The Society for the Study of Evolution was founded in March, 1946. The objectives of the Society for the Study of Evolution are the promotion of the study of organic evolution and the integration of the various fields of science concerned with evolution. The Society publishes the scientific journal Evolution and holds annual meetings in which scientific findings on evolutionary biology are presented and discussed.

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The wide gap that existed in the first third of the 20th century between genetics on one hand, and taxonomy and paleontology on the other, began to narrow down in the 1930's to such an extent that representatives of both groups began to see that there was no fundamental conflict between their views. It was particularly in regard to the study of evolution that an area of understanding and mutual interest developed. Julian Huxley suggested to several participants of the AAAS meeting at Columbus, Ohio, in December, 1939 (Dobzhansky, Epling, and Mayr), that a society be formed including members of the various fields interested in speciation. Dr. Alfred E. Emerson of the University of Chicago undertook to organize an informal Society for the Study of Speciation and issued a number of mimeographed bulletins. Owing to war conditions, this society never became formally organized. Shortly afterwards, a parallel movement started under the initiative of Professor Walter Bucher of Columbia University at whose recommendation the National Research Council established on February 6, 1943, a Committee on Common Problems of Genetics, Paleontology and Systematics. This committee held two discussion meetings in the summer of 1943, one of a group consisting primarily of botanists at Berkeley (University of California) on June 14-16, and the other one consisting primarily of animal paleontologists and geneticists at the American Museum History in New York on July 24-25. Since further such meetings were impossible owing to wartime travel difficulties, it was decided to continue an exchange of ideas among members of the Committee through correspondence. Copies of these letters were gathered and issued in mimeographed bulletins under the editorship of Dr. Ernst Mayr. Six such bulletins were issued, four of which contained a discussion of numerous evolutionary problems.

The work of the Committee revealed that such a keen interest in the problems of evolution that it was felt that a larger and more permanent organization was needed than a temporary Committee of the National Research Council. This was particularly true in view of the obvious need for a journal that would include evolutionary studies from the diverse fields of biology and thus help to bridge the gaps between them. Informal correspondence between Professor Dobzhansky, Dr. Simpson, Dr. Mayr, and other members of the Committee, revealed much enthusiasm for such a journal, as well as for a society that would support it. Dr. Emerson suggested that the dormant Society for the Study of Speciation should join forces with the National Research Council group in the establishment of a Society for the Study of Evolution. An organization meeting was held in St. Louis on March 30, 1946, at which Dr. Emerson presided. At this meeting, attended by fifty-seven biologists, the Society for the Study of Evolution was officially founded, a tentative policy adopted, and a slate of officers elected. The officers of the first year were the following:

President: G. G. Simpson
Vice Presidents: E. B. Babcock, A. E. Emerson, and J. T. Patterson
Secretary: E. Mayr
Treasurer: K. P. Schmidt
Council: E. R. Dunn, H. J. Muller, Sewall Wright, G. L. Jepsen, Th. Dobzhansky, and R. Chaney

Over 500 members joined the Society during the first year of its existence, and on the occasion of the First Annual Meeting in Boston, December 28-31, 1946, the Society felt sufficiently well established to authorize publication of a research journal in the field of evolution. In a wave of enthusiasm and optimism the Council voted to publish 1500 copies of the Journal. Thanks to this decision the Society lived for years on the sale of back copies. A grant had been awarded to the Society by the American Philosophical Society to make this publication possible. At this same meeting, a constitution was also adopted by the Society.

Despite considerable interest in assuming control of the American Naturalist the Society decided to found a new journal. Some of the older members wanted the word "Organic" included in the Journal title but in the final vote the title "Evolution" won out, not only for its simplicity but also because it corresponded to Ecology and Genetics. Several long defunct journals had that same name and efforts to avoid legal difficulties included leters to the former publishers all of which were returned for a "better address". During the fall of 1946 six firms were invited to submit bids for the printing. All but Lancaster Press declined to submit a serious bid because of the post war printing backlog and the great paper shortage. Additionally there was a shortage of suitable manuscripts and at least one paper was written just to fill an issue. There was strong support from the very beginning to have the journal as international as possible. Indeed the editorial board included distinguished evolutionists from abroad.

Following policies established during its first year of existence, the function of the Society is to promote the study of organic evolution in all its aspects. The Society is a common meeting ground for representatives of all fields of science concerned with organic evolution, including genetics, paleontology (vertebrate, invertebrate, plant), taxonomy (animal, plant), ecology, anthropology, and others. The journal EVOLUTION is established in order to stimulate evolutionary research and to bring its results together in readily accessible form. A journal broadly devoted to the particular subject of evolution will help to counteract the previous extreme scattering of pertinent literature, which has handicapped evolutionary study by the tendency to confine results within numerous different narrowly specialized groups. The journal will not publish taxonomic monographs or other descriptive studies properly addressed to a more specialized audience, but it will encourage the expression of the evolutionary significance of such material and will make this available to the broader group of students of evolution in general. Research primarily directed toward various evolutionary problems will also be encouraged.

The aims of the Society, through its journal and otherwise reflect the conviction that the evolutionary approach will clarify many unsolved biological problems and will provide common goals and mutual comprehension among all the life sciences.

E. Mayr

Read more

Read more about the founding of the Society for the Study of Evolution:

"Disciplining Evolutionary Biology: Ernst Mayr and the Founding of the Society for the Study of Evolution and Evolution (1939–1950)" by Vassiliki Betty Smocovitis

"Organizing evolution: Founding the society for the study of evolution (1939–1950)" by Vassiliki Betty Smocovitis

View past elected representatives on this pdf.

CONSTITUTION OF SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF EVOLUTION, INC.

Adopted December 29, 1946, Boston; Revised December 29, 1947; December 27, 1949; October 15, 1953; April 8, 1955; September 2, 1958; November 27, 1959; April 28, December 29, 1960; August 1, 1961; August 19, 1965; June 20, October 1, 1968; June 21, 1985; January 1, 1986; January 1, 1991; January 1, 1992; June 20, 1998; June 23, 1999; January 1, 2000; June 23, 2006; March 1, 2007; February 15, 2009; June 12, 2009; July 7, 2016; January 1, 2018; January 1, 2020; September 29, 2020; December 11, 2020; May 9, 2022; November 22, 2022; January 1, 2024

CONSTITUTION

Article 1. The organization shall be called "Society for the Study of Evolution, Inc" and referred to as the “Society.”

Article 2. The object of the Society shall be the promotion of the study of biological  evolution and the integration of various fields of science concerned with evolution.

Article 3. The Society has voting Members with rights and privileges as specified in the Bylaws. 

Article 4. The officers of the Society shall include President, President-Elect, Past President, Executive Vice-President, two Vice-Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, and Editor-in-Chief of the journal Evolution. Officers and offices shall be elected or appointed according to the Bylaws for the Society.

Article 5. Governance and management of the Society shall be vested in a board of directors known as the “Council.”

Article 6. The time and place of the annual meeting of the Society shall be determined by the Council.

Article 7. Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed in writing by any member to the Secretary, who shall submit them to the Council for consideration and vote. Such proposed amendments as have been approved by the Council shall be submitted to the members for a vote and may be adopted by a favorable vote of the majority of the members voting. 

Article 8. The fiscal year, tax year of the corporation, and terms of office are January 1 to December 31 unless otherwise specified in the Bylaws.

Article 9. The Society shall have no capital stock. No member shall be entitled to receive as dividends, profits, or otherwise, any property or money derived from the operation of said Society, but all property earnings and income of the Society, after the payment of necessary charges and expenses of operations, shall be used exclusively to carry out the scientific and educational purposes of the Society as expressed in Article 2 of the Constitution.

Article 10. SSE solicits and accepts gifts for purposes that will help the organization further and fulfill its mission. SSE will not accept gifts that (a) would result in the society violating its corporate charter, (b) would result in the society losing its status as an IRC § 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, (c) are too difficult or too expensive to administer in relation to their value, (d) would result in any unacceptable consequences for SSE, or (e) are for purposes outside SSE’s mission. Decisions on the restrictive nature of a gift, and its acceptance or refusal, shall be made by the Council.

 
BYLAWS 

ARTICLE I. PURPOSE  

Section 1. Purpose. The purposes of the Society for the Study of Evolution, Inc. (the “Society” hereafter) are exclusively those allowed for organizations defined under §501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. Within these limits, the purposes of the Society include the promotion of the study of organic evolution and the integration of the various fields of science concerned with evolution.

Section 2. Vision. The Society aspires to advance knowledge of evolutionary biology for the benefit of science and society and to cultivate and support a global community of evolutionary biologists.
 
Section 3. Mission. The Society promotes evolutionary biology research, education, application, outreach, and community building in an equitable and globally inclusive manner.

ARTICLE II. MEMBERS

Section 1. Membership. Any person who is interested in the study of evolution, who supports the purpose and mission of the Society, and who upholds the Society's values, is eligible for membership. 

Section 2. Member Categories. The Council may, by resolution, establish, eliminate, or define categories of membership. All categories of membership include electronic access to the journal of the Society (Evolution), the right to vote in Society elections, and all other privileges of membership. Membership categories may include: Student, Postdoc, K–12 Educator, Emeritus, Family, Regular, and Life. Members may belong to more than one category. 

Section 3. Powers and Purpose of Members. Members have the power to vote for Society Council members and Officers. Members do not have the power to make or approve the Society budget or take actions reserved for the Council or Officers. Members attend the Annual Meeting and the Annual Business Meeting. Some membership categories may have special or exclusive membership rights. The purpose of the Membership is to participate in Society-sponsored activities and opportunities, engage as an academic community, and participate in elections.

Section 4. Selection of Members. Membership shall be automatically approved following a determination that the applicant has paid any required dues, agrees to uphold the Society's Code of Ethics, and satisfies any other qualifications required for membership. 

Section 5.  Records of Members. The Secretary shall ensure that the Society maintains a current and formal record of the names, contact information, and status of Members.

Section 6. Conduct of Members. The Council may define general or specific standards of professional and personal conduct that all Members or other participants are expected to respect, honor, and model, when involved in Society meetings, business, initiatives, or any other activity. These standards shall include a Society Code of Ethics and a Meetings Code of Conduct, together with such enforcement policies as deemed appropriate.

Section 7. Suspension or Removal of Members. A Member may be suspended or expelled from the Society for serious misconduct that adversely affects the interests or reputation of the Society, violations of the Society Code of Ethics, or for any other reason. Suspended Members may be reinstated through an application to the Ethics Review Committee that satisfactorily explains reasons for reinstatement.

Section 8. Resignation of Members. Any member may resign at any time by sending or delivering a written resignation to the Secretary. Prorated dues may not be refunded.

Section 9. Dues. Annual dues shall be determined by the Council and will include a subscription to the journal Evolution. Payment shall be due January 1. Members who have not paid their dues by January 1 shall be dropped from the rolls. The dues for Life membership shall be twenty (20) times the Regular membership rate.

ARTICLE III. COUNCIL

Section 1. Council Members and Purpose. The Council (a “board of directors” in operation, responsibility, and authority) shall be the managing and governing body of the Society. The Council shall determine matters of publication policy, formulate and modify program rules, fill temporary vacancies among officers, appoint Editors and Associate Editors of Evolution, set and approve the annual budget, review expenditures, and conduct other business as required.

Section 2. Qualifications of Council Members and Composition of the Council. Nominees for positions on the Council must have demonstrated a commitment to the mission and purposes of the Society and a commitment to uphold the Society's Code of Ethics. There shall be two classifications of Council Member (also known as “Councilor”): Member-Elected Councilor and Council-Appointed Councilor. No individual shall simultaneously hold two Member-Elected positions on Council. In the event that a sitting elected Council Member is elected to a second position, their prior position will be considered vacant. Member-Elected Councilors shall be eligible for re-election one year after vacating their previous position. 

Section 3. Number of Voting Council Members. The voting members of Council shall consist of the Officers (Article IV), up to nine (9) at-large Member-Elected Councilors, and two (2) Council-Appointed Councilors represented by the Chair and Past-Chair of the SSE Graduate Student Advisory Committee (GSAC). 

Section 4. Terms. At-large Member-Elected Councilors serve three-year terms. Councilors assume office on January 1. Unless they resign or are removed from office, the Council may authorize Councilors to remain in office until their successors are properly elected, designated, or appointed, for up to a maximum period of one term. Member-Elected Councilor terms are staggered such that a maximum of three Councilors are on the Members’ annual ballot.

Section 5. Selection of Voting Council Members. Society Members elect the at-large Councilors and Officers (Art. IV). Elections are held annually and include Officer or Member-Elected Councilor seats due to become vacant at the end of the calendar year. Election slates are developed by the Nominating Committee (Art. VI) and approved by the Council. All members in good standing at the time of the issuing of ballots shall be eligible to vote. In the event that an election for Councilor results in a tie for winner, the three Presidents presiding before the election (President, President-Elect, Past-President) shall decide upon the outcome between the two top vote-getters by majority vote. The Council annually appoints the GSAC Chair-Elect as a Non-voting Advisor and as the successor to the current GSAC Chair. 

Section 6. Removal of Council Members. Any Member-Elected Councilor may be removed with or without cause by a Society Members’ vote or by the Council on the recommendation of the Ethics Review Committee. Proper notice of a Society Members’ vote must be given in advance, as required for an annual membership meeting, or for a regular meeting of the voting members, or as required for a special meeting of the voting members, whichever is appropriate, stating that the removal of a Councilor is to be considered. The Council may remove any Councilor appointed by the Council. When a Councilor is removed, any Society office held by that Councilor is immediately vacated.

Section 7. Resignation of Voting Council Members. A Voting Council Member may resign at any time. The resignation of a Councilor must be in writing and be delivered to the Council, a President, or the Secretary. Once delivered, a notice of resignation is irrevocable. When a Councilor resigns, any Society office held by that Councilor is immediately vacated.

Section 8. Filling Vacancies on Voting Council. In the event of a vacancy on Council that will have a duration of more than one year, the Nominating Committee may be charged with nominating one or two candidates to fill the vacant position and serve as interim for the remainder of the term. This interim appointment will then be made by majority vote of Council and will begin immediately following the appointment. For vacancies that will have a duration of less than one year, the position on Council may remain vacant if so agreed by majority vote of the Council.

Section 9. Quorum for Conducting Council Business. At all meetings of the Council, the presence or participation by phone or other conference communication forum, of a quorum, which is at least two thirds of the number of voting Council members (which does not include Non-Voting Advisors) in office immediately before the meeting begins, is necessary to allow the transaction of corporate business or the making of corporate decisions. Non-Voting Advisors do not count toward the number needed for a quorum nor are they counted in the quorum. 

Section 10. Decision-Making and Voting by Council. The Council must diligently and conscientiously attempt to make decisions by consensus. They must employ all standard consensus practices and techniques including the expression and careful consideration of minority views. Consensus decisions must be recorded in the written minutes. When a consensus apparently cannot be achieved, any Councilor may request and require that a vote be taken. 

Decisions that are not obtained by consensus require a clearly stated motion by a Voting Councilor (a Member-Elected Councilor or a Council-Appointed Councilor), a second by a Voting Councilor, and a vote by the Voting Councilors that must be recorded in the written minutes. Each member of the Voting Council will have one vote. At the request of any Voting Councilor, the names will be recorded in the minutes of each Councilor who voted for, voted against, or abstained on a particular motion. Non-Voting Advisors may participate in discussion, but do not make motions, second, or vote on any Council motions. 

The three Presidents break ties when they arise in any Council vote, reaching a decision through discussion amongst themselves and a vote, if necessary. Ties in these Presidential votes withdraws the motion.

Section 11. Proxy Voting. Proxy voting is not allowed at any meeting of the Council or as part of reaching any decision of the Council.

Section 12. Telephonic and Video Meetings. Realtime meetings may be held by telephone, video teleconference, or other distance method, so long as all participating Councilors may simultaneously hear and speak with each other. A Councilor participating in such a meeting is deemed present for purposes of a quorum.  

Section 13. Decisions Without Meetings. The Voting Council may make any decision or take any action within its power without a meeting through a written resolution that sets forth the action so taken. The resolution is effective when a majority of the voting Councilors have voted in the affirmative. The resolution may be sent or transmitted by any medium in which a written record of the resolution, its recipients and their votes is retained. 

Section 14. Voting Council Meetings. The Voting Council must meet at least two times per year, and shall strive to do this by meeting at least once every six months or so. One of these meetings should take place during the annual membership meeting. Only Voting Council Members, Non-voting Advisors, and others invited by the President may attend Council meetings. The President chairs Council meetings. Council meeting minutes are not published and are only open to current and future Councilors. A President-approved summary of Council decisions may be published following the meeting.

Section 15. Notice of Council Meetings. Notice must be given to every Councilor of every meeting of the Council, stating the date, time, and location (physical or electronic) of the meeting, and the purpose of the meeting if so required by law or these Bylaws. The notice must be given not less than seven days in advance of the meeting and can be delivered by telephone, in person, mail, email, text, fax or any other acknowledged contact provided by the Councilor.

