The Samuel D. Colella Award for Undergraduate Research in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh was made possible through an endowment established by Mr. Samuel Colella, a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, class of 1962. After completing his BS in business and engineering, Mr. Colella went on to earn an MBA from Stanford University in 1971. He is the founder of Versant Ventures, a venture capital firm specializing in the health care industry. Mr. Colella is currently the director of a number of biotechnology companies and the Chairman of Syrrx Inc. This award is presented in support of outstanding research performed by an undergraduate during the summer term.
Applications are typically due in February.
Winners of the Samuel D. Colella Award:
| Summer Term | Colella Awardee | Laboratory |
| 2024 | Samuel Swartwood | Dr. Andrew VanDemark |
| 2023 | Maisie Weiss | Dr. Andrew VanDemark |
| 2022 | Joanna Yao | Dr. Craig Kaplan |
| 2021 | Eric Jordahl | Dr. Allyson O'Donnell |
| 2020 | Sara Zdancewicz | Dr. Andrew VanDemark |
| 2019 | Lauren Lotka | Dr. Karen Arndt |
| 2018 | Rachel Kocik | Dr. Karen Arndt |
| 2017 | Gina Pacella | Dr. Miler Lee |
| 2016 | Alex Lederer | Dr. Karen Arndt |
| 2015 | Alexa Jordahl | Dr. Jeffrey Brodsky |
| 2014 | James Donovan | Dr. Beth Roman |
| 2013 | Adair Borges | Dr. Jon Boyle |
| 2012 | Celeste Shelton | Dr. Karen Arndt |
| 2011 | Brittany Charsar | Dr. Joseph Martens |
| 2010 | Maxwell Garber | Dr. Linda Jen-Jacobson |
| 2009 | Victoria Hohenstein | Dr. Graham Hatfull |
| 2008 | Rachel Botham | Dr. Tia-Lynn Ashman |
| 2008 | Maritsa Scoulos-Hansen | Dr. Paula Grabowski |
| 2007 | Devin Jones | Dr. Rick Relyea |
| 2007 | Neil Umbreit | Dr. Lewis Jacobson |
| 2006 | Sarah Hainer | Dr. Jeffrey Lawrence |
| 2006 | Cynthia Metz | Dr. Jeffrey Hildebrand |
| 2005 | Swarna Mohan | Dr. Paula Grabowski |
| 2005 | Sarah Rogers | Dr. Karen Arndt |
| 2005 | Daniella Rosenberger | Dr. Rick Relyea |
| 2004 | Sarah Papperman | Dr. Tia-Lynn Ashman |
| 2004 | Julie Spix | Dr. Graham Hatfull |