The probiotics category is among the fastest growing segments of the dietary supplement market. To help further knowledge about these special beneficial bacteria, The Dannon Company announced the launch of its Dannon Probiotics Fellow Program, a scholarship plan designed to support the education of a student who excels in science and shows a strong interest in probiotics studies.  

“Probiotics have become a main focus of research for food scientists in the last decade,” commented Dr. Miguel Freitas, director of Health Affairs at The Dannon Company. “Based on data obtained by perusing records of U.S. National Library of Medicine, the interest in probiotics research by food scientists has risen dramatically with approximately 80 research publications globally per year referencing probiotics in 1997 and approximately 1200 per year, or 100 publications per month, in 2011. Yet, there are very few scholarships and grants available to help education in the field.”
 
As part of the Fellow Program, Dannon will award a scholarship equivalent to one year’s tuition (up to $25,000) to a current or incoming graduate student to enhance his or her academic path in this field. The student will also receive an all-expense-paid trip to the Danone Research Center in Palaiseau, France, to explore topics in probiotics, nutrition and human physiology alongside leading experts.
 
To qualify for the Dannon Probiotics Fellow Program, individuals must be currently enrolled in or applying to a full-time graduate program with a focus on probiotics (e.g., probiotic mechanisms of action, probiotics foods, probiotics supplements, and clinical research). Only incoming or current graduate students will be considered. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and be able to utilize the scholarship funds for the fall 2012 semester at an accredited U.S. institution. Applicants will be required to submit a complete application package, including a personal essay, recommendations from two professors, and proof of good academic standing.
 
One winner will be chosen and rather than awarding the winner a check, The Dannon Company will instead work directly with the individual’s graduate school finance department to credit $25,000 toward the student’s tuition.
 
“The study of probiotics is one of the most exciting and rapidly emerging areas of scientific exploration,” said Dr. Freitas. “As a company leading the way in probiotic research and education, Dannon hopes to instill the same enthusiasm we have for probiotics in the next generation of scientists, and arm students with the skills necessary for this growing workforce.”
 
He went on to explain that The Dannon Fellowship program was designed to promote education in the field of probiotics, and will not ask students to concentrate on a specific area or formulation. “As a company, we are primarily interested in researching and understanding probiotics and their mechanism of action and benefits on digestive health and immune health,” he said. “Additionally, we are continuously investigating opportunities for new probiotic strains and their benefits, especially when delivered through a food matrix like yogurt.”
 
Dr. Freitas said Dannon hoped to instill the same enthusiasm they have for probiotics in the next generation of scientists. “This is an exciting opportunity for a student to not only receive educational support, but also have access to some of the leading minds in the discipline,” he said.
 
“The benefits of probiotics may not stop with what we know today—in fact, additional potential attributes of probiotics are still being discovered,” said Dr. Mary Ellen Sanders, Dairy and Food Culture Technologies consultant, and executive director of the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP). “It’s important for companies like Dannon to continue supporting the education of future experts within the field.”