After the initial notice is given of the schedule for a single or series of regular Council meetings, which will occur at a fixed time and place (physical or electronic), no further separate notice is required for each of those meetings. The Council may, by resolution, establish or change the dates of regularly scheduled Council meetings, with proper notice given to all Councilors.

Section 16. Waiver of Notice. Any Councilor may waive the right to receive full advance notice of any meeting. Waivers of notice must be in writing, signed by the person entitled to notice, and must be given to the Secretary to be placed in the corporate records. Waivers may be signed before or after the meeting has taken place. The attendance of a Councilor at any meeting without specific objection to the notice constitutes a waiver of the full notice of that meeting.

Section 17.  Authority of Council Members. No Councilor, Officer, staff member, or representative may communicate or act on behalf of the Society without specific or general authorization by the Council.

Section 18. Conduct of Council Members. Councilors must discharge their duty of loyalty and their duty of diligence in good faith with the care an ordinarily prudent person in a similar position would exercise under similar circumstances and in a manner the Councilor reasonably believes to be in the best interest of the Society. Councilors are also subject to the same personal and professional conduct expectations and directives as Members. Content of any Council discussion should not be shared outside the Council without permission. 

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS AND OTHER OFFICES

Section 1. Officers. Officers are members of the Council and hold a Member-Elected Councilor or Council-Appointed Councilor seat. The Officers are Members of the Society and must carry out policies and decisions as directed by the Council. The Officers include President, President-Elect, Retiring Past-President, Executive Vice-President, North American Vice-President, Non-North American Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Editor-in-Chief of Evolution. The same person may not hold more than one office simultaneously. 

Section 2. Other Offices. Other appointed offices of the Society may carry out duties as directed by the Council. Other offices may include Committee Chairs, Non-Voting Advisors, staff, or contractors. Other office assignments are made by the Council and serve at the pleasure of the Council. The Council may determine definition and specification for any office, including term, Society privileges, and Council meeting participation.

Section 3. Terms. Council Officer terms are three (3) years except for President-Elect, President, Past-President, all of which have one (1) year terms and the North American and Non-North American Vice-Presidents, both of which have staggered two (2) year terms. Official terms shall commence on 1 January of the year following the election, except that the term of the Editor-in-Chief for Evolution shall commence at the next Annual Meeting of the Council following their selection. The President-Elect shall be elected annually, and shall automatically become the President for the next year; similarly, the President automatically becomes the Past-President in the year following their term. The North American and Non-North American Vice-Presidents shall be elected biennially and are eligible for the same office one year after the expiration of their previous term. The Executive Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Editor-in-Chief shall be elected for terms of three (3) years and may be re-elected. Terms for Executive Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer are staggered such that no two are elected in the same year. 

Section 4. Selection. As they are a class of Councilors, Officers are elected in the annual Councilor election per Article III Section 5. 

The Council may create and fill any other office (see Article IV Section 2). But nomination of the candidate for the position of Editor-in-Chief of Evolution is the responsibility of a special-purpose ad hoc committee consisting of the President plus one member of the Evolution Editorial Board and one member of the Council (both appointed by the President). The Editor-in-Chief of Evolution shall be elected by the Council by secret ballot prior to January 1 of the year of editorial transition.

Section 5. Officer Vacancies and Rules of Succession. If any office (except President) of the Society becomes vacant by death, resignation, retirement, removal, disqualification, or any other cause, see Article III Section 8. 

If the office of President becomes vacant, the position shall be filled by the President-Elect, who shall serve as President for the remainder of the current term and the following term as Past-President. If no President-Elect is available to fill a vacant President’s office, Council must appoint one within thirty (30) days of the Presidential vacancy.

If the office of Editor-in-Chief of Evolution is vacant, the three Presidents (past, acting, and president-elect) shall appoint an acting Editor-in-Chief until a successor is chosen according to Article IV Section 4. 

Section 6. Officer and Other Office Duties.

President – The president is the principal officer of the organization and will, in general, supervise or oversee the supervision of all of the affairs of the organization.  The president generally will preside at all meetings of the Council, unless the Council selects another person to preside. The president will also perform other duties as may be assigned by the Council.  The president may serve as an ex-officio member of any committee. The President shall preside at scientific sessions, at the business and Council meetings, and shall appoint such committees as directed by the Council or prescribed by the Constitution and Bylaws. It shall be the privilege of the President to plan and arrange one symposium to be held at the annual meeting of the Society. The President also assists the Executive Vice-President and the Council in planning other symposia, including those to be co-sponsored by the Society in collaboration with other societies. The President cooperates with the President-Elect and Past-President in leading the Council and Society planning. The President appoints one new member of the three-member Nominating Committee each year. The President appoints members of the Education and Outreach Committee, Hamilton Award Committee, Diversity Committee, Public Policy Committee, and Finance Committee.

President-Elect – Cooperates with the other two “presidents” in leading the Council and Society planning. In the absence of the President or in the event of the President's inability to act, the President-Elect will perform the duties of the President. The President-Elect, when acting as President, will have all the powers of and is subject to all the restrictions on the President. Appoints members to the Ethics Review Committee, with approval of the Council.

Past-President - Cooperates with other two “presidents” in leading the Council and Society planning. Chairs the Presidents’ Award committee, which, when formulated, consists of the President, Past-President and President-Elect. Serves as chair of the Ethics Review Committee. 

Executive Vice-President - The Executive Vice-President, in consultation with the President, shall be responsible for the administration, management and operation of the Society in accordance with the existing constitution, bylaws and policies. Is responsible for oversight of all business operations, financial management, publishing contracts, and general Society and conference activities. Nominates the next Executive Vice-President. Works with the Joint Meeting Committee in Annual Meeting Planning. Acts as signatory on meeting contracts. Assures that all contracts are approved by the Society’s legal advisor prior to signing. Oversees the Society’s financial books. Shall seek Council approval for expenditures above a Council-defined amount. Shall make a report to the Council at each Annual Meeting of the financials of the preceding fiscal year, an informal interim report for the current fiscal year, and a report of other programs and activities. 

The Executive Vice-President, in conjunction with the Chief Meeting Organizer, shall conduct negotiations for sites for the annual meeting, appoint local committees, and distribute announcements of the meeting to members. The Executive Vice-President is authorized to contract clerical and accounting assistance when necessary.

The Executive Vice-President may receive a stipend during their term in office.

North American Vice-President - May be assigned a variety of tasks by the Council, often associated with award committee oversight. Representative to the Joint Meeting Committee.

Non-North American Vice-President - May be assigned a variety of tasks by the Council, often associated with award committee oversight. Chair of the International Committee.

Secretary - The Secretary will perform or oversee the performance of the following duties: a) record and keep the minutes of the meetings of the members and of the Council and of any committees; b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law; c) be custodian of the corporate records; d) keep a register of the mailing address of each Member as provided by such Member; e) ensure that all required state and federal reports are prepared and filed in a timely fashion; and f) perform or oversee all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the President or by the Council. The secretary may delegate some or all of these tasks but remains responsible for their proper completion.

The Secretary is responsible for communications within the Society, and manages all Society elections and ballots. At least 30-days before any election the Secretary shall send to members the official election slate and any other ballot initiatives. The Secretary shall tabulate the votes, report to the Council, and transmit names of elected officers to the editor of the Journal for publication. The Secretary shall communicate expectations and documents to all entering Council members and committee chairs.The Secretary shall inform committee members that they have been asked to serve on a Standing Committee or a Nominating Committee. Following the nomination of an Editor-in-Chief by the editor’s special nominating committee, the Secretary shall call for a secret ballot of the Council to elect the Editor-in-Chief. The Secretary is authorized to contract for clerical assistance when necessary with approval of the Executive Vice-President. 

The Secretary is responsible for ensuring required reports are supplied to Council members before meetings. 

The Secretary may receive a stipend during their term in office.

Treasurer - The Treasurer will perform or oversee the performance of the following duties: a) be responsible for the proper management and control of all funds of the Society; b) prepare full and accurate financial records on a timely basis of all the income, expenses and assets of the Society; c) present reports at every Council meeting on the financial affairs of the Society; d) provide financial information necessary to prepare and file the required reports to state and federal government agencies, showing the income, disbursements, and assets of the Society; and coordinate with the secretary to prepare a register of current voting Members. The Treasurer may delegate some or all of these tasks but remains responsible for their proper completion.

In consultation with the Executive Vice-President, the Treasurer shall manage the society budget and coordinate payments of invoices, grants, prizes, fees and reimbursements. The Treasurer shall provide a report to the Council one week prior to the annual meeting summarizing the current status of the Society's financial activities. The Treasurer is authorized to contract clerical and accounting assistance when necessary with the permission of the Executive Vice-President. The Treasurer shall submit in advance and present a report on the status of society business at the Annual Meeting.

The Treasurer is Chair of the Finance Committee.

The Treasurer may receive a stipend during their term in office.

Editor-in-Chief - The Editor shall be responsible for the editing and publishing of the Journal of Evolution and for the care of the reserve stock of the publications of the Society. 

The Editor-in-Chief may receive a stipend during their term in office.

Committee Chairs – Committee Chair fill committee seats unless that right is assigned elsewhere. Chairs must act in good faith to execute the committee charge. They report quarterly to the Council

Non-Voting Advisors – Participate in Council meetings. Non-Voting Advisors may serve on committees and be assigned other duties by the Council. Non-Voting Advisors are not counted in Council quorum and do not participate in Council votes.

ARTICLE V. MEMBER MEETINGS AND VOTING

Section 1.  Annual Membership Meeting. There must be an annual meeting of the Members (a.k.a. the business meeting). It will be held at a time and location determined by resolution of the Council. Annual Meetings may be virtual.

Written notice of the Annual Meeting must be sent by mail, e-mail, or other familiar method, to all Members, at the physical and electronic address provided by the Member or as it appears in the Society records, at least thirty (30) days in advance of the meeting. 

At the annual meeting, Members will hear and consider reports from the Council, officers and staff concerning the activities, management and budget of the Society. Members may then vote on any matters for which proper notice was given. The failure to hold an Annual Meeting does not affect the validity of any Society action.

Section 2. Other Membership Meetings. Special meetings may be called by the President with the approval of the Council. 

Section 3. Content of Notice. A single notice sent to the address provided by the Member, at least thirty (30) days in advance of the beginning of a meeting will be sufficient and no further notice is required so long as the meeting date and time which were announced do not change.The notice must contain the date, time, location and, when required, the purpose of the meeting. Notices of special meetings always require a statement of the purpose(s) for which the meeting is called.

Section 4. Waiver of Notice. Any member may waive the right to receive full advance notice of any meeting. Waivers of notice will be in writing, signed by the person entitled to notice, and will be given to the Secretary to be placed in the Society records. Waivers may be signed before or after the meeting has taken place. The attendance of a Member at any meeting without specific objection to improper notice will constitute a waiver of the full notice of that meeting.

Section 5. Record Date. The record date for determining the members entitled to receive notice of a meeting will be the day before the day on which the notice is sent. The record date to determine the members entitled to vote at a member’s meeting will be the date of the meeting.

Section 6. Quorum for Membership Meetings.  A quorum will consist of the presence, participation by conference call, or voting by mail, or email, where that is allowed, of at least 10% percent of the Members. 

Section 7.  Decision-Making by Members. The affirmative vote of at least a majority of the Members present at or participating by conference call, mail or e-mail in a properly called meeting, for which a quorum has been achieved, is necessary and sufficient to make decisions or pass resolutions by the Members, unless a greater proportion is required by law, the Constitution or Bylaws. All decisions require a clearly stated motion, a second, and a vote. All motions, which are successfully adopted, must be recorded in the written minutes.

Section 8. Proxy Voting.  Proxy voting will not be allowed at any meeting of the Members or as part of reaching any decision by the Members. 

Section 9. Voting by Mail, Fax or Email. Unless prohibited or limited by the Constitution or Bylaws, any action which may be taken at any annual, regular or special meeting of the Members may be taken without a meeting if the Society delivers a written (electronic or physical) ballot to every member entitled to vote on the matter, by mail or e-mail, at the address provided by the Member. The written ballot will:  a) set forth each nominee or proposed action; and b) provide an opportunity to vote for each vacant position, and for or against each proposed action. Approval by written ballot will be valid only when the number of votes cast by ballot equals or exceeds any quorum required to be present at a meeting authorizing the action.  The vote is limited to the subject specified on the ballot. 

Section 10. Unless otherwise stated, all decisions shall be by majority vote of those voting, assuming that a quorum is present.

Article VI. COMMITTEES

Section 1. Establishment of Committees. The Council may establish any committee, including Council Committees, Standing Committees, Temporary Committees, or Ad Hoc Committees, by a resolution. Such resolutions must name the committee and the purpose of the committee, must state whether it is a Council committee, an organizational standing committee, or an ad hoc committee, and must state what powers, authority and duties have been delegated to the committee, how the chair of the committee and how the members of the committee will be appointed or elected, and may state what procedures, if any, the committee will use in carrying out its work. Other committees shall be appointed by the President at the authorization of the Council, as the occasion arises.

Section 2. Committee Definitions. Council Committees must consist of two or more Councilors, and must not have any members who are not members of the Council. Standing Committees must consist of at least one Council member and can be populated by Society members and nonmembers. Temporary Committees are populated as Standing Committees and have a maximum existence duration. Ad Hoc Committees are populated by Society members and may include nonmembers. No committee can consist of fewer than two members.

Section 3. Committee Chairs and Terms. Committee chairs are appointed by the Executive Committee. Committee chairs typically serve three (3) year terms.

Section 4. Committee Procedures. All committees submit oral or written reports to the Council twice annually. All committees must follow Society procedures for meetings and activities as defined in these Bylaws. Committees will record minutes of all meetings and file them with the Secretary.

Section 5. Council Committees. The Council may establish Council Committees to which are delegated part of the power of the whole Council to authorize expenditures and draft budgets, policies and programs to be approved by the full Council. Such committees must be established by the affirmative vote of a majority of all Counselors then in Council. Unless otherwise specified, Council Committee meetings will operate with the same quorum and voting requirements as the full board, and will operate according to the procedures of the board as stated in these Bylaws. If any formal decisions or resolutions are voted on at a committee meeting, then the votes and the resolutions so adopted must be recorded in the form of corporate minutes and filed with the Secretary. 

Section 6. Executive Council / Committee. Together, the three “presidents,” as well as the Secretary and Executive VP, form the Executive Council. The Executive Council operates as a Council Committee and has the power to make decisions between Council meetings, including financial and budgetary decisions. The Executive Council must comply with the provisions of the Bylaws concerning the full Council as far as those are reasonably applicable to the Executive Council. All Executive Council decisions must be recorded in official minutes, which will be submitted to the full Council. The Executive Council must make reasonable efforts to inform all Council members of the issues to be dealt with at an Executive Council meeting.

Section 7. Finance Committee. The Finance Committee (a Standing Committee) shall consist of the Treasurer, Executive Vice-President, the past Treasurer, and two additional members of the Society elected for two (2) year terms. The additional members shall be nominated by the President and elected by the Council at the annual meeting of the Society. Proposed major changes in expenditures and/or income should be reviewed by the Finance Committee, following which the committee will make specific recommendations to the Council for its approval.

Section 8. Nominating Committee. The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee (an ad hoc Committee) not less than six months before the election. The Committee shall consist of three members, one appointed each year for a three year term. 

The Nominating Committee shall be chaired by the senior member. It shall be the duty of the Committee, after receiving from the membership proposals for nominations for each office (including vacancies on the Council), to nominate two candidates for each office, except for the offices of Executive Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary, for each of which a single nomination shall be made. In selecting candidates, due consideration shall be given to representation of the various fields of interest to the Society. The committee shall transmit its nominations to the Secretary at least three months before the election for Council consideration and approval.

Section 9. Ethics Review Committee and Adjudication Committee. The Ethics Review Committee and Adjudication Committee enforce the Society’s Code of Ethics according to approved procedures. The Ethics Review Committee shall consist of the Past-President (chair) and four Members in good standing appointed by the President-Elect with approval of the Council. The four members will serve for three years each until their successors assume. Successor members will be appointed by the Ethics Review Committee chair or the President-Elect with approval of the Council. As needed, an Adjudication Committee will comprise the Chair and two members of the Ethics Review Committee selected by the Chair after considering any disclosed conflicts of interest.

Section 10. Limitations on Powers. The Council must always have the power to amend, alter, or repeal the decisions of its committees, subject to limitations on the unilateral amending of contracts, interference with third-party rights, and other legal limitations. The Council may dissolve any committee, including temporarily dissolving the Executive Committee. The Council determines at the outset of any committee, and at any intervening time, any committee's authority to make budgets, spend or allocate Society funds, make decisions for the Society, or develop policy.  

ARTICLE VII. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 1. Non Discrimination.  In the delivery of its services, the Society strives to serve all persons fairly independent of their ethnicity, nationality, place of origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, economic status, age, mental or physical ability, or any other recognized category of personal identity.

