LATEST NEWS » Awards & Grants

The SSE Presidents’ Award for Outstanding Dissertation Paper in Evolution recognizes an outstanding PhD dissertation paper published in an issue of the journal Evolution during a given calendar year. Nominations will be due January 31, 2022. Learn more and apply here.

The deadline for the Graduate Research Excellence Grant - Rosemary Grant Advanced Award has been extended to Tuesday, September 28 at 5:00 PM Eastern (GMT-4:00). 

Apply or update your application on the SSE awards site.

These awards provide up to $3500 USD in research funds to PhD students in the later stages of their programs. Learn more and confirm your eligibility here. Contact communications [at] evolutionsociety.org with any questions or concerns.

Most applicants to our Graduate Research Excellence Grants hear about these grants through word of mouth, and many eligible students remain unaware that these awards exist. The SSE Diversity Committee is working to address bias in the applicant pool by directly contacting institutions with eligible applicants. Want to help? Add your institution’s contact information to this form. We seek submissions of all degree-granting institutions - not limited to the US.

We are pleased to announce the 2021 Rosemary Grant Advanced Award competition. These awards are part of our Graduate Research Excellence Grants, and provide funding for PhD students in the later stages of their programs. Proposals are due September 22, 2021.

Congratulations to our three recipients of the W. D. Hamilton Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Presentation, Liming Cai, Sarah Khalil, and Arianna Kuhn! Because this competition was not held last year, this year’s competition included applicants who were eligible last year. Thank you to all of our finalists who presented their work in the Hamilton Award symposium at the Virtual Evolution meeting!

Congratulations to the 22 recipients of the 2021 Graduate Research Excellence Grant - R. C. Lewontin Early Award!

Awarded in memory of George W. Gilchrist*:
Tais Ribeiro, University of Maryland. Advisor: Anahi Espindola

Philip Bentz, University of Georgia. Advisor: Jim Leebens-Mack
Austin Calhoun, Illinois State University. Advisor: Ben Sadd
Maria Colt, University of Maryland. Advisor: Heidi Fisher
Danielle De La Pascua, University of California Davis. Advisor: Jennifer Gremer
Erik Iverson, The University of Texas at Austin. Advisor: Justin Havird
Matthew Kelbrick, University of Liverpool. Advisor: Siobhán O’Brien
Laura Leventhal, Stanford University. Advisor: Moises Exposito-Alonso
Jasen Liu, University of California, Davis. Advisor: Santiago Ramírez
Meghan Maciejewski, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Advisor: Alison Bell
Kelly Martin, University of Idaho. Advisor: Christine Parent
Kelly McCrum, University of Georgia. Advisor: Jill Anderson
Lisa Mesrop, University of California, Santa Barbara. Advisor: Todd Oakley
Kasey Pham, University of Florida. Advisor: Douglas Soltis
Raunak Sen, Cornell University. Advisor: Kerry Shaw
Rebecca Tarnopol, University of California - Berkeley. Advisor: Noah Whiteman
Colton Unger, University of Calgary. Advisor: Campbell Rolian
Veronica Urgiles Penafiel, Utah State University. Advisor: Molly Womack
Athmaja Viswanath, University of Toronto. Advisor: Asher Cutter
Emma Vtipilthorpe, North Carolina State University. Advisor: Seema Sheth
Gabrielle Welsh, University of Denver. Advisor: Robin Tinghitella
Xuening Zhang, Cornell University. Advisor: Anurag Agrawal

*This award was funded in part by donations to the George W. Gilchrist Student Support Fund.

The SSE Education and Outreach Committee is pleased to announce the winners of the 2021 T. H. Huxley Award, Dr. John Jungck and Dr. Sam Donovan. This award recognizes and promotes the development of high quality evolution education resources. Dr. Jungck and Dr. Donovan are recognized for their activity, "Beagle Investigations Return with Darwinian Data (BIRDD) project." In the activity, students engage in evolutionary problem solving and explore their own research questions using primary scientific data from the Galapagos Islands and Darwin’s Finches. Read more here.

2021 SSE Presidents’ Award for Outstanding Dissertation Paper in Evolution

Congratulations to Dr. Gabriel Jamie, recipient of the 2021 SSE Presidents’ Award for Outstanding Dissertation Paper in Evolution, for his paper, “Multimodal mimicry of hosts in a radiation of parasitic finches,” Evolution (2020) 74: 2526-2538. 

