Daniel J. Plebanek Memorial Research Fellowship
Oct. 5 update: Thank you everyone for rallying to help in the last few days! To simplify the funds transfer, we are encouraging everyone to make online gifts directly to the IU website; however, everything that is donated here will still go directly to the fund for the bench and memorial fellowship in Dan’s name. For online gifts:
https://www.myiu.org/one-time-gift
Donors should not select a fund from the drop-down, but instead type in “Dan Plebanek fund – PBS” in the bottom blank where one can write in what they wish to support.
Dan Plebanek was an amazingly kind and loving son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend who was taken from us way too soon on Tuesday, September 29. Everyone who knew Dan is in shock and mourning—we only understand that life won't be the same without him. We're keeping him in our thoughts and hearts every day as we go through this together.
Dan was getting his Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology at Indiana University Bloomington and was walking to work on Tuesday morning when we tragically lost him to a sudden accident. Two nearby trucks collided and spun onto the sidewalk where he was walking.
Dan's advisor has graciously awarded him his Ph.D. degree posthumously and we are incredibly proud of all the work he has done over the years.
This fund will go to support two things: a memorial bench and plaque that will stand outside the psychology building at IU Bloomington, and the Daniel J. Plebanek Memorial Research Fellowship.
This is a summer fellowship for graduate students in psychological and brain sciences at Indiana University in Dan’s name and we are accepting donations for this fellowship.
This will be an award given to one graduate student in the department of psychological and brain sciences at Indiana University.
If 25k is raised then the interest from that amount funds the students forever. If we don’t hit that mark the funds raised and interest will be used to provide the fellowships until the money runs out. Either scenario is great.
Dan was a student in our department for almost 4 years. We feel like this fellowship is something he would like to have seen for graduate students. Many don’t get paid over the summer but still do a considerable amount of research. This fellowship will allow a deserving student to be paid for their summer research.
Thank you all for your thoughts and condolences, we are so grateful for everyone who has reached out and asked for ways to help.