Section 2. Annual Financial Review. The Council must require the performance of an internal annual financial review which must involve the services of a trusted person with bookkeeping or accounting skills and knowledge, and which does not rely upon the services of the person who does the financial bookkeeping for the organization, or the person(s) who sign the checks for the organization. This financial review need not be formal, but must at least review and reconcile the checkbook entries, bank statements, deposit slips, receipts and expense documentation. The Council may authorize a full formal audit as necessary.

Section 3. Compensation of Officers, Councilors and other Appointees. Unless specifically defined in these bylaws, no Officer or member of the Council will receive any compensation for fulfilling the responsibilities of a member of the Council or of an Officer as defined in these bylaws. However, the Society may pay compensation to Officers and members of the Council for other services performed as employees or independent contractors as long as the required rules for conflicts of interest are followed. Council members and their relatives who receive regular compensation from the Society must always constitute less than a majority of the Council. Officers and members of the Council may receive reimbursement for actual expenses incurred in the course of fulfilling their responsibilities.

Section 4.  Conflict of Interest. A conflict of interest is always present whenever the Society awards compensation or provides any tangible benefits to an Officer or member of the Council or to a member of a Councilor’s or Officer’s family or dependents. A conflict can also exist when the Society takes an action that results in an indirect benefit to an Officer or Councilor. Conflicts of interest must be disclosed to the Council by the person in conflict as soon as they are aware of them. The Council may then decide to allow the conflict or approve an alternative action that avoids the conflict, or mitigates it. Councilors or Officers for whom a conflict exists must recuse themselves from voting on the matter (a recuser is not counted in the quorum).  The Council must analyze the conflict in sufficient detail to ensure that the management of the conflict of interest is fair to the Society.

All Councilors and Officers must sign a disclosure of all conflicts of interest annually, and update it if that disclosure needs to be changed.

Section 5. Termination of the Corporation (Society). In the event of dissolution or termination of the Society, title to and possession of all the property of the Society shall pass forthwith to such organization, dedicated to similar purposes and qualified for exemption under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, or under such successor provision of the code as may be in effect at the time of the Society's dissolution or termination, as the Council of the Society shall deem best qualified to carry on the functions of the Society.

Section 6. Publication. The Society shall publish and own a Journal in the field of evolution and such other publications as authorized by the Council. The membership dues include a subscription for the Journal. 

The Editor-in-Chief shall form a Senior Editorial Team consisting of himself/herself as well as two Handling Editors. The Handling Editors are nominated by the Editor-in-Chief, are appointed by a majority vote of council, and serve at the pleasure of the Editor-in-Chief. The term of the Editors coincides with that of the Editor-in-Chief. Editors may serve multiple terms if nominated by the next Editor-in-Chief and reappointed by vote of Council; they may serve immediately following a term as Associate Editor. Only the Editor-in-Chief is a member of Council. If the Editor-in-Chief is unable to attend the annual Council meeting, another member of the Senior Editorial Team may serve as a voting member (proxy) in their stead.

The Senior Editors shall be assisted by editorial assistants and a Board of Associate Editors. Editorial assistants shall be nominated by the Editor-in-Chief, appointed by the Council, and serve at the pleasure of the Editor-in-Chief. Board members shall be nominated by the Editor-in-Chief and appointed by the Council for a term of three (3) years. Retiring Associate Editors are again eligible one year after the expiration of their previous term. Appointees to the Editorial Board should represent the diversity of the membership of the Society, in so far as this is compatible with the acquisition of excellent and committed personnel. 

A Senior Editor or Editor-in-Chief may be removed by a 3/4 vote of Council. Associate Editors can be removed by a more than 4/5 vote of the Senior Editors, Editor-in-Chief, President, and Executive Vice President.

Section 7. Communications. Throughout the Constitution and Bylaws, “mail” refers to postal or electronic correspondence, and “vote” refers to a paper, voice, or electronic vote.

Section 8.  Tax Year.  The tax year of the corporation is January 1 to December 31.

ARTICLE VIII.   AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Amendments. Bylaws may be amended by the Council by majority vote.

Section 2.  Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, and Bylaws.  The majority affirmative vote by the Council is necessary to make, alter, amend or repeal the Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, or the Bylaws.  Quorum requirements apply. Proper written notice must be given in advance to all voting Councilors, including a written copy and written explanation of the proposed amendments.

Society for the Study of Evolution
4344 Shaw Blvd
St. Louis, MO 63110

Phone: 314-577-9554 
Website: www.EvolutionSociety.org  

General Inquiries

Kati Moore, SSE Communications
communications@evolutionsociety.org

Heather Cacanindin, SSE Business Office & Executive Director, Botanical Society of America
SSE-Manager@EvolutionSociety.org

Journal Contacts

Evolution Meetings

Karen Faller, Professional Conference Organizer
evolution.meetings@gmail.com

SSE Council and Committees

President
president@evolutionsociety.org

Executive Vice President
execvp@evolutionsociety.org

Secretary
secretary@evolutionsociety.org

Treasurer
treasurer@evolutionsociety.org

Graduate Student Advisory Committee (GSAC)
gsac@evolutionsociety.org

Diversity Committee
diversity@evolutionsociety.org

Education & Outreach Committee
education@evolutionsociety.org

International Committee
international@evolutionsociety.org

Public Policy Committee
policy@evolutionsociety.org

About SSE Membership
Membership Benefits
Membership Types
Membership Fees
Global Membership Assistance Program (for researchers in lower GDP countries)
SSE Membership Award (new 2020)
Member Login (access publication discount codes here)

About

The Society for the Study of Evolution has several options for membership. Our main area of expertise is in supporting professional scientists and their students, but we also encourage K-12, community college educators, and affiliated professionals to join us in our mission. Memberships are for a calendar year, January 1 – December 31. You may join and/or renew your membership online with a credit card or by mail. Come be part of a worldwide community that promotes the study of organic evolution!

Click here to renew your membership or join the Society. 

Mail-in Membership Form
To join or renew by mail, please use this form: 2025 Mail-In Membership Join/Renew Form

Gift Memberships
You can now give a gift membership to a student for $10. This is a great way to introduce students to the Society for the first time. You can do this at the same time as your renewal or at a later date.
https://payments.evolutionsociety.org/.

If you have any problems, please contact us at sse-manager@evolutionsociety.org. 

Membership Types

Regular Member: Any person who is a professional in the field and does not fit into the categories below.  
Postdoc Member: Any member who is either holding or transitioning from/to a current postdoctoral position, or has completed a PhD no more than 8 years earlier and does not hold a permanent position. 
Student Member: Any full-time (degree-seeking) student who submits an application. 
Emeritus Member: Professional who is now retired.
K-12 Educator: K-12 teachers interested in evolution and our mission. 
Family Members: Members of the families of one of the member types above. Family members have the same privileges as other members. Can only be purchased in addition to another membership type.
Life Membership: Purchase a lifetime membership, including online access during your lifetime with no need to renew each year. Fee: $1,000 
Gift Membership: Current members may purchase one-year gift memberships for students for $10. Purchase gift memberships here.

***Researchers from lower-income countries may be eligible for free or reduced discounts through the SSE Global Membership Assistance Program. See below for more details.***

Membership Fees

SSE now offers multi-year memberships. Sign up for a 2-year membership to receive a 10% discount, or a 3-year membership to receive a 20% discount. 

Lifetime memberships can be purchased for $1,000.00.

Benefits of SSE Membership

SSE members enjoy numerous benefits, including:

●    Eligibility to apply for a variety of awards to fund travel to the annual meeting and recognize exemplary efforts in evolutionary research, education, and outreach

●    Discounted registration fee for the annual Evolution meeting with the American Society of Naturalists and the Society of Systematic Biologists, where you can make connections, foster relationships, find your next job and share information & research with scientists and educators around the world

●    Professional development opportunities, such as sponsoring a symposium at the annual meeting, serving on a committee, running for SSE Council, or participating in educational outreach and mentorship activities

●    Access to online resources, webinars, and workshops by American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS), the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and the National Center for Science Education (NCSE) through SSE’s professional affiliations

Additional discounts include:

●     Free traditional publication in Evolution 

●     Free online access to Evolution

●     50% discount on fees for Open Access publication in Evolution

●     30% discount on fees for publication in Evolution Letters, our Open Access journal with the European Society fo Evolutionary Biology

To learn how to claim these discounts and access Evolution online, log in to the SSE site here.

Your membership fees enable the SSE to invest in:

• Over $100,000 US per year in grants and prizes to evolutionary biologists at all career stages for research, education, outreach, and DEI work

• Yearly subscriptions to cover costs of Dryad data archiving for authors of Evolution and Evolution Letters

• Policy and advocacy work by financially supporting AIBS, AAAS, and NCSE

• Professional development events at the annual meeting

• Travel awards for students, postdocs, and international researchers to attend the annual meeting

Learn more about SSE's income and expenditures.

NOTE: SSE journals are now published with Oxford University Press. SSE members no longer receive discounts on publishing in any Wiley journals, including Ecology and Evolution, Evolutionary Applications, Current Protocols, and Environmental DNA.
 

Global Membership Assistance Program

The SSE Global Membership Assistance (GMA) Program offers free or discounted membership to students, researchers, and educators in 152 countries and territories around the world based on World Bank classifications. Check the list of countries below to see if you are eligible.

GMA Group 1: 50% Discount on SSE Membership

GMA Group 2: Free SSE Membership

If you reside in a country or territory listed above, please complete this form to request a discount code which can be used when joining or renewing your membership:

You will be asked for your name, email address, and the name of the country in which you reside. Codes will be sent via email within 1-2 business days. Please email Kati Moore at communications@evolutionsociety.org with any questions.

Your code will be valid for any one-year, two-year, or three-year membership type. (Learn more about our membership types here.)

To learn more about SSE’s efforts to make the Society more welcoming for international members, visit the SSE International Committee page. Please contact Committee Chair at international@evolutionsociety.org with any questions, comments, or suggestions.
 
 

Evolution 2025 Global Meeting Participation

SSE is pleased to offer free registration for the virtual portion of the Evolution 2025 meeting to SSE members who reside in one of the 152 countries and territories listed above. The virtual portion of the meeting will take place May 29-30, 2025.

To apply for free meeting registration:

1. Check the list above to confirm that you live in one of the 152 countries or territories eligible for the Global Membership Assistance (GMA) program.
2. If you are not yet a member of SSE, request a code for free or discounted SSE membership through the GMA program (information above). 
3. If you are already a member of SSE, confirm that your membership is current by logging in with your SSE username and password.
4. Once you have activated, renewed, or confirmed your SSE membership, complete the form to request a code for free meeting registration.
5. After you receive your discount code, register for the meeting using the appropriate member category.

A limited number of codes are available and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Please allow 2-3 business days to receive your code after completing the form. If all available codes have already been distributed, it will be indicated here.

Questions? Email Kati Moore at communications@evolutionsociety.org. Thanks for your interest in attending Evolution 2025!

SSE Membership Award

This award, created in 2020, offers free two-year SSE memberships to individuals of any career stage who identify as racial or ethnic minorities, either in their country of origin or their country of residence. This initiative is part of SSE Council’s 2020 commitment to actions to increase inclusion of and support for members of historically excluded groups, particularly individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC), in the field of evolutionary biology and through all of the society’s activities and programs. When established, this program aimed to provide 100 free memberships. This target was reached in 2025 and the program was renewed to distribute 100 more memberships.  Learn more and apply here. 

Evolution Edited by: Jason Wolf, PhD  Impact Factor: 3.3  ISI Journal Citation Reports © Ranking: 2023: 20/52 (Evolutionary Biology); 59 out of 169 (Q2) (Ecology); 73/171 (Q2) (Genetics & Heredity) Online ISSN: 1558-5646		Evolution Letters Edited by: Judith Mank, PhD Impact Factor: 5.3 Online ISSN: 2056-3744 ISI Journal Citation Reports © Ranking: 2023: 7/52 (Q1) (Evolutionary Biology)
Evolution Highlights		Evolution Letters Short Talks

Publishing Discounts

SSE members can publish for free in Evolution. SSE members can also receive a 50% discount on Open Access publication in Evolution and a 30% on publication in the Open Access journal Evolution Letters. To access these publication discounts, input the email address associated with your SSE membership on the Oxford University Press website when prompted for a membership number. Contact communications@evolutionsociety.org with any questions. 

Journal Access

SSE members can access all Evolution and Evolution Letters content for free. Simply log in here with your SSE username and password to access the journals.

The Evolution annual meetings are held jointly by the Society for the Study of Evolution, the American Society of Naturalists and the Society of Systematic Biologists.

2017 Meeting - Portland, OR

Past Meetings

2016 - Austin, TX   1,786 Attendees
2015 - Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil
2014 - Raleigh, NC  1,958 Attendees 
2013 - Snowbird, UT   1,429 Attendees 
2012 - Evolution Ottawa   2,450 Attendees
2011 - Norman, OK   1,150 Attendees
2010 - Portland, OR   1,967 Attendees
2009 - Moscow, ID   1,102 Attendees
2008 - Minneapolis, MN  1,450 Attendees
2007 - Christchurch, NZ
2006 - Stony Brook, NY
2005 - Fairbanks, AK
2004 - Fort Collins, CO  1,296 Attendees
2003 - Chico, CA

2025 Deadlines

January 6: Sponsored Symposia 
January 20: Undergraduate Diversity at Evolution Program
January 31: SSE Presidents’ Award for Outstanding Dissertation Paper in Evolution
January 31: International Travel Stipends
February 3: Thomas Henry Huxley Award
February 19: Graduate Research Excellence Grants - R.C. Lewontin Early Awards
March 1: Small Grants Program for Local and Regional Outreach Promoting the Understanding of Evolutionary Biology 
March 15: Graduate Student and Postdoc Registration Waiver
March 15: Caregiver Awards
April 15: Hamilton Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Presentation
September TBD: International Event Grants
September TBD: Lifetime Achievement Award
October TBD: Graduate Research Excellence Grants - Rosemary Grant Advanced Awards
October TBD: Inclusiveness, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Award
December TBD: Theodosius Dobzhansky Prize

Accepted on a rolling basis:
SSE Membership Awards

Not being held in 2025:
Stephen Jay Gould Prize 
Early-Career Vocational Opportunities Workshop Grants

Award Descriptions

NOTE: Indirect costs may not be charged to any of our awards or grants.

PRIZES

Theodosius Dobzhansky Prize 

The Theodosius Dobzhansky Prize is awarded annually by the Society for the Study of Evolution to recognize the accomplishments and future promise of an outstanding early-career evolutionary biologist. The prize was established in memory of Professor Dobzhansky by his friends and colleagues, and reflects his lifelong commitment to fostering the research careers of young scientists.

SSE Presidents’ Award for Outstanding Dissertation Paper in Evolution

The SSE Presidents' Award for Outstanding Dissertation Paper in Evolution is awarded annually by the Society for the Study of Evolution for an outstanding PhD dissertation paper published in the journal Evolution during a given calendar year.

Stephen Jay Gould Prize 

The Stephen Jay Gould Prize is awarded annually by the Society for the Study of Evolution to recognize individuals whose sustained and exemplary efforts have advanced public understanding of evolutionary science and its importance in biology, education, and everyday life in the spirit of Stephen Jay Gould. This prize will not be offered in 2024.

W. D. Hamilton Award 

The Hamilton Award will be given to a student or recent graduate who has presented an outstanding talk at the annual meeting, as judged by a committee of SSE members. Applicants will present their papers during regular sessions of the meeting, appropriate for their topic. The most competitive talks will be those that can convey a complete story.

Thomas Henry Huxley Award

This award named in honor of Darwin's very public supporter T. H. Huxley, was established in 2013 to recognise outreach and education achievement for early and mid career scientists. Winners of this award are provided with support to present on behalf of the Society for the Study of Evolution at the annual meeting of the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT). Annual calls for nomination will be advertised on the SSE web site and through appropriate Evolutionary Biology web sources such as EVOLDIR in late January/early February.

Inclusiveness, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Award

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 1st 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 will receive a plaque at the annual meeting of ASN/SSB/SSE and a $1000 honorarium. 

Lifetime Achievement Award

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. Nominations should be submitted by April 1. 

SSE Membership Award

This award offers free two-year SSE memberships to 100 individuals of any career stage who identify as racial or ethnic minorities, either in their country of origin or their country of residence. This initiative is part of SSE Council’s 2020 commitment to actions to increase inclusion of and support for members of historically excluded groups, particularly individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC), in the field of evolutionary biology and through all of the society’s activities and programs. Learn more and apply here. 
 
 

GRANTS

Graduate Research Excellence Grants (GREGs)

R.C. Lewontin Early Awards: The GREG – R.C. Lewontin Early Awards are to assist students in the early stages of their PhD programs by enabling them to collect preliminary data (to pursue additional sources of support) or to enhance the scope of their research beyond current funding limits (e.g. by visiting additional field sites, or working at other labs). Awards up to $2500. Students must confirm that the proposed work is outside of funding already held by the student or advisor. 

