SIB Graduate Student Awards

Administered by the Integrative Biology Fellowship Committee, these grants are given in recognition of outstanding achievement in the biological sciences and for the support of the students' professional development or research.

Dr. Francis M. Clark joined the then Department of Bacteriology, later the Department of Microbiology, as an instructor in 1933, after having completed his undergraduate and graduate work here previously. He had a distinguished career, teaching microbiology and conducting research in the microbiology of foods. He was past president of the Illinois Society for Microbiology.

The Clark Research Support Grants were established to honor Dr. Clark and his wife, Harlie M. Clark, are administered by the IB Fellowship Committee, and are awarded in recognition of outstanding achievement in the biological sciences by graduate students. In recent years, grants have been awarded primarily for expenses relating to presentation of papers at international and national meetings, short specialty courses offered off campus, and conducting research or making collections away from the UIUC campus.

Eligibility:

Graduate students majoring in a program of study sponsored by the School of Integrative Biology are eligible to apply. Applicants must have completed or be nearing completion of a significant field, laboratory, or informatics research project. Applicants must provide evidence for outstanding academic achievement in the biological sciences. Students that have previously received the award will be given low priority and may not receive the award more than twice.

Allowable Expenses:

One or more grants may be made to help defray expenses incurred during the upcoming summer involving research, training or conference participation. Legitimate expenses include payment of:

• Tuition, fees, and housing costs incurred while participating in a summer course at a biological station or similar facility;
• Research-related expenses and housing costs incurred while acquiring research techniques in a laboratory at another university or research center;
• Travel, registration, and housing costs incurred in relation to participation in a scientific meeting (student must be presenting); and
• Costs of supplies required for completion of research at the University of Illinois (will be given low priority).

Grants may not be used to defray ordinary living expenses while attending the University of Illinois, to defray expenses related to meeting requirements for a graduate degree at another university, or for purposes unrelated to academic activities in the biological sciences.

Grant Amounts:

The IB Fellowship Committee may award multiple grants up to $1,000 per award. Applicants are urged to trim their requests to the minimum to permit maximum utilization of available funds.

Important Notes:

• CV must clearly indicate starting date of MS and/or PhD program(s) in SIB.
• Letter of recommendation from research advisor must indicate need for funds and proposed project and that project is tied to student's research project carried out for student's degree.
• Budget proposal must include a clear statement of objectives to be accomplished, project timelines, and a justification of intended use of funding. This should include current and pending funding from other sources.
• Students who have previously received award will be given low priority and may only receive the award twice.

Application Procedure:

The applicant, with the help of his/her advisor, is responsible for gathering and assembling information required on the application form. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

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 Integrative Biology Fellowship Committee, these fellowships are given to support graduate students who would otherwise not have summer support.

Dr. Francis M. Clark joined the then Department of Bacteriology, later the Department of Microbiology, as an instructor in 1933, after having completed his undergraduate and graduate work here previously. He had a distinguished career, teaching microbiology and conducting research in the microbiology of foods. He was past president of the Illinois Society for Microbiology.

The Clark Summer Fellowship was established to honor Dr. Clark and his wife, Harlie M. Clark.

Purpose:

The Francis M. and Harlie M. Clark Summer Fellowship, administered by the IB Fellowship Committee, is to provide 2 months of summer support to continuing graduate students.

Eligibility:

Candidates must have completed (or currently be completing) two years of graduate study in the School of Integrative Biology.

Application:

• Recipient(s) of the fellowship(s) must enroll for the summer session.
• Description of planned research must include clear statement of objectives that will be accomplished over the summer.
• Letter of recommendation must state that no other summer support is available.
• During the selection process, the Fellowship Committee will place strong emphasis on need and on a clear statement of research objectives for the period of summer support.
• Note: Students may not receive both a Clark Summer Fellowship and a Clark Research Support Grant in the same year. Award will be rescinded if recipient receives any other summer appointment.
• Students may be considered for the Emerson Award in addition to this award.

Application Procedure:

Each IB Department or Program may submit one candidate. Submit ONLY those items requested under enclosures.

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 Integrative Biology Fellowship Committee, this award is given to recognize exceptional academic achievement and research potential.

The School of Integrative Biology announces this year's competition for the Robert Emerson Memorial Award. This prestigious award is given annually to a graduate student in the School of Integrative Biology to recognize exceptional academic achievement and research potential. The amount of this award is $2,500.

Dr. Emerson, a former professor in the Department of Botany, was a distinguished and dedicated scientist of international stature in the field of photosynthesis. Dr. Emerson's research explored the action of pigments, including the carotenoids and phycobilins, in photosynthesis. His collaborative research efforts were directed toward studies of the efficiencies of various wavelengths of light in promoting energy transfer among pigments involved in photosynthesis, and he discovered the enhancing effect of shorter wavelengths upon the efficiency of long wave red light. Dr. Emerson and Dr. Eugene Rabinowich established and nurtured the growth of a leading center for research in photosynthesis at the University of Illinois. Dr. Emerson received many honors in recognition of his scientific achievements and was a member of the National Academy of Sciences. His brilliant career was brought to a close by his death in a plane crash in 1959.

Eligibility:

Each Department or Program in IB is eligible to nominate three PhD candidates whose studies (including graduation) will likely be completed during the current calendar year.

During the selection process, the IB Fellowship Committee will place strong emphasis upon research promise, excellence in research and teaching, record of publications and presentations at scientific meetings, and upon the quality of the research statement. A significant indicator of research promise will be the student's independent role in defining and carrying out the research project.

