Murdock Trust funds Faculty Research Start-up Grant

The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust out of Vancouver, Wash., has granted Pacific University a $30,000 grant to help fund a new position in the Biology Department.

This program offers support to supplement start-up cost for the establishment of new faculty position in Biology. The successful grant application was submitted by department chair, Dr. Stacey Halpern. Start-up packages are offered to new faculty at the university to assist in initiating the new hire's research.

"The generosity of the Murdock Trust in providing this resource will help us recruit a new geneticist to our Biology Department," states School of Natural Sciences Director Kevin Johnson. "We are fortunate to have the Trust, established by the late Jack Murdock, who was a scientist and technology innovator, supporting the university's educational and research missions in this way."

About the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust

The M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust was created by the will of the late Melvin J. "Jack" Murdock, co-founder of Tektronix, Inc. Murdock was an innovative, entrepreneurial leader with business involvements and interests throughout the Pacific Northwest. A resident of Vancouver, Wash., Mr. Murdock directed his trustees "to nurture and enrich the educational, cultural, social and spiritual lives of individuals, families and community." Since its establishment in 1975, more than $658 million has been distributed through over 4,800 grants.