Rosemary Grant Advanced Awards: The GREG - Rosemary Grant Advanced Awards are to assist students in the later stages of their PhD programs. Funds can be used to enhance the scope of dissertation research, such as to conduct additional experiments or field work. Awards up to $3500. Only PhD students who have completed at least 24 months of PhD work and are at least 12 months from degree completion at the proposal due date are eligible. Eligibility can be confirmed by the advisor or graduate director stating that the student fulfills these requirements. Students must confirm that the proposed work is outside other funding held by either the student or their advisor. 

Early-Career Vocational Opportunities (EVO) Workshop Grants

The SSE Council and GSAC invite proposals for grants up to $3,000 to help support Society-sponsored Early-career Vocational Opportunities (EVO) Workshops. This is a new program to provide valuable learning opportunities for Society graduate students and postdocs. The topic of the workshop can be anything, and material can be presented in any format, as long as it is interactive and its content serves to provide foundational skills that are appropriate for early-career SSE members in the areas of conceptual understanding, data collection, data analysis, or professional development. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. (Paused for 2023.)

Small Grants Program for Local and Regional Outreach Promoting the Understanding of Evolutionary Biology

The SSE provides opportunities for SSE members to apply for awards up to $1,000. The Committee encourages partnerships between other bodies engaged in outreach, such as museums, local schools, etc.

International Event Grants 

The goal of these grants is to foster communication and collaboration between scientists from different countries by sponsoring international symposia, workshops, courses, and other events within the field of evolutionary biology. Our priority is to support events that benefit emerging communities in the field of evolutionary biology. These grants replace the “Co-sponsorship of symposia organized by non-US based evolution societies” grants and Evolution International Events Awards (EIE Awards).

Sponsored Symposia 

The Society for the Study of Evolution supports symposia (typically two) at its annual meetings in order to highlight new topics, provide new perspectives, or generate new syntheses. The exact configuration of symposia may vary from year to year, but proposals should tentatively assume six half-hour slots. The Society provides support for organizers and participants in sponsored symposia to attend and present at the annual meeting (up to $9000 per symposium).  

TRAVEL AWARDS

Travel award recipients are not eligible to volunteer at the conference.

SSE Graduate Student and Postdoc Registration Waiver

This program is for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows interested in attending and presenting at the in-person annual Evolution meeting, especially those who need additional financial support in order to attend. This program replaces the SSE Graduate Student and Postdoc Travel Supplement. 

Undergraduate Diversity at Evolution Program 

The Undergraduate Diversity at Evolution (UDE) program sends undergraduate students to the annual Evolution meeting, the joint meeting of the Society for the Study of Evolution (SSE), the Society of Systematic Biologists (SSB), and the American Society of Naturalists (ASN). At the meeting, students will (i) present a poster, (ii) receive mentoring from graduate students, postdocs, and faculty, and (iii) participate in a career-oriented 'Undergraduate Futures in Evolutionary Biology' panel and discussion. Each selected awardee receives conference registration, round-trip airfare, dorm accommodations (double occupancy), a $200 meal stipend, and a ticket to the Super Social. Learn more on the UDE Program page. 

International Travel Stipends 

These stipends are for students and young scientists to attend the annual Evolution meeting. Awards may also be used to attend the annual meeting of the European Society for Evolutionary Biology (ESEB). Scientists working in a country with high GDP are not eligible. 

Note:
***This award is now held once every three years. The next competition will be announced in 2026.***
 
 
 

2023 Recipient: James T. Costa

The SSE Gould Prize Committee is pleased to announce Dr. James T. Costa as the 2023 recipient of the Stephen Jay Gould Prize. Dr. Costa was selected for his work to advance the public understanding of evolution and the history of evolutionary thinking, and for his work to promote biodiversity education and conservation through outreach and community engagement. 

Dr. Costa is the author of several books and other publications on the history of evolutionary biology focusing on the contributions of Alfred Russel Wallace and Charles Darwin, including "The Annotated Origin," the popular science book "Darwin's Backyard: How Small Experiments Led to a Big Theory," and his most recent book "Radical by Nature: The Revolutionary Life of Alfred Russel Wallace." 

For more than 17 years, Dr. Costa has served as the executive director of Western Carolina University's Highlands Biological Station, which is located in a southern Appalachian biodiversity hotspot and has provided experiential learning opportunities, research support, and outreach programming for students and professionals at all levels since 1927.

Dr. Costa is professor of biology at Western Carolina University, where he teaches courses on biogeography, Darwin’s Origin of Species, and a comparative temperate-tropical ecology field course taught at Highlands Biological Station and Wildsumaco Biological Station in Ecuador. He is also adjunct professor in the Department of Biology and Institute for the Environment at UNC-Chapel Hill, and research associate in entomology at Harvard's Museum of Comparative Zoology.   

He is a recipient of the Alfred Russel Wallace medal, serves as a Trustee of the Charles Darwin Trust, and has held research fellowships at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study of Harvard University, Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, LuEsther T. Mertz Library of the New York Botanical Garden, and the DFG-Centre for Advanced Study at the University of Hamburg. 

Dr. Costa will present the Gould Prize plenary at the Evolution 2023 meeting on June 21 in Albuquerque, NM. 

About

The Stephen Jay Gould Prize is awarded annually to recognize individuals whose sustained and exemplary efforts have advanced public understanding of evolutionary science and its importance in biology, education, and everyday life in the spirit of Stephen Jay Gould.

The award will include a cash prize of $5,000 and the expectation that the recipient will present the Public Outreach Seminar at the Evolution Meeting (expenses for travel/lodging and registration are covered by SSE). Awardees will be encouraged to submit an accompanying article to Evolution (primary research, review, insight or commentary, fast-tracked through review and made freely available) within 2 months of the conference. Published articles would highlight the prize obtained. The awardee should be a leader in evolutionary thought and in public outreach who can deliver an inspiring lecture for both professionals and the broader public at the annual Evolution meeting. 

How to apply

Nominations should include the CV of the nominee along with a 1-2 page letter describing why this individual is worthy of the award. Nominations will be accepted via our online awards platform. All nominations will be treated confidentially and will be evaluated by members of the Committee and the Council for the Society. An awardee will be announced in early February. Please contact communications [at] evolutionsociety.org with any questions.

Or click here to access the application.

Note: Be sure to hit “Complete” after filling out the nomination form in order to submit your nomination!

You may be prompted to log in after clicking “Complete”, but that is not necessary. Rest assured that your application has been submitted.

DEADLINE: January 15, 2023

Stephen J. Gould Prize recipients and presentations:

ABOUT | ELIGIBILITY | HOW TO APPLY | EVALUATION CRITERIA | AWARD | PAST WINNERS

About

The Dobzhansky Prize is awarded annually by the Society for the Study of Evolution to recognize the accomplishments and future promise of an outstanding early-career evolutionary biologist. The prize was established in memory of Professor Theodosius Dobzhansky by his friends and colleagues, and reflects his lifelong commitment to fostering the research careers of young scientists.

Eligibility

We seek nominees working in all areas of evolutionary biology, on any taxonomic group/system, using empirical and/or theoretical approaches. We hope the pool of nominees will reflect the many axes and components of diversity in the evolutionary biology community. We are specifically looking for candidates who take creative approaches to answering pressing questions in evolutionary biology. We welcome nominations of researchers around the globe.

Specific requirements:

• The nominee's university must have officially awarded their degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) between December 1, 2020 and December 1, 2024.*
• The nominee must be actively involved in research in the field of evolutionary biology.
• The nominee does not have to be a member of the Society for the Study of Evolution, but membership is encouraged. Learn more about the benefits of SSE membership and how to join.

*Please note that this is the official date the PhD or equivalent was awarded by the nomination's institution, which may not be the same date as an oral defense, viva, or live defense. The committee will consider circumstances that may extend eligibility (e.g., parental leave) and encourages nominations of biologists from historically under-represented groups. Please contact committee chair Sarah Schaack at secretary@evolutionsociety.org with any questions about eligibility.

How to Apply

Candidates may apply directly or may be nominated. Each nomination should include:  

1. Curriculum vitae, which should include any research, teaching, and/or mentorship, and outreach activities
2. Summary of research accomplishments (maximum 3 pages, including references)
3. Statement of research plans for the next 5 years (maximum 4 pages, including references)
4. Full text of three recent publications
5. Three reference letters

Please submit items 1-4 as a single pdf. Reference letter writers should send their letters via email to the SSE Secretary at secretary@evolutionsociety.org by December 1, 2024 with the nominee’s name in the subject line. Please provide the names and email addresses of references on the nomination form.

Deadline: December 1, 2024, 5:00 PM EST
 
Note: Be sure to click “Complete” after filling out the nomination form in order to submit your nomination! You may be prompted to log in after clicking “Complete”, but that is not necessary. Rest assured that your application has been submitted!
 
 

Evaluation Criteria

Nominations will be scored on the following areas:

1. How engaged is this person, in terms of papers, talks or posters, and outreach?
2. How independent, broad, and deep is the record of past evolution research?
3. What is the potential impact, scope, and clarity of future research plans?
4. Are this person's discoveries contributing to major changes within the field of evolution?

Award

The Dobzhansky Prize is accompanied by a check for U.S. $5000, and is awarded at the annual Evolution meeting. The recipient is expected to be present to receive the award and to give an oral presentation about their research. To facilitate attendance, SSE provides funds to cover the costs of conference registration, accommodation during the conference, and expenses for travel to and from the conference. The recipient will be notified of the award in late March.

Awardees will also be encouraged to submit an accompanying article to Evolution (primary research, review, insight or commentary, fast-tracked through review and made freely available) within 2 months of the conference. Published articles would highlight the award obtained.

Past Winners:

ABOUT | ELIGIBILITY | AWARD | HOW TO APPLY | PAST WINNERS
 
 

About

This award is awarded annually by the Society for the Study of Evolution for an outstanding Ph.D. dissertation paper published in an issue of the journal Evolution or an issue of Evolution Letters during a given calendar year. Applications open in the fall and close January 31. The award comes with a $1000 USD honorarium.

Eligibility

To be eligible for consideration, a manuscript must be based on PhD work of the primary author. The manuscript must have been published in a 2024 issue of the journal Evolution (Volume 78) or a 2024 issue of Evolution Letters (Volume 8).* Nominees do not need to be members of SSE.

*Note that this does not include all papers that were published as Early View in 2024. The paper must have been included in an issue in 2024.

Award

The SSE Presidents’ Award is accompanied by a check for $1000 USD, and will be awarded at the annual Evolution meeting. The recipient is invited to attend the annual meeting to receive the award. To facilitate attendance, SSE provides funds to cover the costs of conference registration, accommodation during the conference, and travel expenses to and from the conference. The recipient will be notified of the award in April.

How to apply

Nominations are accepted through our online awards portal. SSE members must log in with their SSE username and password. Non-members must create a free account to submit a nomination.

Nominations must include:

• the final version of the manuscript  
• dissertation completion date
• supporting letter from the PhD supervisor or other individual familiar with the candidate and their work 

The supporting letter should indicate the candidate’s role in completing the research and writing the paper (if the candidate is not the sole author), should place the work in the larger context of the field (novelty, importance), and should discuss the overall quality of the student's research.

Or click here to access the application.

Note: Be sure to hit “Complete” after filling out the application form in order to submit your application!

You may be prompted to log in after clicking “Complete”, but that is not necessary. Rest assured that your application has been submitted!

DEADLINE: January 31, 2025
 
 
 

Past Winners

2024 Samarth Mathur, Honorable Mention: Robin Costello (more info)
2023 Michael Itgen (more info)
2022 Maddie James (more info)
2021 Gabriel Jamie (more info)
2020 Dorota Paczesniak (more info)
2019 Matthew Zuellig (more info)
2018 Valerie Morley (more info)
2017 Megan Greischar (more info)
2016 Jennifer Lohr (more info)
2015 Alison E. Wright (more info)
2014 Amy Hurford (more info)
2013 William Soto
2012 David McCandlish
2011 D. Luke Mahler
2010 Britt Koskella
2009 Megan Higgie
2008 R. Brian Langerhans
2007 Guillaume Martin
2006 Maurine Neiman

2024

The 2024 recipient is Dr. Samarth Mathur for his paper, “An evolutionary perspective on genetic load in small, isolated populations as informed by whole genome resequencing and forward-time simulations” (https://doi.org/10.1093/evolut/qpac061).

Using whole genome resequencing of multiple populations of the threatened Montezuma Quail, Mathur and co-authors illustrate the dynamic nature of genetic load in small populations over time. They then combine their empirical data with forward-time simulations to demonstrate how severe population declines affect individual fitness and population adaptive potential. This study was an innovative combination of historical demography approaches and simulations to infer genetic load and evolutionary potential in wild populations.

The 2024 Honorable Mention is Dr. Robin Costello for her paper, “Multilevel selection on social network traits differs between sexes in experimental populations of forked fungus beetles” (https://doi.org/10.1093/evolut/qpac012).

Costello and colleagues used experimental social networks of forked fungus beetles under different resource distribution scenarios to investigate the strength and variation of individual-level and group-level selection. They find that the level and strength of selection varies between males and females, and also intensifies when resources are clumped. This study nicely demonstrates that social interactions in networks impact male and female fitness differently, setting up the potential for intersexual conflicts.

2023

The 2023 winner is Dr. Michael Itgen for his paper, “Genome size drives morphological evolution in organ-specific ways” (Evolution, Volume 76, Issue 7 1 July 2022, Pages 1453–1468, https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.14519.)

In this paper, Dr. Itgen and co-authors examined the influence of large genome size and cell size on the morphological variation in the heart and liver of salamanders in the genus Plethodon, which have some of the largest genomes known for tetrapods. The authors found that evolutionary increases in genome and cell size result in dramatic changes in tissue structure in the heart and liver. In both cases, these structural changes should have negative impacts on organ function. To explain how these changes persist, the authors propose that the effects on organismal performance and fitness may be negligible because very low metabolic rates in salamanders relax selective pressure on the function of key metabolic organs. This study shows how comparative and developmental studies can yield surprising insights on long-standing evolutionary development questions such as the variation and evolution of genome size. Dr. Itgen earned his Ph.D. at Colorado State University and is now a postdoctoral research fellow at Marian University in Indianapolis, IN.  

2022

The 2022 recipient is Dr. Maddie E. James for her paper, “Phenotypic and genotypic parallel evolution in parapatric ecotypes of Senecio.” Evolution (2021) 75-12: 3115–3131. 

In this paper, Dr. James and co-authors investigated potential parallel evolution in dune and headland ecotypes of the Australian wildflower Senecio lautus. A comparison of nine dune-headland pairs, most phylogenetic sister groups, found strong parallel evolution of phenotype of branch and leaf traits with dune plants tall and headland plants prostrate. Despite phenotypic similarity among populations within each ecotype, evolutionary change was found in different genes. However, further investigation found a number of these genes had the same predicted function. This study shows response to selection that leads to parallel phenotypes is more complex when viewed at the underlying genetic level. Dr. James earned her Ph.D. at the University of Queensland, where she is now a Postdoctoral Research Fellow. 

2021

The 2021 recipient is Dr. Gabriel Jamie 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.

2020

The 2020 winner is Dr. Dorota Paczesniak for her paper, "Parasite resistance predicts fitness better than fecundity in a natural population of the freshwater snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum," Evolution (2019) 73: 1634-1646.

A longstanding question in evolutionary biology is what evolutionary processes determine whether a species is sexual or asexual.  Dr. Paczesniak addressed this question in a species of freshwater snail, Potamopyrgus antipodarum, native to New Zealand. Using mesocosms in a field setting, she found that the most fecund asexual clones had annual reproductive rates equal to or greater than the most fecund 10% of sexual families, indicating that fecundity selection is sufficient to favor the proliferation of asexual clones, over and above the expected two-fold cost of sex. Somewhat paradoxically, however, she found that the most fecund asexual clones were not the most predominant ones. Because the mesocosms excluded predators and parasites, she hypothesized that differential predation or parasitism might explain this pattern. This hypothesis was confirmed by an experiment that demonstrated a positive correlation between clone abundance in the field and resistance to parasitism in the laboratory. This study thus elegantly demonstrates the importance of interactions with natural enemies in determining the fitness and relative abundance of asexual clones in a natural population. Dr. Paczesniak earned her PhD at the ETH Zurich, and recently completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Saskatchewan.

2019

 The 2019 winner is Dr. Matthew Zuellig for his paper, “A two‐locus hybrid incompatibility is widespread, polymorphic, and active in natural populations of Mimulus” Evolution (2018) 72: 2394-2405. 