In this paper, Dr. Gabriel Jamie and co-authors investigated host-specific multimodal mimicry by nestlings of brood-parasitic Vidua indigobirds and whydahs to assess their role in adaptation to novel hosts. The premise was that imprinting of parasitic nestlings on their hosts promotes the maintenance of specialized host-parasite associations over generations. This exposes lineages to consistent selection from host species that could allow host-specific nestling adaptations to evolve. Over four rainy seasons in Zambia, Dr. Jamie and his research assistants recorded aspects of nestling morphology and behavior, and developed a new methodology to quantify phenotypes. Remarkable matching was found in the patterns and colors of the parasitic nestlings and the nestlings of their different host species, whose diverse appearances can be seen in the cover photo of the issue (74:11). The team also found matching in the sounds and postural movements of the nestlings. This study shows that imprinting can lead to the evolution of host-specific mimetic adaptations that can generate pre- and post-zygotic isolation and contribute to sympatric speciation. Dr. Jamie earned his Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge, where he is now a BBSRC-funded post-doctoral research associate. He is also a research associate of the FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology at the University of Cape Town.

2021 Dobzhansky Prize
Congratulations to the 2021 Dobzhansky Prize winner, Dr. Katja Kasimatis! Dr. Kasimatis is a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow in the Cutter and Rowe labs in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on the evolutionary consequences of sex-specific selection and sexual conflict, specifically the impact on genome evolution. She pursues this research using a wide variety of approaches including molecular genetics, proteomics, genomics, bioinformatics, experimental evolution, and theoretical population genetics. Her work expands our understanding of sexual conflict and furthered nematodes as a model system for reproductive dynamics. While pursuing her research, she works to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community both within and beyond her department.
 

2021 Dobzhansky Prize Honorable Mentions
Congratulations to the 2021 Dobzhansky Prize Honorable Mentions, Dr. Rosana Zenil-Ferguson and Dr. Amanda Hund. Dr. Zenil-Ferguson is an Assistant Professor in the School of Life Sciences at the University of Hawaii Manoa. Her research focuses on evaluating the role of polyploidy across angiosperms through the development of stochastic models and statistical tools. While conducting her research, she focuses on promoting diversity and creating space for early career scientists within the macroevolution modeling field through mentorship and workshops. Dr. Hund is a JSMF Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior at the University of Minnesota and is starting as an Assistant Professor at Grinnell College next year. Her research focuses on understanding how parasites shape the evolution of their hosts, and has broad applications for understanding interactions between the environment and developmental processes. In her work, Dr. Hund focuses on promoting effective undergraduate mentorship through courses and research experiences. 

Congratulations to Dr. Adriana Briscoe, recipient of the second annual ASN/SSE/SSB Inclusiveness, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Award. Over her entire career, Dr. Briscoe has shown a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion that has resulted in the recruitment and retention of diverse scientists in the evolution workforce at all professional levels. Dr. Briscoe also contributes to international inclusion, regularly publishing research with co-authors from global south countries. Her DEI work also includes published scholarship and popular media related to her outreach. Dr. Briscoe has also been recognized for her research excellence and contributions to education by the largest STEM diversity organization in the country, the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS). Thank you to Dr. Briscoe for your commitment and contributions to the community!

The Society for the Study of Evolution is pleased to announce the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award for evolutionary biologists. The award recognizes individuals who have made substantial contributions to the study of evolution, who have demonstrated outstanding mentorship of trainees, and/or who have provided noteworthy service to the evolution community. The awardee will be chosen this summer and will be presented at the 2022 Evolution meeting in Cleveland, OH.

Complete the form below with your name and the nominee’s name. Nominators are asked to provide a short (250 words or less) statement in support of the nominee. You will also be asked if you would be willing to provide a longer and more detailed nomination letter at a later date. SSE values the contributions of diverse researchers and encourages nominators to consider all potential mentors and colleagues. Self-nominations are welcome. Please submit your nomination by April 26, 2021.

The Society for the Study of Evolution (SSE) Education Committee is pleased to announce the 2021 T.H. Huxley Award, named in honor of Darwin's very public supporter, which recognizes and promotes the development of high quality evolution education resources. If you have an interesting project or educational activity to share, consider applying for this award. Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows are encouraged to apply. 

This award provides funding for an SSE member to present evolution education resources at the National Association of Biology Teachers (http://nabt.org/) annual conference. This year’s NABT conference will be held November 11 - 14, 2021 in Atlanta, GA.

Applications are due April 4. Learn more and apply here. 

