 1985. All three of the donors received their Ph. D. training at the University of Wisconsin.

The Organic Division administers these lectureships, and annually invites prominent chemists to spend several days in the Department and present a series of lectures on their research. The division also hosts a banquet in honor of the speaker to which postdoctoral and senior graduate students are invited.