How do barriers that bar reproduction between two species arise and persist within each of the species, in spite of ongoing gene flow between them? To address this question, Dr. Zuellig studied two naturally hybridizing species of monekyflower, Mimulus guttatus and M. nasutus. He had previously identified a two‐locus hybrid lethality system, in which each species carries a hybrid lethality allele at a different locus, resulting in hybrid offspring that lack chlorophyll in F2 and later generations. Building on this finding, he here conducted extensive series of crosses with plants sampled across a large geographic range of western U.S. to map the spatial distribution of alleles underlying this system and estimate their frequencies. Because both species also have alternative alleles at substantial frequencies in some populations, hybrids do not necessarily result in lethality, allowing some introgression. This work elegantly explores how "speciation loci" that were first identified in the lab behave in real populations across their range. Dr. Zuellig earned his Ph.D. at the University of Georgia and is now a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Bern.
 

2018

The 2018 winner is Dr. Valerie Morley for her paper, “Dynamics of molecular evolution in RNA virus populations depend on sudden versus gradual environmental change” Evolution (2017) 71:872-883.

Do organisms evolve differently in slowly versus rapidly changing environments? In this study, Dr. Morley examined the evolutionary dynamics of the RNA sequence of Sindbis virus, exposed either directly to a novel host or to a gradually increasing proportion of that host. By sampling and sequencing in depth at eight time points, Dr. Morley and co-authors were able to track the genetic changes that occurred in precise detail. Their study revealed that large-step mutations were more likely to fix during the early stages of evolution with a sudden host switch, but this pattern disappeared with a gradual switch. As selection was weaker and fixation took longer in the gradually changing treatment, there was more evidence of clonal interference and the fixation of clusters of mutations. By contrast, single mutations were more likely to sweep in the sudden treatment. By combining experimental evolution with whole-genome sequencing, the paper by Morley et al. provides novel insights into the ways that populations adapt to a changing world.

2017

 The 2017 winner is Dr. Megan Greischar, for her paper “Predicting optimal transmission investment in malaria parasites.” Evolution (2016) 70:1542-1558.

In this study, Dr. Greischar examined the growth-reproduction tradeoff faced by malaria parasites, which must allocate resources to within-host proliferation as well as the production of specialized life stages for onward transmission. The way parasites balance this tradeoff influences exploitation of host resources---and hence virulence---and the rate of disease spread through host populations. She built a within-host model to examine the conflicting selection pressures and identify the optimal allocation to transmission. She developed novel computational methods to consider a wide range of potential strategies, using splines to describe plastic allocation with few parameters. The model suggested that parasites benefit from delaying transmission stage production, just as macroorganisms can benefit from delayed reproductive effort. Innate immunity and coinfecting parasites imposed strong selection favoring parasites that invest disproportionately in proliferation rather than transmission (“reproductive restraint''), resulting in more rapid and extreme exploitation of host resources. Selection on transmission investment therefore represents one mechanism by which enhanced virulence could be adaptive for parasites. More generally, the approach can accommodate highly complex strategies within richly detailed ecological models, providing a much-needed alternative to analytical methods that could be adapted to diverse organisms.

2016

The 2016 winner is Dr. Jennifer N. Lohr, for her paper: Lohr, J. N., and C. R. Haag. 2015. Genetic load, inbreeding depression, and hybrid vigor covary with population size: An empirical evaluation of theoretical predictions. Evolution 69:3109-3122.

In this paper, Lohr and Haag test predictions from population genetic theory on the genetic consequences of small population size, a fundamental question in evolutionary biology. Lohr used eight natural populations of Daphnia magna that varied in effective population size, along with carefully designed crosses within and among populations, to test these predictions. She showed that Ne accurately predicted inbreeding depression, genetic load, and hybrid vigor, strongly supporting theoretical predictions based on recurrent mutation to unconditionally deleterious alleles. These results have important implications for evolutionary processes in natural populations, including for the evolution of dispersal, breeding systems, local adaptation, and aging.

Dr. Lohr received her PhD in 2015 from the Department of Biology at the University of Fribourg, with Christopher Haag. She is now a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Hamburg with Susanne Dobler.

2015

The 2015 winner is Dr. Alison E. Wright, for her paper: Alison E. Wright, Peter W. Harrison, Stephen H. Montgomery, Marie A. Pointer and Judith E. Mank. 2014. Independent stratum formation on the avian sex chromosomes reveals inter-chromosomal gene conversion and predominance of purifying selection on the W chromosome. Evolution. 68(11):3281–3295.

In this paper, Wright and co-authors used a comparative approach across a monophyletic clade of birds, spanning 90 million years, to study the mode, mechanism and rate of divergence between the avian Z and W sex chromosomes. This work, based on the largest cross-species dataset of Z-W orthologs to date, revealed the complex recombinational history of the avian sex chromosomes. The results show that although birds share the same sex chromosome system, recombination between the sex chromosomes has been suppressed independently multiple times, allowing for convergent patterns of divergence. Wright and her co-authors also found that recombination and gene conversion persist on sex chromosomes over both long and short evolutionary trajectories. Importantly, the study shows that the female-limited and degenerated W chromosome is evolving with a significant contribution of purifying selection, indicating that the remaining W-linked genes play an important role in female-specific fitness.

Dr Wright received her PhD in 2014 from the Department of Zoology at the University of Oxford, with Judith Mank. She is now a Postdoctoral Research Associate at University College London.

2014

The 2014 winner is Dr. Amy Hurford for her paper: Hurford, A. and T. Day. 2013. Immune evasion and the evolution of molecular mimicry in parasites. Evolution 67(10): 2889-2904.

Hurford explored a variety of hypotheses about the coevolution of vertebrate immune systems and pathogens, using mathematical models. One of her primary goals was to understand the evolutionary origins of infection-induced autoimmune disorders. She developed mathematical models using techniques from dynamical systems and game theory to better understand the conditions under which we might expect pathogens to evolve molecular mimicry. She and her coauthor analyzed the patterns of molecular mimicry that are expected under two hypotheses regarding molecular mimicry by parasites. One of their findings was that the highest risk of autoimmunity comes from parasites that display intermediate levels of mimicry. Interestingly, and highly relevantly, they also explored the consequences of different medical interventions on the evolution of mimicry and the incidence of autoimmunity.

Dr. Hurford received her Ph.D. in 2011 from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Queens University, where he was advised by Dr. Troy Day. Following postdoctoral appointments at York University and the University of Toronto, she began a faculty position at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

 
ABOUT | ELIGIBILITY | HOW TO APPLY | EVALUTION CRITERIA | AWARD SYMPOSIUM | PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS

About 

The W. D. Hamilton Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Presentation will be given to a current or very recent graduate student who presents an outstanding talk based on their graduate work at the annual Evolution meeting. Finalists will present their talks during the live-streamed Hamilton Award symposium during the virtual part of the meeting May 29-30. The application to become a Hamilton award finalist will be part of registration for the virtual meeting.
 

Eligibility

PhD graduates who defended their PhD research after May 29, 2024, as well as current graduate students who have been enrolled in a graduate program for at least two (2) years, are eligible for this year’s competition. Note that the Hamilton competition is for dissertation research, and abstracts may not contain results arising from postdoctoral studies. Applicants must be members of SSE (learn more about SSE membership here and join here). Note that SSE members from eligible countries and territories can receive free meeting registration.
 

How to Apply

The application to become a Hamilton award finalist is part of registration for the virtual portion of the annual Evolution meeting. During registration, you must submit an abstract for your talk and check a box indicating your interest in the Hamilton Award competition.

Meeting registration is now open. Please submit your abstract and indicate your interest in this award by April 15, 2025.

All virtual meeting participants, including Hamilton finalists, may present in both the virtual and in-person portions of the meeting. Applicants are welcome to submit the same or different talks to the virtual and in-person portions of the meeting, but only virtual talks can be entered into the Hamilton competition.
 

Evaluation Critera

Abstracts submitted during meeting registration will be used to select finalists. Abstracts will be anonymized prior to scoring, and will not be scored by evaluators with a conflict of interest with the applicant (e.g. if they are the applicant’s advisor or serve on the applicant’s committee). Abstracts will be scored in four categories described below. Abstracts with the highest average scores will be selected as finalists to present in the Hamilton Award Symposium. Each category will be scored on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest.

Completeness/richness:

5 - Abstract clearly indicates that experimental work and analysis is completed (i.e., actual results are discussed and described findings are not overly vague), results described are sufficient to address the questions, problems, or hypotheses presented, and the amount of data described would be sufficient for at least one “original article” Evolution manuscript.

1 - Abstract suggests work is very incomplete (few concrete results reported) or completeness cannot be evaluated from the information provided.

**Note: abstracts can focus on data equivalent to a single manuscript/thesis chapter or on data equivalent to multiple manuscripts/thesis chapters. Either strategy is fine and can earn full marks in this category—when choosing between these strategies, applicants should consider whether they can effectively communicate the work in a 300-word abstract and in a ~12-minute talk. Either way, abstracts should focus primarily on the applicant’s own work. Prior or complementary work from the same research group can be mentioned for context, but should not be the focus of the abstract.**

Importance of the work and findings:

5  - Abstract is relevant to evolutionary biology. Motivating questions/hypotheses are of broad interest to the evolutionary biology community outside of the specific study system, results are interpreted in the context of the hypotheses or questions under study, and abstract clearly communicates how the findings advance our understanding of evolution.

1 - Abstract is not relevant or only marginally relevant to evolutionary biology

**Note: if all Hamilton committee members score the abstract as 1 in this category, the abstract will be excluded from further consideration regardless of other scores.** 

Clarity/logic/presentation:

5 - Abstract is polished: it is well edited, has an organized flow of ideas, and is within the word limit (300 words). Abstract is understandable to a general evolutionary audience with minimal jargon and necessary background explained. Motivation for the work (big picture and research gaps) is clearly explained. Results are clearly interpreted in the context of the motivating questions. Enough detail is provided that the reader can understand what types of data/approaches were used.

1 - Four or more items in the list above are missing.

Quality/thoroughness of the methods:

5 - Sufficient detail is provided that the nature of the data and data analysis is clear—details will vary depending on type of research, but some details that might be helpful are: sampling design (for observational studies) or experimental setup (for manipulative experiments) or theoretical approach (key model parameters and whether analytical or simulation approaches were used); type and source of data (e.g., morphology, DNA, RNA, etc. and are these data new or mined from other sources); critical variables in the dataset (key predictor/independent and response/dependent variables, with some detail on how these were measured if needed); key analysis approaches (phylogenetic comparative methods, scans for selection, population structure analysis, mixed models etc.). Some indication of the size of the dataset is often helpful (how many taxa, how many replicates, type of genomic dataset, etc.). In terms of quality, data/approaches are both appropriate (type of data and analyses) and sufficient (amount of data) for the questions under study. Data are interpreted appropriately in light of motivating hypotheses, questions.

1 - Too few details are provided to evaluate methodology OR data/approaches are fundamentally and fatally flawed.
 
 

Hamilton Award Symposium

Finalists will be notified in mid May. Finalists will present their research during the live-streamed Hamilton Award Symposium during the virtual part of the meeting (May 29-30). Talks will be recorded and available on the Evolution Meetings YouTube channel. Talks not selected for the Hamilton Award Symposium will be scheduled during regular virtual talk sessions. Check the meeting website for more information about how to prepare your talk.

The most competitive talks will be those that can convey a complete story. Such talks are most likely to be given by graduate students who are close to completing their dissertations or by former graduate students who wish to present results from a dissertation defended within the past year. Talks that primarily present preliminary data or just an initial part of a dissertation are not likely to be competitive, and we strongly suggest that those students wait to compete for this award. 

Winners will be selected and notified after the virtual portion of the Evolution meeting. 

The winner(s) of the award will each receive $1,000 US and a one-year membership to the Society for the Study of Evolution, which includes one year of access to the journal Evolution. Finalists will receive $500 US. Up to two Honorable Mentions will each also receive a one-year membership to the Society for the Study of Evolution, including access to Evolution. 

Recipients will be encouraged to submit an accompanying article to Evolution (primary research, review, insight or commentary, fast-tracked through review and made freely available) within 2 months of the meeting. 
 
 

Previous Award Recipients

Winners and honorable mentions listed below; winners are listed in bold text.

2024
Mackenzie Urquhart-Cronish
Yuki Haba
Michelle McCauley

2023
Arielle Fogel, Duke University
James Gallagher, University of Denver

2022
Thomas Day, Georgia Institute of Technology
Cinnamon Mittan, Michigan State University

2021
Liming Cai, Harvard University
Sarah Khalil, Tulane University
Arianna Kuhn, American Museum of Natural History

2020
Due to the cancellation of the Evolution 2020 meeting, this award competition was not held in 2020.

2019
Michelle Stitzer, University of California, Davis. Advisor: Dr. Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra.
Sarah Friedman, University of California Davis. Advisor: Dr. Peter Wainwright.
Rachel Moran, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Advisor: Dr. Suzanne McGaugh.
Rachel Thayer, University of California, Berkeley. Advisor: Dr. Nipam Patel.

2018
Christopher D. Pull, Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Supervisor: Dr. Sylvia Cremer.
Debora Goedert, Dartmouth College. Advisor: Dr. Ryan G. Calsbeek.
Karin van der Burg, Cornell University. Advisor: Dr. Robert Reed.

2017
Emily Behrman, University of Pennsylvania. Advisor: Dr. Paul Schmidt.
Jasmine Ono, Univ British Columbia. Advisor: Dr. Sally Otto.
Foen Peng, University of Washington. Advisor: Dr. H.D. 'Toby' Bradshaw.
Chathurani Ranathunge, Mississippi State. Advisor: Dr. Mark Welch.

2016
Nina Wale, Pennsylvania State University. Advisor: Dr. Andrew Read.
Amanda Gibson, Indiana University. Advisor: Dr. Curt Lively.
Jason Sardell, University of Texas at Austin. Advisor: Dr. Mark Kirkpatrick.

2015
Maude Baldwin, Harvard University. Advisor: Dr. Scott Edwards.
Sarah Fitzpatrick, Colorado State University. Advisor: Dr. Chris Funk.
Nathaniel Sharp, University of Toronto. Advisor: Dr. Aneil Agrawal.

2014
Daniel Field, Yale University. Advisor: Dr. Jacques A. Gauthier.
Benjamin Liebeskind, University of Texas, Austin. Advisors: Dr. David Hillis, Dr. Harold Zakon.
Megan Peterson, University of California, Santa Cruz. Advisor: Dr. Kathleen Kay.

2013
Emily Jacobs-Palmer, Harvard University. Advisor: Dr. Hopi Hoekstra.
Zoe Assaf, Stanford University. Advisor: Dr. Dmitri Petrov.
Matthew McGee, University of California, Davis. Advisor: Dr. Peter Wainwright.
Rebecca Satterwhite, University of Houston. Advisor: Dr. Tim Cooper.

2012
Christopher Martin, University of California, Davis. Advisor: Dr. Peter Wainwright.
Aleeza Gerstein, University of British Columbia. Advisor: Dr. Sally Otto.
Erin McCullough, University of Montana. Advisor: Dr. Doug Emlen.

2011
William Ratcliff, University of Minnesota. Advisor: Dr. R. Ford Denison.
Sarah Bodbyl Roels, University of Kansas. Advisor: Dr. John Kelly.
Christopher Oufiero, University of California at Riverside. Advisor: Dr. Theodore Garland, Jr.

2010 
Amanda Izzo, University of Michigan. Advisor: Dr. Elizabeth Tibbetts.
Benjamin Blackman, Duke University. Supervisors: Dr. John Willis and Dr. Daniel Rokhsar.
Christopher Martin, University of California – Davis. Advisor: Dr. Peter Wainwright.
David Lowry, University of Texas – Austin. Supervisor: Dr. Thomas Juenger.
Ian Wang, University of California – Davis. Advisor: Dr. Brad Shaffer.

From 2010-2017, SSE offered the Rosemary Grant Graduate Student Research awards to assist students in the early stages of their Ph.D. programs by enabling them to collect preliminary data (to pursue additional sources of support) or to enhance the scope of their research beyond current funding limits (e.g. by visiting additional field sites, or working at other labs). These awards were named for eminent evolutionary biologist Rosemary Grant for her strong mentorship and training of young evolutionary biologists.

In 2018, began offering a new award program for both early and advanced graduate students: the Graduate Research Excellence Grants.