Note: Letter of recommendation must stress the independence of the nominee’s research program and should evaluate candidate’s teaching.

Application Procedures:

Each IB Department or Program may submit three candidates. Submit ONLY those items requested under enclosures.

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 Integrative Biology Fellowship Committee, this award provides funds to support meritorious graduate students during the summer. 

The Lebus Fund was established by James Hagan to honor the memory of his aunt, Bertha Lebus.

Purpose:

To provide summer research support for meritorious MS and PhD students at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the life sciences and other fields. This award is intended to recognize students with outstanding potential to succeed in their chosen academic field. Multiple awards up to $1,000 will be granted.

Eligibility:

• Students must be enrolled in a MS or PhD degree-granting program within the School of Integrative Biology.
• The 2-page, single-spaced, research description should include current research and plans for future research. The research description should include a clear statement of objectives to be accomplished.
• The letter of recommendation from the applicant’s research advisor should discuss the applicants’ potential to succeed in the chosen academic field.

The Fellowship Committee will place strong emphasis on need, on a clear statement of research objectives, and on the promise of the student for a successful career in their chosen academic field in making its decision.

Application Procedures:

• Each IB Department or Program may submit up to three candidates. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Submit ONLY those items requested under enclosures.

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 Integrative Biology Fellowship Committee, this award provides funds to support graduate students who are within one year of graduation in order for them to complete their thesis or dissertation research.

Purpose:

To provide research funding for advanced master's and PhD students for the completion of their thesis or dissertation research. This year, award(s) are up to $1,000. The IB Fellowship Committee may choose to make one award of that total amount or two or more awards of lesser amounts to fund or partially fund more than one application.

Eligibility:

• Graduate students majoring in a program of study sponsored by the School of Integrative Biology are eligible to apply.
• Applicants must be within one year of graduation from the University of Illinois (MS or PhD program), and the funds requested must be to complete their thesis or dissertation research.
• Applicants must provide evidence for outstanding academic achievement in the biological sciences.

Allowable Expenses:

• One or more awards may be made to help defray expenses incurred by students completing their master's thesis or PhD dissertation research.
• Legitimate expenses include but are not limited to payment of costs of supplies or experiments required for completion of research at the University of Illinois.
• Requests for routine research supply costs will be given low priority.
• Grants may not be used to defray ordinary living expenses while attending the University of Illinois, to defray expenses related to meeting requirements for a graduate degree at another university, or for purposes unrelated to academic activities in the biological sciences.
• Applicants should plan to make use of funds awarded in this competition; moderate extensions may be requested in special circumstances.
• Applicants are urged to trim their requests to the minimum to permit maximum utilization of available funds.

Application Procedure:

Applicants must complete this form and submit all required materials by February 5^th, midnight. Questions may be directed to sibawards@life.illinois.edu. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Administered by the Integrative Biology Fellowship Committee, this award provides research support for graduate students investigating new frontiers and demonstrating promise and high aptitude in the fields of Cell and Structural Biology, Physiology, Ecology, Microbiology, Genetics, and related fields.

The School of Integrative Biology announces competition for the Harley J. Van Cleave Research Award. Dr. Van Cleave was a Professor of Zoology at the University of Illinois from 1913-1952. This award is funded by a generous gift from Malcom and Ruth Ferguson to support a graduate student investigating new frontiers and demonstrating promise and high aptitude in the fields of Cell and Structural Biology, Physiology, Ecology, Microbiology, Genetics and related fields. The award is intended to recognize outstanding academic achievement and research potential. Multiple awards up to $1,000 will be granted.

Eligibility:

• Graduate students majoring in a program of study sponsored by the School of Integrative Biology are eligible to apply.
• Applicants must provide evidence for outstanding academic achievement in the biological sciences.
• During the selection process, the IB Fellowship Committee will place strong emphasis upon scholarly excellence and research promise.

Important Notes:

• Research must be investigating new frontiers and demonstrating promise and high aptitude in the fields of Cell and Structural Biology, Physiology, Ecology, Microbiology, Genetics and related fields.
• Description of graduate research must include a clear statement of objectives and findings.
• Committee will place a strong emphasis upon scholarly excellence and research promise.
• Budget proposal must include a clear statement of objectives to be accomplished, project timelines, and a justification of intended use of funding. This should include current and pending funding from other sources.

Application Procedure:

• Each Department or Program in IB is eligible to nominate two PhD candidates who have demonstrated excellence in academic achievement and research. Use the application form provided.
• Submit ONLY those items requested in the application description.

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

This fund was established to help cover the cost of supplies and travel associated with graduate student field research. All graduate students in the School of Integrative Biology who are working in the field of Evolutionary Ecology are eligible to apply.

The Mary F. Willson Graduate Research Fund was established to help cover the cost of supplies and travel associated with graduate student field research.

Eligibility:

All graduate students in the School of Integrative Biology who are working in the field of Evolutionary Ecology are eligible to apply.

Application:

To apply, please submit one copy of each of the following:

1. A proposal describing the research to be conducted. The proposal should not exceed two single-spaced pages.
2. A current C.V.
3. Estimated costs (supplies, travel, lodging, registration, meals, etc.). If travel is by car, will costs be shared with others?
4. Amount (expected) to be covered from other sources (identify them).
5. Total amount requested from the Mary F. Willson Graduate Research Fund.
6. Advisor's letter of endorsement.

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