Illinois Natural History Survey Awards

Administered by the Illinois Natural History Survey, a part of the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois, this scholarship provides research support for graduate students conducting research in the area of stream ecology.

Invitation for Larimore Stream Ecology Internship Application

The family and friends of Dr. R. Weldon Larimore have established a legacy fund in honor of his long and distinguished career at the Illinois Natural History Survey (1946-2002) and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (1969-1988). Dr. Larimore is a pre-eminent researcher in the area of stream ecology and a pioneer in many research techniques used today. His research has taken him all over the world, but Dr. Larimore's passion was the study of Jordan Creek in Vermilion County, Illinois. The establishment of this fund is to maintain ongoing research in stream ecology, a vital and important part of natural history and aquatic biology.

This biennial internship with the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) Stream Ecology Lab will provide you with real-world research experience. It is a great opportunity for individuals interested in pursuing a graduate program in stream or aquatic ecology. The position will involve a mix of field and office work under the mentorship of a senior stream ecologist. Fieldwork will be focused on Jordan Creek in Vermilion County, Illinois (approximately 40 minutes away from UI campus).

Successful applicants will learn a suite of aquatic ecology research skills including:

• Water quality measurement & habitat quality assessment
• Electrofishing and macroinvertebrate sampling
• Fish identification and measurement
• Statistical analysis of aquatic biodiversity and community structure
• Scientific writing

The internship includes an award totaling $4,000 as well as travel and supply reimbursement up to $500. If no suitable applications are received, the committee reserves the right not to fund the internship in the current year.

Eligibility:

Any students currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program with the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana are eligible to apply. Individuals engaged in degree programs in environmental sciences, natural resources, biology, animal biology, and entomology will receive highest consideration. Must possess a valid driver’s license and ability to drive a University vehicle.

Application Procedure:

Applicants should submit the following

• Resume/C.V.
• Unofficial transcripts including courses taken and grades
• Two letters of recommendation

Closing Date:

Award is offered every other year.
The next award will be available in 2024
Please look for a call for applications in March 2024.

Submit Completed Application by Closing Date to:

Dr. Yong Cao, yongcao@illinois.edu.
Include the email subject: Stream Ecology Summer Internship.
Attach all application materials as PDF files.

More Information:

For specific questions about the internship please contact Dr. Yong Cao at 217-244-6847 or yongcao@illinois.edu.

For more information about Dr. Larimore or past endowment fund projects please see:
stream-ecology.inhs.illinois.edu/opportunities/larimore-internship.

For more information about the Illinois Natural History Survey, please visit: inhs.illinois.edu.

Administered by a committee from the Illinois Natural History Survey, The William H. Luckmann Award for Research in Applied Entomology provides funds to support undergraduate or graduate student attendance and presentation of research results at the annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) or a meeting of another appropriate professional society.

Applications will be accepted until 5 pm, Friday, 22 March 2024 for The William H. Luckmann Award for Research in Applied Entomology. This award provides funds to support student attendance and presentation of research at this year's Entomological Society of America (ESA) Meeting, or a meeting of another appropriate professional society within 12 calendar months following receipt of the award.

The Award:

Dr. William H. Luckmann served as a researcher and administrator for applied entomological programs at the Illinois Natural History Survey from 1949 through 1984. His work contributed greatly to advances in integrated pest management in field and vegetable crops. Upon his retirement, an endowment was established to foster and reward research in applied entomology.

The first William H. Luckmann Award was granted in 1994. This year's award will provide up to $1,000 for travel, lodging, and related expenses for presenting research results at the North Central Branch, ESA, Annual Meeting of the ESA, or a meeting of another appropriate professional scientific society. Participation in professional society meetings provides students with valuable experience and professional contacts.

Eligibility:

Current graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Illinois are eligible to compete for this award. Research may be carried out in any department of the University, may be basic and/or applied, but should have some focus on aspects of applied entomology such as arthropod pest management, use of insects in biological control programs, pollinators, or natural areas health. The research may be carried out for agricultural, horticultural, urban, medical or natural areas systems. Previous award winners are not eligible to apply.

To Apply:

Completion of application form and a brief written summary of the applicant's research goals, methods, and results is required. Please submit the application as one document.

Application Must Be Received By: 5 pm, Friday, 22 March 2024.

I. Applicant Information (submitted as Page 1)

• Name:
• Address:
• Phone:
• E-mail address:
• Degree for which research was conducted (BS, MS or PhD):
• Academic Department:
• Advisor:
• Title of thesis, dissertation, or research report:
• Year(s) during which research was conducted:
• Indicate the meeting you intend to use this award to attend?

II. Research Summary-maximum 2 additional pages, single-spaced, 12-point font. (Reference list is not included in page count.)

• An explanation of the purpose of your research, including background on the context of your research topic.
• A brief summary of your methods and results.
• A discussion of how your findings might contribute to your applied entomology discipline.
• A brief explanation about why the meeting you plan to attend is appropriate for presentation of your work.

Please submit the application (Sections I and II) as one document, either as MS Word or PDF. Email the completed application to: spencer1@illinois.edu
Questions can be directed to Dr. Chris Stone at the above email address.

Application must be received by: 5 pm, Friday, 25 March 2024.

Administered by a faculty committee from the Illinois Natural History Survey and the Department of Entomology, this fund provides research support for graduate students in the field of systematics, including taxonomy, phylogeny, biogeography, and related subjects.