View ALL Recipients:   2010  |  2011  |  2012  |  2013  |  2014  |  2015  |  2016 |  2017 

2017 Recipients

Amanda Benoit, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Advisor: Susan Kalisz
Catherine Chen, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Advisor: Karin Pfennig
Marion Donald, Rice University. Advisor: Tom Miller
Ryan Dunk, Syracuse University. Advisor: Jason Wiles
Marie Fan, Monash University. Advisor: Anne Peters
Jimena Golcher-Benavides, University of Wyoming. Advisor: Catherine E. Wagner
Valentina Gomez, University of Illinois at Chicago. Advisor: Boris Igic
Kathryn Grabenstein, University of Colorado, Boulder. Advisor: Scott Taylor
Molly Hetherington-Rauth, University of Toronto Mississsauga. Advisor: Marc Johnson
Johanna Jantzen, University of Florida. Advisor: Pamela Soltis
Emily Kopania, University of Montana. Advisor: Jeffrey Good
Joseph McGirr, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Advisor: Christopher Martin
Britany Morgan, Duke University. Advisor: Kathleen Donohue
Victoria Morgan, UC Davis. Advisor: Rick Grosberg
Nina Pak, UC Berkeley. Advisor: Patrick O'Grady
Giulia Irene Maria Pasquesi, University of Texas at Arlington. Advisor: Todd Castoe
Anna Peschel, University of Minnesota. Advisor: Ruth Shaw
Alice Shanfelter, University of Georgia. Advisor: Michael White
Kum Shim, University of Texas at Austin. Advisor: Daniel Bolnick
Megan Smith, Ohio State University. Advisor: Bryan Carstens
Ana Mafalda Sousa Ferreira, University of Porto. Advisor: Jose Melo-Ferreira
Maria Stager, University of Montana. Advisor: Zachary Cheviron
Benjamin Stone, Ohio State University. Advisor: Andrea Wolfe
Benjamin Van Doren, University of Oxford. Advisor: Sonya Clegg
Michael Yuan, University of California, Berkeley. Advisor: Ian Wang
Linyi Zhang, Rice University. Advisor: Scott Egan
Serena Zhao, University of Texas at Austin. Advisor: Nancy Moran

2016 Recipients

Mallory A. Ballinger, University of California, Berkeley, Advisor: Michael W. Nachamn
Nassima M. Bouzid, University of Washington, Advisors: Adam Leaché and Lauren Buckley
Kinsey M. Brock, University of California, Merced, Advisor: Danielle Edwards
Sofia de la Serna Buzon, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Advisor: Karin Pfennig
Lauren Carley, Duke University, Advisor: Tom Mitchell-Olds
Allan Castillo, Duke University, Advisor: Mark D. Rausher
Abhilesh Dhawanjewar, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Advisors: Colin Meiklejohn and Kristi Montooth
Annette Evans, University of Connecticut, Advisors: Elizabeth Jockusch and Mark Urban
Micah Freedman, University of California, Davis, Advisors: Sharon Strauss and Santiago Ramirez
Joshua Goldberg, University of California, Riverside, Advisor: David N. Reznick
Julie A. Herman, University of California, Santa Cruz, Advisor: Kathleen Kay
Alex Van Huynh, Lehigh University, Advisor: Amber Rice
Kedar Karkare, University of Houston, Advisors: Ricardo Azevedo and Timothy Cooper
Sara M. Keeble, University of Southern California, Advisor: Matthew Dean
Christopher Krieg, University of Florida, Advisor: Emily Sessa
Holly C. McQueary, University of Georgia, Athens, Advisor: David Hall
Iva Popovic, University of Queensland, Advisor: Cynthia Riginos
Patrick Reilly, Princeton University, Advisor: Peter Andolfatto
Kathryn R. Ritz, Duke University, Advisor: Mohamed A. F. Noor
Ummat Somjee, University of Florida, Advisor: Christine W. Miller
Chelsea M. Stehle, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Advisor: William Wagner
Sebastian Stockmaier, University of Texas at Austin, Advisor: Daniel I. Bolnick
Syuan-Jyun Sun, University of Cambridge, Advisor: Rebecca Kilner
Andrew Taverner, Princeton University, Advisor: Peter Andolfatto
Eric Wesley Wice, Rice University, Advisor: Julia B. Saltz
Su’ad Yoon, University of Nevada Reno, Advisor: Matthew Forister

2015 Recipients

Christopher Akcali, University of North Carolina
Samantha Ray Anderson, University of Arizona
John Benning, Univeristy of Minnesota
Sarah Carey, University of Florida
Eleanor Caves, Duke University
Catherine Debban, University of Virginia
Katherine Eisen, Cornell University
Eslam Elshahat, Rice University
Nikki Forrester, Pittsburgh University
Phillip Grayson, Harvard University
Mike Hague, University of Virginia
Maggie Hantak, University of Ohio
Carl Hutter, University of Kansa
Brendan Larsen, University of Arizona
Joanna Larson, University of Michigan
Christopher Law, University of California, Santa Cruz
Whitley Lehto, University of Denver
Kellen Cedar Paine, University of New Mexico
Ahva Lynn Potticary, University of Arizona
Shelley Sianta, UC Santa Cruz
Laura Southcott, University of Chicago
Jennifer Valvo, Florida State University
Rebekah Villalta, Cornell University
Ryan Weaver, Auburn University
David Zonana, University of Colorado

2014 Recipients

Phred Benham, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Advisor: Dr. Zachary Cheviron
Amrita Bhattacharya, Indiana University, Advisor: Dr. Curtis M. Lively
Jennifer Coughlan, Duke University, Advisor: Dr. John Willis
Shane DuBay, University of Chicago, Advisor: Dr. Trevor D. Price
Jay Falk, Cornell University, Advisor: Dr. Kerry Shaw
Tamara Fetters, Virginia Tech, Advisor: Dr. Joel McGlothlin
Cera Fisher, University of Connecticut, Advisor: Dr. Elizabeth Jockusch
Andrew Frank, University of Connecticut, Advisor: Dr. Elizabeth Jockusch
Amanda Gorton, University of Minnesota, Advisors: Drs. David Moeller and Peter Tiffin
Nicolai Hensley, University of California, Santa Barbara, Advisor: Todd Oakley
Audrey Kelly, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Advisor: Dr. Karin Pfennig
Megan Kobiela, University of Minnesota, Advisor: Dr. Emilie Snell-Rood
Elizabeth LaRue, Purdue University, Advisor: Dr. Nancy Emery
Rishi R. Masalia, University of Georgia, Advisor: Dr. John M. Burke
Nicholas A. Mason, Cornell University, Advisor: Dr. Irby J. Lovette
W. Tyler McCraney, UCLA, Advisor: Dr. Michael Alfaro
Tim O'Connor, University of Arizona, Advisor: Dr. Noah Whiteman
Renee Petipas, Cornell University, Advisor: Dr. Monica Geber
Kathleen Pieper, University of Georgia, Advisor: Dr. Kelly Dyer
Pascal Olivier Title, University of Michigan, Advisor: Dan Rabosky
Laurel Yohe, SUNY Stony Brook University, Advisor: Dr. Liliana M. Davalos
Kelsey M. Yule, University of Arizona, Advisor: Dr. Noah K. Whiteman

2013 Recipients

Jeffrey R. Adrion, Indiana University, Advisor: Dr. Kristi L. Montooth
Alexandra Barnard, University of Oklahoma, Advisor: Dr. John P. Masly
Noelle Bittner, University of Arizona, Advisor: Dr. Michael Nachman
Daren C. Card, University of Texas at Arlington, Advisor: Dr. Todd A. Castoe
Danielle M. D'Amore, Ohio University, Advisor: Dr. Molly R. Morris
Jesse Delia, Boston University, Advisor: Dr. Karen Warkentin
Emily DiBlasi, University of Utah, Advisor: Dr. Sarah Bush
Danielle H. Drabeck, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Advisor: Dr. Sharon Jansa
Lauren A. Eserman, University of Georgia, Advisor: Dr. Jim Leebens-Mack
Nicholas K. Fletcher, Cornell University, Advisor: Dr. Jeremy Searle
Brian E. Gress, Syracuse University, Advisor: Dr. Scott Pitnick
Alexander S. Hall, University of Texas at Arlington, Advisor: Dr. Matthew Fujita
Karolina Heyduk, University of Georgia, Advisor: Dr. Jim Leebens-Mack
Scott Hotaling, University of Kentucky, Advisor: Dr. David Weisrock
Gaston I. Jofre, Texas A&M University, Advisor: Dr. Gil G. Rosenthal
Benjamin Johnson, Cornell University, Advisor: Dr. Kelly Zamudio
Karina Klonoski, University of California, Berkeley, Advisor: Dr. Erica Rosenblum
Hannah E. Marx, University of Idaho, Advisor: Dr. David Tank
Brianna McTeague, University of Arizona, Advisor: Dr. Katrina Dlugosch
David T. Peck, Cornell University, Advisor: Dr. Paul Sherman
Jordan D. Satler, Ohio State University, Advisor: Dr. Bryan Carstens
Amanda Schweitzer, City University of New York, Advisor: Dr. Ana Carnaval
Allison J. Shultz, Harvard University, Advisor: Dr. Scott V. Edwards
Richard K. Simpson III, Arizona State University, Advisor: Dr. Kevin McGraw
Sam Slowinski, Indiana University Bloomington, Advisor: Dr. Ellen Ketterson
Nicholas D. Sly, University of Illinois, Urbana‐Champaign, Advisor: Dr. Zac Cheviron
Jessica D. Stephens, University of Georgia, Advisor: Dr. Russell Malmberg
Maria Strangas, City University of New York, Advisor: Dr. Ana Carnaval
Brittany Lynne Sutherland, University of Virginia, Advisor: Dr. Laura F. Galloway
Andrew Swafford, University of California, Santa Barbara, Advisor: Dr. Todd Oakley
Rebecca Tarvin, University of Texas at Austin, Advisor: Dr. David Cannatella
James Patrick Tumulty, University of Minnesota, Advisor: Dr. Mark A. Bee

2012 Recipients

Danielle M. Adams, University of Maryland College Park, Advisor: Dr. Jerry Wilkinson
Nooria Al-Wathiqui, Tufts University, Advisor: Dr. Sara Lewis
Emily Louise Behrman, University of Pennsylvania, Advisor: Dr. Paul Schmidt
Vikram Bantwal Baliga, University of California, Santa Cruz, Advisor: Dr. Rita S. Mehta
Kristina L. Cohen, Boston University, Advisor: Dr. Karen Warkentin
Vincent R. Farallo, Ohio University, Advisor: Dr. Donald B. Miles
Amanda Gibson, Indiana University, Advisor: Dr. Curtis M. Lively
Amanda Hund, University of Colorado at Boulder, Advisor: Dr. Rebecca Safran
Jen-Pan Huang, University of Michigan, Advisor: Dr. L. Lacey Knowles
Ambika Kamath, Harvard University, Advisor: Dr. Jonathan B. Losos
Jonathan Lambert, Cornell University, Advisor: Dr. Kerry Shaw
Shea M. Lambert, Stony Brook University, Advisor: Dr. John J. Wiens
Joshua B. LaPergola, Cornell University, Advisors: Dr. Walter D. Koenig & Paul W. Sherman
Lauren Lucas, Texas State University, San Marcos, Advisor: Dr. Chris Nice
Rajiv McCoy, Stanford University, Advisor: Dr. Carol Boggs
Tristan A. McKnight, University of Michigan, Advisor: Dr. L. Lacey Knowles
Mauricio Montaño-Rendón, University of Sheffield, Advisor: Dr. Roger K. Butlin
Karan J. Odom, University of Maryland, Advisor: Dr. Kevin E. Omland
Matthew W. Pennell, University of Idaho, Advisor: Dr. Luke J. Harmon
Paulo C. Pulgarín-Restrepo, University of Los Andes, Advisor: Dr. Carlos Daniel Cadena
Marius Roesti, University of Basel, Advisor: Dr. Walter Salzburger
Molly Schumer, University of Princeton University, Advisor: Dr. Peter Andolfatto
Jenna M. Moore, University of California, San Diego, Advisor: Dr. Greg W. Rouse
Alyssa B. Stewart, University of Maryland, Advisor: Dr. Michele Dudash
Maggie R. Wagner, Duke University, Advisor: Dr. Thomas Mitchell-Olds

2011 Recipients

Gerardo Arceo‐Gómez,   University of Pittsburgh,  Advisor: Dr. Tia-Lynn Ashman
Lisa N. Barrow,   Florida State University,  Advisor: Dr. Emily Lemmon
Thomas D. Brekke,   University of Montana,  Advisor: Dr. Jeffrey Good
Sally Marie Chambers,   Purdue University,  Advisor: Dr. Nancy Emery
Gerardo Antonio Cordero,   Iowa State University,  Advisor:  Dr. Fredric Janzen
Rongfeng Cui,   Texas A&M University,  Advisor: Dr. Gil Rosenthal
James C. Cureton II,   University of Oklahoma,  Advisor: Dr. Richard E. Broughton
Kira Delmore,   University of British Columbia,  Advisor: Dr. Darren Irwin
Elizabeth M. Droge-Young,   Syracuse University,  Advisor: Scott Pitnick
Sarah W. Fitzpatrick,   Colorado State University,  Advisor: W. Christopher Funk
Elisabeth Jane Forrestel,   Yale University,  Advisor: Michael Donoghue
Chang Seok Han,   University of New South Wales,  Advisor: Robert Brooks
Rachel E. Hanauer,   Indiana University,  Advisor: Ellen D. Ketterson
Kayla M. Hardwick,   University of Idaho,  Advisor: Erica Bree Rosenblum
Sarah M. Hird,   Louisiana State University,  Advisor: Drs. Robb Brumfield, Bryan Carstens
Elizabeth J. Kleynhans,   University of British Columbia,  Advisor: Drs. Sarah Otto, Mark Vellend
Matthew H. Koski,   University of Pittsburgh,  Advisor: Tia-Lynn Ashman
Ezra Lencer,   Cornell University,  Advisor: Amy McCune
Chase Mason,   University of Georgia,  Advisor: Lisa Donovan
Alicia Mastretta­Yanes,   University of East Anglia,  Advisor: Dr Brent Emerson
George Andrew Meindl,   University of Pittsburgh,  Advisor: Tia-Lynn Ashman
Julie S. Miller,   Cornell University,  Advisor: H. Kern Reeve
Tara A Pelletier,   Louisiana State University,  Advisor: Bryan C Carstens
Rebecca H. Penny,   Indiana University,  Advisor: Lynda Delph
Cheryl Pinzone,   University of Georgia,  Advisor: Kelly Dyer
Diana Jessie Rennison,   University of British Columbia,  Advisor: Dolph Schluter
Leila Teruko Shirai,   Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Portugal,  Advisor: Dr. Patrícia Beldade
Angela Stathos,   University of Montana,  Advisor: Lila Fishman
Alexa R. Warwick,   Florida State University,  Advisor: Emily Moriarty Lemmon
Corlett Wolfe Wood,   University of Virginia,  Advisor: Edmund Brodie III
LengxobYong,   East Carolina University,  Advisor: Jeffrey S. McKinnon

2010 Recipients

Cheryl Marie Andam,   University of Connecticut
Chelsea Berns,   Iowa State University
Megan DeMarche,   Colorado State University
Eva Fischer,   Colorado State University
Andrew Furness,   University of California, Riverside
Emily Jacobs-Palmer,   Harvard University
Christopher Muir,   Indiana University, Bloomington
Carlos Prada,   Louisiana State University
Darren Rebar,   University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Benjamin Sandkam,   Simon Fraser University
Seema Sheth,   Colorado State University
Sonal Singhal,   University of California, Berkeley
Frank Smith,   University of Connecticut
Caitlin Smukowski,   Duke University
Kathryn Stewart,   Queen’s University
Katherine Stryjewski,   Boston University
Conor Taff,   University of California, Davis
Marjorie Weber,   Cornell University

The SSE International Committee (IC) mission is to foster international relationships between evolution societies and its members with particular focus on students and early-career scientists. The committee sponsors annually the International Travel Stipends for students and postdocs to attend the annual Evolution meeting, and the International Event Grants to fund events that foster international communication and collaboration. 

To contact the International Committee Chair, please email international [at] evolutionsociety.org. View the current committee membership.
 

Global Membership Assistance Program

The Global Membership Assistance (GMA) Program offers free or discounted membership to students, researchers, and educators in 152 countries and territories around the world based on World Bank classifications. Check the list of eligible countries to see if you are eligible. If you reside in one of the eligible countries, please request a discount code using this form. Discount codes can be used for any 1-year, 2-year, or 3-year membership type.

This year, SSE members residing in countries and territories eligible for the GMA Program are also eligible for free registration to the virtual portion of the Evolution meeting. Visit the Membership page to learn more.
 

SSE International Travel Stipends

These stipends support attendance at the in-person portion of the Evolution meeting for scientists at various stages of their professional career (e.g., Masters/PhD students, postdocs, and lecturers). You must be a member of the SSE. Those working in countries with high GDP are not eligible. For additional information and the application procedure, consult the Travel Awards page.

ABOUT | ELIGIBILITY | HOW TO APPLY | NEXT STEPS | PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS

International Event Grants

About

The goal of these grants is to foster communication and collaboration between scientists from different countries by sponsoring international symposia, workshops, courses, and other events within the field of evolutionary biology. Our priority is to support events that benefit emerging communities in the field of evolutionary biology. 

Eligibility

1. At least one organizer must be a member of SSE.*
2. The topic of the event should relate to evolutionary biology and appeal to general SSE membership
3. The timing of the event must not overlap with the annual Evolution meeting (typically in June)
4. Preference will be given to events hosted outside of the US and in countries where evolutionary biology is emerging as a field of research; support for virtual events is also eligible.
5. The council seriously considers diversity of participants and invited speakers as a criterion for selection.

