The Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior (EEB) at the School of Integrative Biology offers several departmental awards to support graduate student research, fieldwork, and summer stipends. Among these are the Edwin Banks Memorial Fund that helps graduate students studying animal behavior with fellowship support; the Eugene P. Odum – S. Charles Kendeigh Fund that is designed to fund summer research in ecology, behavior, and evolutionary biology (including multiple awards up to $1,000); and the EEB Summer Block Grant that provides stipend support to continuing EEB graduate students over the summer so they can advance thesis or field research without financial strain. Together, these awards enable EEB graduate students to pursue behavioral, ecological, and evolutionary research — funding summer work, supporting field and lab projects, and helping sustain their progress toward meaningful scientific contributions at Illinois.
The Edwin Banks Memorial Fund
Administered by the Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior (EEB), this fund provides supplementary fellowship support for graduate students.
The Edwin Banks Memorial Fund was established by Dr. Banks' wife, Mrs. Hilda Banks, and family to honor his long and distinguished career as a faculty member in the Department of Ecology, Ethology, and Evolution (now EEB) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (1957-1985). Dr. Banks was a pre-eminent researcher in the areas of mammalian sociality and reproduction.
Purpose:
To support graduate student research in animal behavior. Amounts will be awarded following a positive evaluation by the Graduate Programs Committee.
Eligibility:
Any graduate student in the Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior (EEB) studying any aspect of behavior may apply.
Application Procedure:
To apply, please submit one copy of each of the following:
- A proposal describing the research to be conducted. The proposal should not exceed two (2) single-spaced pages, not including references.
- A current C.V.
- Letter of Support from the Advisor.
Applicants must complete this form and submit all required materials by February 5th, midnight. Questions may be directed to sibawards@life.illinois.edu.
The Eugene P. Odum - S. Charles Kendeigh Fund
Administered by the Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior (EEB), this fund provides research support for graduate students in the fields of ecology, behavior, and evolutionary biology.
Dr. Eugene Odum established the Odum-Kendeigh Fund for graduate research in the fields of ecology, behavior, and evolutionary biology, within the Department of EEB, in honor of both: his major professor, Dr. Charles Kendeigh, and the Department of Zoology (now EEB) from which he received his PhD. Dr. Odum is one of the most influential figures in the field of ecology. He has been dubbed "the father of modern ecology" and is credited with pioneering the concept of the ecosystem. His textbook Fundamentals of Ecology, published in 1953, was the catalyst that changed ecology from the study of the microcosm to the study of the macrocosm. Dr. Odum was inducted into the Ecology Hall of Fame in 2002.
Purpose:
To support graduate student research in ecology, behavior, and evolutionary biology. Multiple summer research awards of up to $1,000 will be granted, and one or more requests receiving positive evaluations by the Graduate Programs Committee will be funded.
Eligibility:
Applicants must be graduate students in the Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior (EEB).
Application Procedure:
To apply, please submit one copy of each of the following:
- A proposal describing the research to be conducted. The proposal should not exceed two (2) single-spaced pages, not including references.
- A current C.V.
- Letter of Support from the Advisor.
Applicants must complete this form and submit all required materials by February 5th, midnight. Questions may be directed to sibawards@life.illinois.edu.
The EEB Summer Block Grant
Administered by the Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior (EEB), this grant is funded by the graduate college block grant program and provides stipend support for continuing graduate students over the summer months.
The EEB Summer Block Grant is funded by the graduate college block grant program and provides stipend support for continuing graduate students over the summer months.
Eligibility:
All graduate students in the Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior (EEB) may apply.
Application Procedure:
To apply, please submit one copy of each of the following:
- A proposal describing the research to be conducted. The proposal should not exceed two (2) single-spaced pages, not including references.
- A current C.V.
- Letter of Support from the Advisor.
Applicants must complete this form and submit all required materials by February 5th, midnight. Questions may be directed to sibawards@life.illinois.edu.