With gratitude to the donors who established and support the below funds, we are proud to offer the following awards to graduate students conducting research with faculty members in the Department of Biology.
All applications should be submitted by the stated deadline to biolchair@umd.edu.
Biology Department Travel Awards
Graduate student must have a tenure-track advisor (or co-advisor) in the Department of Biology to apply. The graduate program of the student is irrelevant.- Funds may be requested for travel to present research results at a national or international meeting. Alternatively, when properly justified, funds may be awarded to take special courses or workshops that provide training that is not available on campus or in the immediate vicinity.
- Students can only apply once per year.
- Students should apply before attending a conference. Those wishing to travel between October and March should apply to the fall competition, while those planning to go to a meeting between April and September should apply to the spring competition.
- In most circumstances, each award will be limited to a maximum of 50% of the total travel costs. Advisors (or other sources) are expected to cover remaining costs. Awards can only be used for travel, accommodation, or registration fees.
- In the event of insufficient funds to support all applications, the following factors will be used in selecting recipients:
a) Value of attendance for career advancement
b) Degree sought (Ph.D. students given priority)
c) Seniority in program
d) Receipt of previous travel awards
Download and complete a Travel Award Application form and submit it by the fall or spring deadline. The justification should explain how presenting research findings at this particular conference will help your career goals. If the proposal is for a course, justification for taking the course must be provided.- The applicant should indicate if matching funds are available from the advisor(s) or other sources.
- All previous travel awards from campus sources must be listed, including the amount received.
- The entire application must be in single PDF file, either signed electronically by the advisor or signed by hand and then scanned into a PDF file. All applications must be submitted electronically to biolchair@umd.edu.
- If awarded, a travel request must be submitted to the business office prior to travel commencing in order to be eligible for receipt of travel funds. Original receipts are required to obtain expense reimbursement.
Jane Prichard Teaching Award
Eligibility: Students can be in any graduate program but the student must have taught in an introductory level biology course. Preference is given to students whose primary advisor has their primary appointment in the Department of Biology.
To Apply: A letter of nomination from the faculty member overseeing the graduate student's teaching duties should be submitted to biolchair@umd.edu.
Deadline: April 1
Biology Department Teaching Award
Eligibility: Graduate students can be in any graduate program but the student's primary advisor must have their primary appointment in the Department of Biology.
To Apply: A letter of nomination from the faculty member overseeing the graduate student's teaching duties should be submitted to biolchair@umd.edu.
Deadline: April 1
Biology Department Research Award
Eligibility: Graduate students can be in any graduate program but the student's primary advisor must have their primary appointment in the Department of Biology.
To Apply: A letter of nomination from the primary advisor and the student's CV should be submitted to biolchair@umd.edu.
Deadline: April 1
Eugenie Clark Scholarship
Dr. Eugenie Clark established the Eugenie Clark Scholarship Fund in Zoology in May 1992. The fund provides scholarships to graduate students who have completed one year of full-time study in their graduate program in the department or undergraduate students who have completed their junior year. In exceptional cases, a senior high school student or freshman or sophomore with outstanding credentials may be considered. The award will be given to students with impressive academic credentials and an interest in pursuing research careers in the biological sciences, with some preference for students in organismic biology and/or marine biology. Students must be conducting research with a faculty member in the Department of Biology.
Purpose: Provide summer support for graduate students doing research with faculty in the Department of Biology.
Eligibility:
- Academic interest in a research career in the biological sciences (preferably organismic biology and/or marine biology).
- The applicant must be a student whose primary advisor is a faculty member with their primary appointment in the Department of Biology.
- The applicant must have no other source of summer support.
- The applicant will spend full time doing research in the upcoming summer.
- The advisor must provide an equal match.
- The student must be in good standing after the spring review.
- A letter from the student explaining the research to be done in the summer.
- A letter of recommendation from the advisor that also provides account information for providing matching funds.
- A current CV, which includes a list of awards received and their date.
- Submit to biolchair@umd.edu.
Deadline: April 1.
To make a gift to this fund, please visit the UMD giving site.
Dr. Devra Kleiman Memorial Graduate Endowment
Molly Kleiman established the Dr. Devra Kleiman Memorial Graduate Endowment Fund in June 2010 to honor the memory of her daughter, Dr. Devra Kleiman. The fund provides annual support to graduate students with outstanding academic performance (GPA 3.5 or better) and demonstrated financial need who are conducting research with a faculty member in the Department of Biology. Preference will be given to graduate students who are collaborating with the Smithsonian or have experience in international conservation-related scientific research and/or programming and the intention to continue.
To Apply: A letter from the student explaining their qualifications and plans for the funding, a nomination letter from the primary advisor, and the student's CV should be submitted to biolchair@umd.edu.
Deadline: April 1
To make a gift to this fund, please visit the UMD giving site.
Debra L. Mechanick and Dr. Jeffrey I. Mechanick Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarship for Students of Physiology
Jeffrey I. Mechanick ’81 established the Debra L. Mechanick and Dr. Jeffrey I. Mechanick Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarship for Students in Physiology Fund in November 2012. The fund provides annual support to undergraduate and graduate students who are conducting physiology-related research with a faculty member in the Department of Biology. Recipients will be selected on the basis of financial need and academic merit.
Eligibility: Recipients will be selected on the basis of financial need and academic merit and must be advised by or work in the lab of a faculty member in the Biology Department.
To apply: A letter from the student explaining how their research or plan of study relates to physiology, a letter of support from the faculty advisor, the student’s CV and transcript (unofficial is ok), and if an undergraduate, evidence of financial need (e.g. FAFSA report) needs to be submitted to biolchair@umd.edu.
Deadline: May 1
To make a gift to this fund, please visit the UMD giving site.