Participants are not required to be members of SSE, but discounts in event registration costs for SSE members will be appreciated.

*Note that individuals at any career stage from 152 countries and territories are eligible for free or discounted SSE membership through the Global Membership Assistance Program.

In addition, the organizing recipients of this award will be invited to submit an accompanying article to Evolution, if appropriate (primary research, review, insight or commentary fast tracked through review and made freely available) within 2 months of the workshop. Published articles would highlight the grant funding obtained.
 
 

How to Apply

The application should be no more than 3 pages and include:

1. Organizer names, affiliations, SSE membership, and contact details
2. Event title, dates, and location
3. A description of how the event will foster international communication and development of evolutionary biology, how it will favour diversity in this field of research, and how SSE funding will improve the event
4. Names and affiliations of invited speakers, if applicable. Mention SSE membership if applicable.
5. The name of the academic institution or research organization responsible for administering the award funds (reach out to the SSE Treasurer for questions at treasurer [at] evolutionsociety.org)
6. Explanation of how participants will be selected
7. A budget showing how SSE funds will be used, how funds from other sources will be used (if applicable), and the fee structure to participate in the events

In addition to the 3-page application, please include the CVs of the event organizers.

Please send applications and CVs as a single PDF document to the SSE International Committee Chair at international [at] evolutionsociety.org.

Deadline: September 15, 2024

View examples of previously funded events here and here.

Next Steps

Funded events should include an acknowledgement of SSE funding on the event website and/or printed material. We would also appreciate it if organizers share the benefits of becoming an SSE member with participants. 

Funded events must provide a short report to the SSE International Committee following the event. This report should include:

• General overview of the event
• Number of participants
• Nationalities represented by participants and organizers
• SSE wishes to evaluate what groups are underrepresented as direct/indirect recipients of its awards. If permitted under local jurisdiction, we would appreciate the report to include anonymized figures about representation (%) of self-reported gender, ethnicity, and/or any relevant categories among participants, who may suffer from unequal opportunities
• Any material (e.g. pictures, links towards productions such as synthesis papers, or websites) to communicate around these events and their broader consequences and impact are also welcome.

Previous Recipients


2024

Congratulations to this year’s T. H. Huxley Award recipient, Dr. Elizabeth Schultheis! Dr. Schultheis is the Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Kellogg Biological Station Long-Term Ecological Research Program at Michigan State University. She was selected for her collection of educational resources called "Data Nuggets". Data Nuggets, which were developed in collaboration with Dr. Melissa Kjelvik, bring real data and scientific role models into the classroom to build quantitative and critical thinking skills. To learn more about her work, visit the Data Nuggets website. 

As part of the award, Dr. Schultheis will receive funding to present her work at the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) conference in October. 

The T. H. Huxley Award is administered by the T. H. Huxley Award Committee, a subset of the SSE Education and Outreach Committee.

	Data Nuggets co-founders Dr. Melissa Kjelvik (left) and Dr. Elizabeth Schultheis (right).

 

ABOUT | ELIGIBILITY | HOW TO APPLY | AWARD | PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS

About

The SSE Education and Outreach Committee is pleased to announce the T. H. Huxley award, named in honor of Darwin's very public supporter T.H. Huxley, 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 an education-focused session or conference approved by the Huxley Committee (e.g., education session at the annual Evolution meeting or the annual National Association of Biology Teachers conference).

Examples of possible resources include classroom/museum activities, in-class or lab resources, podcasts, publications, websites, videos, etc. Competitive applications will be resources that include materials for student or audience engagement and assessment, not simply the presentation of information. All applications should include appropriate copyright and research permissions.

Eligibility

Applicants must be members of SSE. To join, visit https://payments.evolutionsociety.org/joinsse/. 

How to Apply

In the application form, you will be asked to provide a brief overview of your educational resource (100-200 words) and to describe your evolution education resource (500-1000 words), including the following:

1) What are the learning or outreach goals for this resource? If the resource is designed to align with state or national standards, include this information as well.
2)  Describe how this resource is a novel contribution to the existing evolution education and outreach resources.
3) Describe the intended audience.
4) Describe how you intend to disseminate this resource (e.g., a publication, a website, a museum activity, submission to the SSE EvoEd library, etc).
5) Has this resource been assessed or evaluated for engagement and/or effectiveness? For example, pre- and post-tests or some other common evaluation instrument. If so, please describe how, including any IRB approvals that were obtained.

If you have a website, publication, images, or other supporting documentation, please include in the description.

Submit your application here:  https://forms.gle/H1wzNhrKJNtg43Sb8 

Deadline: February 3, 2025

Applicants will be notified in early March.

Questions? Contact the Huxley Award Committee at huxleyaward@evolutionsociety.org.

Award

The recipient will receive funding to present evolution education resources at an education-focused session or conference approved by the Huxley Committee (e.g., education session at the annual Evolution meeting or the annual National Association of Biology Teachers conference). Graduate student and postdoc awardees will receive a one-year membership as part of the award. A winner will be announced in early March. 
 

Previous Recipients

2024

Tim Hartelt
Metaconceptual Learning Activities for Promoting Metacognitive Awareness and Self-Regulation of Intuitive Thinking in Evolution Education

Learn more about the project.

2023

Sarah Bordenstein
Discover the Microbes Within! The Wolbachia Project

Learn more about the project. 
 

2022

Not awarded.

2021

Dr. John Jungck and Dr. Sam Donovan
Beagle Investigations Return with Darwinian Data (BIRDD) project

Learn more about the project. 

2020

Erin L. McCullough, Lauren Verdeflor and colleagues Alaina Weinsztok, Jason R. Wiles, and Steve Dorus
Syracuse University & KIPP NYC College Prep High School
Exploratory activities for understanding evolutionary relationships depicted by phylogenetic trees: united but diverse

Read the paper describing the activity. 

2019

Brinda Govindan
San Francisco University
Bacterial Survivor 

Read the paper describing the activity here: https://evolution-outreach.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s12052-017-0074-2

2018

Katie Grogan and colleagues Teresa W. Lee and Justine Liepkalns
Emory University
Making evolution stick: using sticky notes to teach the mechanisms of evolutionary change

Read the paper describing the activity here: https://evolution-outreach.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s12052-017-0074-2

2017

Laura Bankers with Kyle McElroy, Joseph Jalinsky, James Woodell, Claire Adrian-Tucci, Katelyn Larkin, Robert Todd, Jorge Moreno, Dr. Emily Schoerning, and Dr. Maurine Neiman
National Center for Science Education Booster Clubs
Project website

2016

Amanda Gibson and Ariel Marcy 

Amanda Gibson, Evolution, Ecology and Behavior Department of Biology, Indiana University
Designed a hands-on game that requires students to collaborate to generate data and test predictions of the Red Queen Hypothesis.

Ariel Marcy - University of Queensland
Created Go Extinct! Players become zoologists competing to collect color –coded sets of closely related animal cards.

2015

Dr. Phil Gibson 
University of Oklahoma
How To Use Tree Thinking To Teach Plant Diversity and Evolution

2014

Dr. Jonathan Atwell,
Indiana University
Say Hello to the Junco! Teaching Evolution, Behavior, Genetics, and the Scientific Process with a Common Backyard Bird!

2013

Dr. William Ratcliff 
Georgia Tech
Yeast Experiment Hints at a Faster Evolution From Single Cells
Information on the awarded work: [1] [2] [3]

About | Eligibility | How to Apply | Evaluation Criteria | Award | Next Steps | Previous Recipients
 

About

These grants are run by the SSE Education and Outreach committee and provide support for local and regional educational outreach activities to take place during 2025. 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. Proposals will be accepted until March 1, 2025.

Examples of past outreach activities have included public lectures, exhibits, student competitions, and professional development events for teachers. We especially encourage proposals that focus on discussing and implementing evolution education reforms recommended in the Vision & Change in Undergraduate Biology Education: Chronicling Change, Inspiring the Future report or on dialogues between undergraduate instructors and K-12 teachers around the new emphasis on evolution in the AP Biology Curriculum Framework and the Next Generation Science Standards. We look forward to your applications!
 

Eligibility

Applicants must be members of SSE, and are advised to join SSE, if not already members, as soon as possible to facilitate their applications. To learn more about Membership types and available discount programs, visit our Membership page.
 

How to Apply

1. Proposal: Clearly but briefly state your plans in NO MORE THAN one single-spaced page.
2. Amounts requested may be up to $1000 USD.  Include a short justification for the use of the funds.  Indicate any additional matching funds and include letters of commitment from collaborative partners.  
3. Send your request by email attachment (subject heading 'SSE Outreach Grant 2025') to smallgrants [at] evolutionsociety.org.

DEADLINE: March 1, 2024
 

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be ranked by an SSE Education Committee working group according to the following criteria:

1. Does the activity explicitly deal with evolution and its concepts?
2. Is there a clear plan for outreach?
3. What is the overall impact of that outreach (i.e., number of participants, need for activity)?
4. Is the budget reasonable and justified?

Award

Projects under $500 will receive funds when the award is given. For projects from $500 - $1000, the preference is to award the funds to the applicant's institution at the start of the project, with the applicant then being reimbursed from their institution. In exceptional circumstances when this is not possible, funds can be paid directly to the applicant upon completion of the project with submission of receipts. Indirect costs may not be charged to this award. Please email the SSE Treasurer at treasurer@evolutionsociety.org with questions.
 

Next Steps

We expect to fund in the range of 5-10 projects, with announcement of awards to take place in April. We look forward to your applications!

Recipients of this award will submit an accompanying report within two months of the activity. These may be highlighted in the SSE newsletter. All reports and associated talks should highlight the grant funding obtained.

Even if you are not interested in applying for funding from the SSE, we encourage you to engage through whatever means are at your disposal in opportunities to promote public understanding of evolutionary biology.

Previous Recipients

2024

Gonzalo Peñaloza Jimenez
CINVESTAV - Instituto Politécnico Nacional
"Bringing Human Evolution into science classrooms: A Summer Schoolfor Mexican Biology Teachers"

Sarah Richards
Pennsylvania State University
"A Winogradsky column as a “living laboratory” on display to exploremicrobial evolution in real time"

Gil Rosenthal
University of Padova
"From eco-evolutionary processes to macroevolution: place-based outreach for anIndigenous area of Mexico’s Sierra Madre Oriental"

Janelle Talavera
Binghamton University (SUNY)
"Junior Biologists Outreach Program (JBOP)"

Patrick Rohner 
University of California San Diego
"Making evolution approachable using 3D models of dung beetles"

Mariela Oviedo-Diego & Franco Cargnelutti
Universidad Nacional de Córdoba
"Understanding urban evolution using arthropod local diversity and contrasting experiences between city and rural schools of central Argentina"

2023

Cleo Falvey, Rutgers University - Camden
Erik Iverson, University of Texas - Austin
Jordan Lewis, Yale University
Enrique Schwarzkopf, North Carolina State University
Julius Tabin, Harvard University
Tate Yawitz, University of Pittsburgh
Jithin Johnson, Sacred Heart College (India)

2022 

Andy Flick, Vanderbilt University
Telma Laurentino, University of California – Berkeley
Abigail Matela, University of Pittsburgh
Harshad Mayekar, Ahmedabad University
Manish Pathak, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata
Claire Williams, University of Texas - Austin

2021 

Haosu (Susu) Cong, Michigan State University
Lydia Greene, Duke University
Alexa Guerrara, Florida State University
Travis Hagey, Mississippi University for Women
Emily Lau, University of California – Santa Barbara
Sara Lipshutz, Indiana University - Bloomington
Pedro Taucce, Sao Paulo State University

2020 

Rebecca Brewer, Michigan State University
Travis Hagey, Mississippi University for Women
Angela Hung, Prairie State College
Javier Monzon, Pepperdine University
Barbora Trubenova, Institute of Science and Technology Austria
Matt Wilkins, Vanderbilt University
Kristin M. Winchell, Washington University
 

2019

Pauline Blaimont, Katherine Dale & Carla Sette - University of California, Santa Cruz
Grupo de Divulgación (Pía Pacheco, Dr. Eduardo Soto, Lic. Ángeles Arena, Lic. Valeria Arencibia, Lic. Martín Fasanelli, Lic. Lucas Kreiman, Lic. Fiona Puntieri, Martina Pernigotti, Alejandra Pérez, & Gonzalo Rodríguez Rizk) - Universidad de Buenos Aires
Abigail Hudak - Washington State University
Telma G. Laurentino et al. - Portuguese Association for the Teaching of the Blind
T. Mason Linscott & Christine E. Parent - University of Idaho
Jeanette Pirlo, Victor Perez, & Sean Moran - University of Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History
Stefanie Siller & Shailee S. Shah - Columbia University
Barbora Trubenova - Institute of Science and Technology Austria

2018

Claire Adrian-Tucci - NCSE 
Idalia C. Rojas Barrera - Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Mattheau Comerford - Rice University 
Reese Fulgenzi - University of Virginia 
Carlos Guarnizo - Ciencia Café Pa Sumerce 
Scott Hotaling; et al - Washington State University 
Stacy Krueger-Hadfield; Sarah Adkins - Univ of Alabama at Birmingham 
Andrew Larson - Columbus Signature Academy New Tech High School
Maria Pilar Herrera - Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos 
Molly Selba - Univ of Florida 
Rohini Singh; Erin Doody & Melina Gyaparki - Univ. of Pennsylvania 
Melanie Smee - Cornell Univ. 
Sheela Turbek - Univ. of Colorado, Boulder 
Ghada Yousif; Sara Mitri; Khaled Elsayed 

2017

Logan Cole - Indiana University
Nicole Freidenfields - Tolland Public Schools
Joseph Jalinsky - University of Iowa
Harald Parzer - Fairleigh Dickinson University
Jon Perry - Stated Clearly
Todd Pierson - University of Tennessee Knoxville
Matthew Rubin - Syracuse University
Molly Martell - University of Florida

2016

Henry Arenas-Castro & Wendy Valencia - Colombian Network for Evolutionary Biology
Larry Bowman & Daniel MacGuigan - Yale University
Cory Kohn & Mike Wiser - Michigan State University
Chris Torres - University of Texas - Austin
Marco Cocito-Monoc - LSU Museum of Natural Science
Riley Graham - University of Pennsylvania
Nicole Gunter - Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Liz Landis - Tufts University
Kathryn Massana - University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Robin Tinghitella - University of Denver
Eric Wice - Rice University
Su'ad Yoon - University of Nevada - Reno
Alex Berry - University of Pennsylvania Alex Hall - University of Texas - Arlington

2014-2015

Christopher Balakrishnan & Dustin Foote - East Carolina University
Emily Behrman - University of Pennsylvania
Kevin Burls & Cynthia Scholl - University of Nevada, Reno
Theodore Garland - University of California, Riverside
Jacqualine Grant - Southern Utah University
Eric Meikle - National Center for Science Education
John Niedzwiecki - Belmont University
EEB Program Graduate Students - Rice University
Beatriz Otero-Jimenez - University of Michigan
Catherine Peichel & Carole Tanner - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
William Ratcliff - Georgia Tech University
Stanley Rice - Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Stacey Smith - University of Colorado
Mehmet Somel - Middle East Technical University
Angela Stathos - University of Montana
Eric von Wettberg - Florida International University
Jennifer Weber - Fordham University
Emily Weigel - Michigan State University

2012-2013

2011

Dr. Paula Cushing - Denver Museum of Natural History, CO, USA
Kevin Deitz - Texas A&M University, TX, USA
Sarah Eddy - Oregon State University, OR, USA
Dr. Norman Johnson - University of Massachusets, MA, US
David Kikuchi - University of North Carolina, NC, USA
Dr. Barbara Lundrigan - Michigan State University, MI, USA
Dr. Emilie Snell-Rood - University of Minnesota, MN, USA
Dr. Philip Barnes - Connecticut College, CT, USA

2010

Note: SSE does not endorse nor investigate job ads submitted to this website.
 
 

06.

Title: Kokolopori Bonobo Research One-Year Fellowship
Position Type: Research Assistant
Institution: Harvard University- Kokolopori Bonobo Research Project
Department: Human Evolutionary Biology
Field: Animal Behavior
City: Djolu, Democratic Republic of Congo

General Information: Under the mentorship of Harvard professor Martin Surbeck, fellows will gain valuable fieldwork and applied conservation experience, including data and sample collection that will contribute to the scientific understanding of the bonobo ecology, including food availability, prey species, other sympatric wildlife, climate, and the relevance of human impact. Other learning opportunities will include conducting social surveys and collecting many organic samples to support genetic, pathogen, diet, metabolomics, and isotope analyses of the bonobo ecosystem.

Qualifications:

• undergraduate degree in biology or a related field
• previous fieldwork experience, preferably in remote areas of the tropics
• conversational competency in French and English
• proficient with email communication, MS Excel, and Word
• good interpersonal and communication skills
• experience working with an international team
• communicate clearly and regularly via remote connections with coordinator/director
• comfortable living and working in a context and culture potentially significantly different than your own
• willing and able to live away from developed areas, isolated and with minimal living conditions (no plumbing, electricity, or housing) in extremely remote locations
• experience with GPS, camera traps, and biological sample collection
• proficiency with Cybertracker, QGIS, BaseCamp/MapSource

Responsibilities: Along with the first-hand research data collection and analysis, fellows will also gain experience with other aspects of project management, including coordinating field assistants and reporting back to the PI and camp administrator on data and fieldwork status updates.

