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Department of Biological Sciences

Departmental Graduate Awards and Honors

Skip To: Ann Bernard Martin Award for Excellence in Graduate Research  Hickory Stick Award for Outstanding Teaching Assistant    Gisela Mosig Best Presenter Award   Biological Sciences Annual Retreat Best Poster Award   Graduate Student Research Excellence Award in Biological Sciences   Best Short RIP Talk   Best Three Minute Thesis   Best Postdoc Talk   Best TED Talk   George C. Eickwort Student Research Award

Award Winners

Graduate Student Research Excellence Award in Biological Sciences

This award is presented to a graduate student in Biological Sciences who has performed outstanding and scholarly research over a sustained period of their tenure in the department. Nominees must be of at least third year status and in residence at the time of the award presentation.

  • Jonathan Davies (2023) [Commendations: Remington Hoerr]
  • James Held (2022)
  • Jacob Steenwyk (2021)
  • Stephen Ferguson and Abigail Searfoss (2020)
  • Bryan Gitschlag and Dylan Shropshire (2019) [Commendations: Scott Hinger and Cristina Robinson]
  • Meredith Frazier and Teddy Van Opstal (2018)
  • Esther Epum (2017)
  • Diana Cha and Haley Eidem (2015)
  • Neil Dani (2014)
  • Leonidas Salichos (2013)
  • Ryan Baldridge(2012)
  • John Gibbons (2011)
  • Patrick Jones (2010)
  • Xiaoming Zhou (2009)
  • Guoxiang Ruan and Elizabeth Thatcher (2008)
  • Jimann Shin (2007)
  • Chunyue Yin (2006)
  • Jinming Gu (2005)
  • Jinming Gu (2004)
  • Nicholas Trotta (2003)
  • Florence L. Marlow and Zhaolin Hua (2002)
  • John K. Wilkinson and Walter E. Gall (2001)
  • Daron C. Barnard (2000)
  • Utz Herbig (1999)
  • Chorng- Horng Lin and DeAnne S. Olsen (1998)
  • Brian Keplinger (1994)
  • Alex J. Harvey and Katherine E. Cullen (1993)
  • Brian A. McCool (1992)
  • Jeffrey L. Franklin (1991)
  • Yue Feng (1990)

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Ann Bernard Martin Award for Excellence in Graduate Research

This award is presented annually to a graduate student of second or third year status who has demonstrated exceptional promise in research and scholarly activities in the early stages of their graduate career in Biological Sciences.

  • Lantana Grub (2023)
  • Reese Martin (2022) [Commendations: Greg Konar & Jordyn Sanner]
  • Adriana Norris (2021)
  • Katherine Amidon (2020)
  • Noah Bradley and Jacob Steenwyk (2019)  [Commendations: Justin Critchlow, James Held, Logan Richards, and Yan Yan]
  • Kate Snyder (2018)
  • Bryan Gitschlag, Dylan Shropshire, and Stephanie Birnbaum (2017) [Commendations: Ling Chen & Kate Snyder]
  • Meredith Frazier (2015)
  • Leah T. Sigle and Diana Tafoya (2014)
  • Garrett League (2013)
  • Jason Mecalf and Udo Obodo (2012)
  • Lisa Funkhouser (2011)
  • Chao Liu and Rob Brucker (2010)
  • John Gibbons and Ryan Baldridge (2009)
  • no award (2008)
  • Robert Taylor (2007)
  • Eric Warren (2006)

Hickory Stick Award for Outstanding Teaching Assistant

Presented annually to a graduate student who has done an outstanding job at Teaching Assistance.

  • Audrey Arner & Jordyn Barr (2023)
  • Cole Meier (2022) [Commendation: David Gonzalez]
  • Annie Hatmaker and Natalie Wallace (2021)
  • Justin Critchlow (2020)
  • Logan Richards (2019)
  • Cait Kirby (2018)
  • Esther Epum (2017)
  • Mary Lynn Dear and Danielle Kopke (2015)
  • Udo Obodo (2014)
  • Scott Fites (2013)
  • Sarah Lawson (2012)
  • Abigail Olena and Rob Brucker (2011)
  • Tessy Sebastian and Robin Bairley (2010)
  • Brian Robertson and Jonas King (2009)
  • Jennell Talley (2008)
  • Scott Egan (2007)
  • Xiaoming Zhou (2006)

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Gisela Mosig Best Presenter Award

Presented annually to the best presenter at the Department of Biological Sciences Annual Retreat.

  • Lindsay Martin & Reese Martin (2023)
  • Remington Hoerr & Cole Meier (2022)
  • Jonathan Davies (2021)
  • Christina Robinson (2015)
  • Tyler Kennedy (2014)
  • Garrett League (2013)
  • Mahesh Rao (2012)
  • Will Wan (2011)
  • John Gibbons (2010)
  • Emily Rubinson (2009)
  • James Brian Robertson (2008)
  • Eric Warren (2007)
  • Elizabeth Thatcher (2007)
  • Jennell Talley (2006)
  • Christina Speirs (2006)

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Biological Sciences Annual Retreat Best Poster Award

  • David Gonzalez (2023)
  • Greg Konar & Lantana Grub (2022)
  • Remington Hoerr and Cole Meier (2021)
  • Justin Critchlow (2019)
  • Luísa Jabbur and Jacob Steenwyk (2018)
  • Cait Kirby (2017)
  • Stephanie Birnbaum (2015)
  • Meredith Frazier and Danielle Kopke (2014)
  • Haley Eidem (2013)
  • Mary Lynn Dear (2012)
  • Leolene Jean (2011)
  • Cassidy Cobbs (2010)
  • Rob Brucker and Kamya Rajaram (2009)
  • John Gibbons (2008)
  • Morgan Sammons (2007)
  • Morgan Sammons (2006)

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Best Short RIP Talk

  • Yan Yan (2019)
  • Cait Kirby (2018)
  • Daniel Lepage and Garrett League (2015)

Best Three Minute Thesis

  • Kevin Kelly (2019)
  • Danielle Kopke (2018)
  • Juan Ortiz (2017)
  • Leone Jean (2015)

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Best Postdoc Talk

  •  Bart Roland (2014)

Best TED Talk

  • Lisa Funkhouser (2014)

View graduate program award standard operating procedures.

Non-Departmental Awards

George C. Eickwort Student Research Award

This award, named in honor of the late George Eickwort, recognizes outstanding research by a graduate or undergraduate student. The award is given to the student who (in the opinion of the award committee) shows the most distinguished record of research and scholarly activity in the area of social insect biology.

  • Sarah Lawson (2014)

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