Departmental Awards - Plant Biology

Administered by the Department of Plant Biology, only in odd years, this award provides research support for any student conducting research in plant biology.

Applications will be accepted, only in odd years, for the Govindjee and Rajni Govindjee Award for Excellence in Biological Research.

Govindjee is Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Plant Biology at the University of Illinois. He studied with the founding fathers of photosynthesis research and Govindjee now stands among the discipline's luminaries. From his seminal research on the mechanisms of Photosystem II and chlorophyll fluorescence by plants to his recent unique work on the history of photosynthesis research, Govindjee's scientific reach and impact are considerable. He once was introduced with the opening assertion, "We depend upon photosynthesis and photosynthesis depends upon Govindjee." Dr. Rajni Govindjee, who also studied with the founding fathers of photosynthesis research, made fundamental discoveries on the two-light effect and two-pigment system in the Hill Reaction in chloroplasts and then on the molecular mechanism of proton transport in bacteriorhodopsin from Halobacterium halobium, using site-directed mutants.

The Govindjee and Rajni Govindjee Award for Excellence in Biological Research was established in 2006 to support expenses for students conducting research in any aspect of Plant Biology. The award will be up to $3,000. Applicants must be full-time graduate students currently enrolled in the any of the graduate programs administered by the School of Integrative Biology and the School of Cell and Molecular Biology.

To apply, please submit the following:

1. Your curriculum vitae (with current GPA).
2. A brief cover letter describing your research and how you will use these funds.
3. A letter of recommendation from your advisor.

Applicants must complete this form and submit all required materials by February 5^th, midnight. Questions may be directed to sibawards@life.illinois.edu.

Harold C. and Sonja L. Labinsky have established an award for students working with faculty in the Department of Plant Biology that use plant genetics in their research program.

The award may be given to:

1. recognize graduate student research achievements using the methods and approaches of plant genetics,
2. recognize meritorious research using the methods and approaches of plant genetics by an undergraduate, or
3. as support for participation by a graduate student in a scientific workshop or meeting that will assist in the application of genetic approaches to the student's thesis research.

Call for Nominations:

The Harold C. and Sonja L. Labinsky Award committee requests nominations from the faculty of the Department of Plant Biology.

The nomination package should include:

1. A two-page summary, written by the nominated student, detailing their overall research accomplishments, including clear linkages to their use of the methods and approaches of plant genetics, defined in the broadest possible terms ranging from research examining mutant phenotypes to ecosystem level questions in population genetics.
2. A letter of recommendation from the nominating faculty member of Department of Plant Biology.
3. A copy of their transcripts at the University of Illinois (unofficial copies are acceptable); submit your transcript as an additional file using the application form below.

Applicants must complete this form and submit all required materials by February 5^th, midnight. Questions may be directed to sibawards@life.illinois.edu.

Administered by the Department of Plant Biology, this fund provides support for graduates students in the Department of Plant Biology for travel to scientific meetings.

The John R. Laughnan Fund was established in 1995 to support travel to scientific meetings for graduate students in the Department of Plant Biology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Retroactive awards normally will not be considered.

Eligibility:

Applicants must be full-time graduate students currently enrolled in graduate studies in the Department of Plant Biology. Applicants must be presenting either a talk or a poster in a national or international scientific meeting, as opposed to merely attending. Both the research and scholarship record of the applicant will be considered. Students who previously received a Laughnan award will not be eligible a second time.

Application:

Applications should include the following information:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Advisor’s letter of endorsement.
• A document including:
  • Name, location and date(s) of meeting to be attended. A statement about the benefits of attendance must be included.
  • Copy of abstract or paper to be presented: has it been accepted for the program?
  • Estimated costs of attending the meeting by category (travel, lodging, registration, meals, etc.). If travel is by car, will costs be shared with others?
  • Amount (expected) to be covered from other sources (identify them).
  • Total amount requested from the J.R. Laughnan Fund.

Applicants must complete this form and submit all required materials by February 5^th, midnight. Questions may be directed to sibawards@life.illinois.edu.

It is expected that if, for any reason, the travel cannot be accomplished or there are anticipated changes, the Graduate Affairs Committee must be notified at once. If there is an opportunity in the student's presentation to acknowledge the John R. Laughnan award, it would be greatly appreciated.