We are pleased to announce the recipient of the second annual SSE Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr. Richard E. Lenski. The Lifetime Achievement Award was created to recognize individuals who have made substantial contributions to the study of evolution, who have demonstrated outstanding mentorship of trainees, and/or who have provided noteworthy service to the evolution community. Dr. Lenski is the John Hannah Distinguished Professor of Microbial Ecology at Michigan State University (MSU). For more than 30 years, he has directed one of the most significant experiments in evolutionary biology, the E. coli Long Term Evolution Experiment (LTEE). He is one of the founding members of the BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action at MSU, and today serves on its executive committee. Dr. Lenski has previously received a Guggenheim Fellowship and a MacArthur Fellowship, and has been elected to the American Academy of Microbiology, the European Molecular Biology Organization, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the National Academy of Sciences. In addition to his outstanding research contributions, he is known for being an exceptional mentor and role model. He also served the community as President of SSE in 2013. Congratulations, Dr. Lenski!

The SSE Dobzhansky Prize recognizes the accomplishments and future promise of an outstanding young evolutionary biologist. PhD recipients who were awarded their degree between January 1, 2017 and January 1, 2021 are eligible. The committee will consider circumstances that may extend eligibility (e.g., parental leave) and encourages nominations of biologists from historically under-represented groups. Potential applicants should contact committee chair Sarah Schaack at secretary@evolutionsociety.org with any questions about eligibility. Deadline extended to February 14.

 
Congratulations to our 13 recipients of the Graduate Research Excellence Grants (GREG) Rosemary Grant Advanced Awards! These awards are to assist students in the later stages of their Ph.D. programs by providing funding to enhance the scope of dissertation research, such as to conduct additional experiments or field work. Thank you to all our applicants. We received many excellent applications. Two awards were funded through donations to the George Gilchrist Student Support Fund. Thank you to all who donated!

Rosemary Grant Advanced Awards in memory of George Gilchrist:*

Jessica Aguilar, University of California Berkeley. Advisor: Noah Whiteman
Brandie Quarles, Duke University. Advisor: Kathleen Donohue
 
 Rosemary Grant Advanced Award Recipients:

Upama Aich, Australian National University. Advisor: Michael Jennions
Giorgia Auteri, University of Michigan. Advisor: L. Lacey Knowles
Henry Ertl, University of Michigan. Advisor: Patricia Wittkopp
Alice Gadau, The Rockefeller University. Advisor: Li Zhao
Benjamin Gerstner, University of New Mexico. Advisor: Ken Whitney
Yuki Haba, Princeton University. Advisor: Carolyn McBride
Michaël Nicolaï, Universiteit Gent. Advisor: Matthew Shawkey
Arjuna Rajakumar, McGill University. Advisor: Ehab Abouheif
Alexus Roberts, University of California, Davis. Advisor: Peter Wainwright
Pamela Santana, Universidade De Sao Paulo. Advisor: Paulo Guimarães Jr.
Xueling Yi, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Advisor: Emily Latch

*These awards were funded by donations to the George Gilchrist Student Support Fund.

We are pleased to announce a call for proposals for local and regional educational outreach activities to take place during 2021. It is our hope that these projects will lead to ongoing outreach collaboration in future years. Preference will be given to new collaborations, but extensions of previous projects that have evidence of success are allowed. Applicants must be members of SSE. We expect to award up to $1000 USD to 5 to 10 projects Proposals will be accepted until February 20, 2021.

The deadline for the ASN/SSE/SSB Inclusiveness, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Award has been extended to February 1, 2021. This award recognizes a person or group at any career stage who has strengthened the ecology and evolutionary biology community by promoting inclusiveness and diversity in our fields. The award includes a $1000 USD honorarium. Learn more and submit your nomination here.

The Society for the Study of Evolution is pleased to announce the 2021 R. C. Lewontin Early Award competition. These grants are part of the Graduate Research Excellence Grants award program and are for students in the 1st or 2nd year of their PhD program. Awards will range from $1,500 to $2,500. Proposals will be due March 15. Learn more here.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2021 SSE Presidents’ Award for Outstanding Dissertation Paper in Evolution. To be eligible for consideration, a manuscript must be based on graduate work of the primary author. The manuscript must have been published in an issue of the journal Evolution in 2020 (Volume 74). 

Deadline: January 31, 2021

Learn more about how to apply here.