Charles A. Ross and June R. P. Ross Fund established the Fund in honor of Charles A. Ross' parents, Dr. Herbert Holdsworth Ross and Jean Alexander Ross for their many accomplishments in education and research, he in entomology and she in zoology.

Dr. Herbert Holdsworth Ross was one of the most productive entomologists in North America. He produced about 220 scientific publications, including six books and chapters in seven others. Dr. Ross was a leader of several professional organizations, including president of the Entomological Society of America, Society for the Study of Evolution, and Society of Systematic Zoology. A Guggenheim Fellow, Dr. Ross was also a fellow of both the Entomological Society and the Royal Entomological Society of London.

Jean Alexander Ross was not only Herbert Holdsworth Ross' devoted wife of 46 years but also shared his deep love of biological science and was his valued colleague. After obtaining her bachelor's and master's degrees, she came to the University of Illinois and worked with Dr. Harley J. Van Cleave in his studies of Acanthocephala intestinal parasites. Mrs. Ross published papers on zoology laboratory techniques and co-authored several of Dr. Van Cleave's Acanthocephala papers. She also played a prominent role in the development and writing of her husband's Textbook of Entomology. An accomplished artist, she drew many of the original illustrations in the Textbook of Entomology and re-drew and clarified many other drawings in the book.

Purpose:

The Herbert H. Ross Memorial Fund supports research in biological systematics, including taxonomy, phylogeny, biogeography, and related subjects. Individual awards up to $6,000 will be made.

Eligibility:

Staff, faculty, and graduate students of the Illinois Natural History Survey and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are eligible for this award. Multi-investigator proposals must have as the principal investigator (PI) someone who meets these eligibility requirements.

Application:

Submit proposal as either Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF files to Dr. Kevin Johnson, kpjohnso@illinois.edu.

For Detailed instructions please click on the file below. 

Closing Date:  March 11, 2024

Administered by a committee from the Illinois Natural History Survey, this fund provides research support for graduate students in the fields of systematics or ecology of living organisms.

Dorothy M. Smith and friends established the Fund in honor of her husband, Dr. Philip W. Smith, in recognition of his many accomplishments in education and research.

Dr. Smith was a renowned herpetologist and ichthyologist. He was intensely interested in the taxonomy, natural history, and distributions of animals. After completing his PhD at the University of Illinois, he spent his entire career at the Illinois Natural History Survey, retiring in 1979. He served as curator of the fish, reptile, and amphibian collections, as a researcher, and administrator. For the last 14 years of his career, he also served as a Professor of Zoology at the University of Illinois. He produced over 100 scientific publications. He is probably best known for his two authoritative monographs, The Amphibians and Reptiles of Illinois (1961) and The Fishes of Illinois (1979).

Purpose:

The Philip W. Smith Memorial Fund supports research in any area of natural history, including, but not limited to, ecology, behavior, conservation biology, and systematics. Award amounts are typically up to $1,000.

Eligibility:

Staff and graduate students of the Illinois Natural History Survey and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are eligible for this award. Multi-investigator proposals must have as the principal investigator (PI) someone who meets these eligibility requirements.

Application Instructions: 

Proposals are expected to be carefully written and succinct. Those not following the prescribed format, lacking any category below, or exceeding the page limit will be immediately rejected. It is highly recommended that proposals be proofed by colleagues or faculty advisors before submission.

The Abstract, Background, Objectives, Methods, and Significance of Research combined must not exceed three single-spaced pages, with a minimum 12-point font and 1-inch (2.5 cm) margins. Literature Cited, figures, tables, and Budget and Budget Description are not included in this limit. All pages must have a header that includes the award name (Smith Memorial Fund), the PI's last name, and the page number (numbered consecutively).

The following categories must be included in the proposal, in this order (if figures and tables are included, they should follow the Literature Cited):

• Title: must be short but convey topic adequately.
• Full Name.
• Address, Phone, E-mail.
• Affiliation: INHS or U of I Department.
• Graduate Advisor: for graduate students.
• Abstract: stand-alone paragraph summarizing the problem, objectives, methods, and significance of the project.
• Background: succinctly state the issues you are trying to address, including the broader context for your project.
• Objectives: clearly state what hypotheses you intend to address or what accomplishments are expected from the research.
• Methods: succinctly state the methods you will use. Illustrations may help in this regard.
• Proposed Timeline: include a timeline for your research including an estimated end date.
• Significance of Research: how will this study aid you in attaining your research goals, impact the scientific community, and be useful to society in general?
• Literature Cited: citing current literature allows reviewers to assess how well PIs know their discipline. Please cite literature in the text, where appropriate, and include full bibliographic information in this section.
• Budget and Budget Description: present a budget that clearly shows how Smith Memorial Fund funds will be used. You may state in the Budget Description how these funds relate to a larger project, but we do not want to see the budget for that project. Budget categories normally used are Personnel, Supplies, Travel, Contractual Services, and Equipment. Overhead is not allowed on these funds. In the Budget Description, explain how the figures presented in the budget were calculated and provide any additional budgetary information you feel is appropriate. The Budget and Budget Description must not exceed one page in length.
• A Curriculum Vitae for each investigator (no transcripts).

Application Procedure:

Submit proposal as either Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF files to Dr. Jeff Hoover, j-hoover@illinois.edu.

Closing Date:

March 28, 2025