Nominations are now open for the 2021 Dobzhansky Prize, which recognizes the accomplishments and future promise of an outstanding young evolutionary biologist. To be eligible, the date you were or will be officially awarded your Ph.D. must be between January 1, 2017 and January 1, 2021. This award is not limited to any particular area of evolutionary biology. We value diversity, and are seeking a broad and diverse applicant pool from all axes and components of diversity in the evolutionary biology community. 

Deadline: January 31, 2021

Learn more and apply on the Dobzhansky Prize page.

The American Society of Naturalists, the Society for the Study of Evolution, and the Society of Systematic Biologists announce the call for nominations for the 2nd annual ASN/SSE/SSB Inclusiveness, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Award. The IDEA Award will be given to a person at any career stage who has strengthened the ecology and evolutionary biology community by promoting inclusiveness and diversity in our fields. The award can also be presented to a group. The recipient(s) will each receive a plaque at the annual meeting of ASN/SSB/SSE and a $1000 honorarium (shared among recipients if more than one).

Deadline: January 15, 2021

Click here to learn more and submit a nomination.

As previously announced, the award for an exceptional Ph.D. dissertation paper published in the journal Evolution, formerly called the R. A. Fisher Prize, has been renamed. A statement about the history of the name and the reason for its change can now be found on the award webpage. SSE Council continues to work on broader issues concerning diversity and representation in our membership, our grant and prize awardees, and leadership. Learn more on the page for our Diversity Committee, which guides these initiatives.

Applications are now open for the 2020 Graduate Research Excellence Grants - Rosemary Grant Advanced Awards. These awards are to assist students in the later stages of their Ph.D. programs. Awards will range from US$2,000 - $3,500 and approximately ten awards will be made. Funds can be used to enhance the scope of dissertation research, such as to conduct additional experiments or field work. Proposals are due September 15. Learn more here.

The Society for the Study of Evolution (SSE) is pleased to announce the 2020 Graduate Research Excellence Grant (GREG) – Rosemary Grant Advanced Award competition. These awards are to assist students in the later stages of their Ph.D. programs. These grants are part of the Graduate Research Excellence Grants award program. Applications are not yet open; the link to log in to access the application will be posted on the Rosemary Grant Advanced Award page when it is available. Applications will be due September 15, 2020. Learn more on the Rosemary Grant Advanced Award page.

Congratulations to the 2020 GREG - R.C. Lewontin Early Award recipients! These awards are to assist students in the early stages of their Ph.D. programs. These grants are part of the Graduate Research Excellence Grants award program. 

R.C. Lewontin Award in memory of George Gilchrist:* 
Makenzie Whitener, University of Georgia. Advisor: Andrea Sweigart

McCall Calvert, University of Pittsburgh. Advisor: Corlett Wood
Regan Cross, Queen's University. Advisor: Christopher Eckert
Victor de Brito, Western Michigan Univeristy. Advisor: Devin Bloom
Jenna DeCurzio, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Advisor: Christina Burch
Matthew Farnitano, University of Georgia. Advisor: Andrea Sweigart
Samantha Goldman, Cornell University. Advisor: Andrew Moeller
Diler Haji, University of California, Berkeley. Advisor: Noah Whiteman
Kelsie Hunnicutt, University of Denver. Advisor: Erica Larson
Will Jarvis, University of Ottawa. Advisor: Howard Rundle
Sungsik Kong, The Ohio State University. Advisor: Laura Kubatko
Emily Lau, University of California Santa Barbara. Advisor: Todd Oakley
Michelle McCauley, Emory University. Advisor: Levi Morran
Theresa Miorin, University of Georgia. Advisor: Kelly Dyer
Benjamin Moran, Stanford University. Advisor: Molly Schumer
Emily Nonnamaker, The University of Notre Dame. Advisor: Elizabeth Archie
Klara Norden, Princeton University. Advisor: Mary C. Stoddard
Kennedy Omufwoko, Princeton University. Advisor: Sarah Kocher
Ian Rines, Illinois State University. Advisor: Ben Sadd
Srijan Seal, Ashoka University. Advisor: Imroze Khan
Ruben Tovar, The University of Texas at Austin. Advisor: David Hillis
Adrian Troya, Universidade Federal do Parana. Advisor: John Lattke
Mackenzie Urquhart-Cronish, University of British Columbia. Advisor: Amy Angert

*This award was funded by donations to the George Gilchrist Student Support Fund.

This year, SSE requested voluntary demographic information from award applicants in an effort to address bias and promote equity in awarding across multiple axes of diversity. Visit the R.C. Lewontin Early Award page to learn more.