Instructions: Applications should be submitted to danielledacruz@fas.harvard.edu with ‘field

fellowship’ in the subject line and should include a CV, letter of interest highlighting qualifications/experience, and the names and emails of three references. Follow-up interviews will be conducted via Zoom.

Compensation: $500 monthly per diem, all expenses covered including visa, round-trip flights to Kinshasa (DRC), transport to/from the site, and lodging and food during the project
Contact: Danielle Da Cruz, danielledacruz@fas.harvard.edu
Web Link: https://groups.google.com/a/g-groups.wisc.edu/g/primate-job/c/I-eslKg547Q
Review Starts: 4/21/2025
Application Closes: 5/9/2025


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05.

Title: Postdoctoral Fellow: Widow spider and parasitoid invasion genomics
Position Type: Post-doctoral Research Fellow
Institution: City University of New York, York College
Department: Biology
Field: Evolutionary biology and genomics
City: New York, NY, USA

General Information: PI Monica Mowery at the City University of New York (York College and the CUNY Graduate Center) has an opening for a postdoctoral researcher to begin in October 2025. This position will be for one year. Our lab investigates the ecology, evolution, behavior, and genomics of urban and invasive species, focusing on insects and spiders. Funded by the Binational Science Foundation, the postdoctoral fellow will work on a project to sequence and annotate a reference genome for a widow spider (genus Latrodectus) egg sac parasitoid wasp, Philolema latrodecti.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

- Ph.D. by the time of the start date in integrative biology, evolutionary biology, population genetics, or a closely related field.
- A record of publishing research in peer-reviewed scientific journals

Preferred Qualifications:

- Experience generating, analyzing, and/or integrating large datasets – whole genome sequencing, RAD sequencing, and/or transcriptome sequencing.
- Experience sequencing and assembling reference genomes
- Experience in programming in R, Python, or a similar programming language
- Experience using computational methods to assess historical population and invasion dynamics
- A demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable research environment

Responsibilities: The postdoctoral fellow will additionally analyze nuclear genomic data using ddRAD sequencing and mitochondrial data for the invasive brown widow spider, Latrodectus geometricus, and the associated parasitoid wasp sampled globally to identify the native and invasive ranges of L. geometricus and P. latrodecti by comparing the nucleotide diversity and phylogeographic structure across populations. There will be opportunities to analyze sequenced libraries from museum specimens of the parasitoid wasp. The postdoctoral fellow will be on a collaborative team with Dr. Jessica Garb at University of Massachusetts Lowell and Dr. Michal Segoli and Dr. Yael Lubin at Ben-Gurion University.

Instructions: Applications will be accepted until May 1, 2025. Applicants must submit materials electronically through the Research Foundation website:

- a resume/CV that documents all applicable required and preferred qualifications,
- a cover letter (1-2 pages) that briefly (1) describes their relevant training and research accomplishments, (2) explains their reasons for applying for this specific position, (3) describes their career aspirations and how this position will advance their goals, and (4) clarifies any of the required or preferred job qualifications listed on the official posting that the candidate may meet but are not clearly indicated on their CV.

Three names and contact information for references

Queries regarding this position can be made by email to: mmowery@york.cuny.edu

Compensation: 60,000
Contact: Monica Mowery, mmowery@york.cuny.edu
Web Link: https://www.rfcuny.org/careers/postings?pvnID=YC-2503-006772
Review Starts: 5/1/2025
Application Closes: 5/25/2025


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04.

Title: Faculty Position in Indigenous Science: Ecology and Environment
Position Type: Tenure-Track/Tenured Assistant or Associate Professor
Institution: Queen's University
Department: School of Environmental Studies/Department of Biology
Field: Indigenous Science, Ecology and Environmental Science
City: Kingston, Ontario, Canada

General Information: The School of Environmental Studies and the Department of Biology at Queen’s University invite applications for a faculty position in Indigenous Science: Ecology and Environment. The position is a full-time tenure-track/tenured position at Assistant or Associate Professor rank, with a preferred starting date as soon as July 1, 2025. This position is one of seven Queen’s National Scholar’s (QNS) recruited in support of Queen’s University’s interdisciplinary Indigenous Knowledge and Perspectives Program. Further information on the Queen’s National Scholar Program can be found on the website of the Office of the Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) at: https://www.queensu.ca/provost/queens-national-scholars-program/qns-faculty-positions-indigenous-scholars. 

Please see the complete job advertisement for details. https://www.queensu.ca/ensc/employment-opportunities 

Qualifications: This position is open only to Indigenous persons with clear and demonstrable ties to Indigenous community(ies). In accordance with the Hiring of Indigenous Specific Positions – Interim Policy, applicants will be required to provide documents confirming their Indigenous identity. Shortlisted candidates will have their identity verified prior to being invited to interview and only applicants whose identities have been positively verified will proceed to the interview stage of the hiring process. 

We welcome applicants with research expertise and teaching interests in any area of ecology and environmental science. This could include, but is not limited to, biodiversity conservation, restoration ecology, aquatic ecology, ethnobotany and human health, sustainability science, environmental planning and assessment, and ecosystem health. We are particularly interested in applications from individuals who bring Indigenous Knowledge systems into their research.

As a Queen’s National Scholar, the ideal candidate will clearly demonstrate three main attributes: 

1)  Excellence in providing rich and rewarding learning experiences to students; 
2) Excellence in developing innovative, collaborative, or interdisciplinary research programs that align with Queen’s strategic priorities; and 
3) Commitment to the principles of Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and accessibility.

Responsibilities: The successful candidate will develop and teach an interdisciplinary foundational second-year course in Indigenous Science that can encompass both Indigenous ways of knowing and western science, akin to frameworks such as the Haudenosaunee Two Row Wampum or Mi'kmaw Two Eyed Seeing. It is expected that the course would focus on land-based learning and make use of the Queen’s University Biological Station (QUBS), a facility that encompasses 34km2 of lands and waters just north of Kingston (https://tinyurl.com/2p9yb73d). QUBS has engaged in extensive Indigenization of its facilities, including a centre for Indigenous knowledge at its Elbow Lake Environmental Education Centre. Ideally, QUBS properties and/or facilities would be incorporated into part of the candidate’s research program as well. 

The candidate will also make teaching contributions to upper-year undergraduate and graduate courses on related themes and will work collaboratively with the recently established program in Indigenous Knowledges and Perspectives. IK&P at Queen’s is hosted by the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures and is anchored in language, cultural, and land-based education. The program launched as a Minor in 2013 and added a Major in 2022 and it features a dynamic and growing list of courses from diverse units across the Faculty of Arts & Science and the university at large. IK&P currently has four Indigenous tenured/tenure-track faculty members and four additional Indigenous Queen’s National Scholars from other academic units who support the program through teaching and service. The successful applicant will join a core of people committed to centering Indigenous knowledges and perspectives as INDG continues to grow and flourish. More information is available at Indigenous Knowledges and Perspectives | Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures.

Instructions: A complete application consists of: 

• Cover letter;
• Current Curriculum Vitae (including publications and other forms of scholarship and creative output);
• Summary of most significant research contributions including demonstrated outreach, network of community collaborations, and outline of future research directions, including potential use of the Queen’s University Biological Station where applicable (maximum 2 pages);
• Statement of teaching interests and experience, especially with respect to land-based learning, and indication of how lands and waters of the Queen’s University Biological Station would be incorporated into teaching activities (maximum 2 pages); 
• Statement describing past and planned commitment to promoting Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and accessibility in research and teaching (maximum 1 page);
• Contact information for three people who will provide references upon request. 

Review of applications will commence on May 1, 2025, and applications will continue to be accepted until the position is successfully filled.

Compensation: Commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Contact: Tammy Wintle, tammy.wintle@queensu.ca
Web Link: https://www.queensu.ca/ensc/employment-opportunities
Review Starts: 5/1/2025
Application Closes: 7/31/2025


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03.

Title: POST-DOCTORAL position in Butterfly Evolutionary Developmental  Biology: Omics, Computational Science, and AI
Position Type: Post-doctoral Research Fellow
Institution: University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras
Department: Biology
Field: Genomics, evolution, and development
City: San Juan, , Puerto Rico

General Information: JOB DESCRIPTION

This is a unique opportunity to join a large team and international network of scientists to work on a multi-year project that embraces the most important questions in development and evolution utilizing state of the art technologies. We are seeking a highly motivated Post-Doctoral Fellows to join our research team focusing on developmental evolutionary questions. We are recruiting 4 post-doctoral fellows. We use butterflies as a study system and omics, computational biology and AI as tools to determine fundamental molecular rules in the making of life.

Project Team

The team Principal Investigator, Riccardo Papa, is an expert in genomics, evolution, and development. The project is composed by a large team of researchers with diverse skills that will enrich the learning capability of the applicants and future job opportunities. Our team is composed of biologists, chemists, computer scientists, chemical engineers, educators, and finance advisors. Our team members are experts in the fields of evolution, genomics, functional genetics, epigenetics, proteomics, metabolomics, computer science, chemical engineer, social sciences and business. We also have partners from the private, non-profit and entrepreneur sectors. Finally, we have a large network of national (USA) and international collaborators that will participate in the development of this project and will represent an added value for personal growth.

Professional Development

This proposal will offer an opportunity for professional development with activities and workshops that cover omics data generation, computational data analysis, AI, entrepreneurship and science communication. All together these workshops will provide a stronger foundation for mentoring and greater opportunity for personal growth and future job applications.

Project Description:

This project aims to develop transformative science in Puerto Rico by tackling a fundamental problem of developmental biology and evolution, using two butterfly model systems. The project will integrate a diverse set of omics, developmental, and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to illuminate the genome-tophenome pathway of a complex trait at a cellular level. The project aspires to create a detailed map of molecular processes for evolutionary comparisons. It brings together a multidisciplinary team of researchers spread across seven academic institutions within the University of Puerto Rico system and international collaborators. The project will address a scientifically important topic: the mechanistic underpinnings that instruct cells to undergo fates and acquire diverse functions to build homologous tissues, organs, and traits over the course of development and evolution. The project’s ambition is to decode the genomic architecture and molecular logic of the differentiation and function of cells and organs during the entire developmental trajectory of an organism. The proposed research involves four Aims, including understanding the constraints and freedoms in organismal development (genomics focus), deciphering the molecular toolkit for building a butterfly (molecular architecture focus), understanding a butterfly wing’s cell differentiation and the development of wing scales with unique colors (cellular fate focus), and building cyberinfrastructure to find patterns across omics data (focus on scalability, data integration, and artificial intelligence (AI) predictability).

• Link to NSF award: 

https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2435987&HistoricalAwards=false 

• Principal Investigator Google Scholar profile: 

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Ah6lS28AAAAJ&hl=en 

Position Overview:

We are looking for an enthusiastic, highly motivated, and skilled researcher to contribute to our ongoing studies on butterfly evolution and development. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong desire to grow both professionally and scientifically. This position offers an excellent opportunity for a passionate scientist to work on cutting-edge projects investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying butterfly organismal development and evolution. We seek individuals who are not only technically proficient but also bring energy, curiosity, ambition, and a commitment to advancing their expertise in the field. By joining our team, you'll not only advance your career in a stimulating academic environment but also enjoy the unparalleled lifestyle and natural beauty that Puerto Rico offers.

Qualifications: • Ph.D. in Genetics, Developmental Biology, Genomics, Bioinformatics, Computational Science or a related field

• Strong background in computational science and molecular biology techniques
• Proficiency in bioinformatics and data analysis (e.g., R, Python, Unix/Linux)
• Experience with next-generation sequencing data analysis
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team
• Publication record in peer-reviewed journals

Responsibilities: • Design and conduct experiments related to development and evolutionary questions in butterflies

• Analyze complex omics datasets
• Maintain big data repositories
• Develop computational pipelines
• Develop and apply bioinformatics tools for data analysis
• Prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals
• Present research findings at conferences and seminars
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students
• Assist in grant writing and project management

Instructions: Please submit the following documents:

1. Cover letter describing your research interests and experience 
2. Curriculum vitae 
3. Two representative publications 
4. Contact information for three references 

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Selection of candidates for this first round of hiring will close by April 30, 2025 for follow up interviews. 

Exceptions can be made for particular cases of extremely motivated and qualified applicants.

All documents must be submitted to the following electronic address before or by April 30, 2025 

Attention to : Dr. Riccardo Papa, Department of Biology 
Subject : Application – The Blueprint of Life
e-mail : riccardo.papa@upr.edu and rpapa.lab@gmail.com

Compensation: Basic salary: $50K – $65K annually - Full time (37.5 hrs/week)
Contact: Dr. Riccardo Papa, Department of Biology, riccardo.papa@upr.edu and rpapa.lab@gmail.com
Review Starts: 3/10/2025
Application Closes: 4/30/2025


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02.

Title: Full-time fish specialist/lab technician
Position Type: Research Assistant
Institution: Rutgers University
Department: Genetics
Field: Evolutionary developmental biology
City: New Brunswick, NJ, USA

General Information: The Nakamura lab (http://nakamuralab.com/) in Department of Genetics at Rutgers university is looking for a full-time fish specialist/lab technician in evolutionary developmental biology. The long-term goal of Nakamura lab is to identify genetic mechanisms underlying fish diversity and its contribution to the fish-to-tetrapod transition. To this end, we bridge genetics, genomics, and embryology using model and non-model organisms, such as zebrafish, bichir, skates, and sharks.

The successful candidate will be involved in maintenance of the fish facility (zebrafish, bichir, skates, and sharks), lab management, and coordinating research efforts in the lab. The expected start date for this position is mid-May 2025.

Qualifications: B.S. or equivalent experience in biology

Responsibilities: Maintenance of fish systems including zebrafish, skates, sharks, and bichir

Instructions: Interested applicants should send a curriculum vitae and brief statement of interest to nakamura@dls.rutgers.edu (Tetsuya Nakamura)

Contact: Tetsuya Nakamura, nakamura@dls.rutgers.edu
Web Link: https://jobs.rutgers.edu/postings/244332
Review Starts: 3/1/2025
Application Closes: 6/1/2025


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01.

Title: postdoc in evolutionary genomics
Position Type: Post-doctoral Research Fellow
Institution: University of Kansas
Department: EEB
Field: Evolutionary genetics
City: Lawrence, KS, USA

General Information: We are recruiting a postdoctoral researcher to join John Kelly, Stuart Macdonald and Rob Unckless on an NSF funded project to study the genomic basis of male fitness variation in wild populations of Drosophila.  Our research groups at the University of Kansas use a range of genetic, genomic, and statistical techniques to address basic questions in evolutionary genetics.  The postdoctoral researcher will help to lead a collaborative project exploring the genomic basis of fitness variation in Drosophila melanogaster.  The project will combine field and laboratory experiments to identify the processes generating fitness variation among individuals and quantitatively estimate how that variation results in allele frequency change. This project employs massive-scale genome sequencing, data that will enable a wide range of novel, independent projects.  The project also involves a substantial theoretical component including algorithm development. The breadth of the project, and depth of the data we are collecting, allows for a range of questions to be addressed, providing the opportunity for the successful candidate to position themselves as an independent investigator.Detailed information available at (and applications should be submitted through) the KU employment portal: employment.ku.edu/staff/29761BR 

Contact: John Kelly, jkk@ku.edu
Web Link: employment.ku.edu/staff/29761BR
Review Starts: 3/1/2025
Application Closes: 4/30/2025


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87.

Title: Director of Kellogg Biological Station
Position Type: Tenured Professor
Institution: Michigan State University
Department: College of Agriculture & Natural Resources/College of Natural Science
Field: Ecology, Evolution, Conservation, Extension
City: Hickory Corners, MI, USA

General Information: Michigan State University seeks a resident Director for the W. K. Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) to provide leadership and promote a creative environment that fosters innovation and excellence in the Station's research, education, and outreach programs in ecology, evolution, agriculture, and conservation biology.

Qualifications: Doctorate in Life Sciences or related field. An outstanding record or potential of achievement including leadership, team building, distinguished scholarship, and dedication to the land grant mission. Candidates should have demonstrated potential to lead and manage a dynamic program of interdisciplinary research, education, and outreach, a record of research excellence in any area of ecology, evolution, agriculture, or conservation biology, and strong interpersonal and people management skills. The applicant should have an appreciation for the range of disciplines related to the broader life sciences and the diverse functions of research, extension, and outreach. Candidates must exhibit preparedness for administration of a large, diverse community and demonstrate outstanding leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, along with the ability to promote KBS and increase its national and international prominence.

Must meet criteria for appointment at Professor with tenure at Michigan State.

Responsibilities: The Director provides visionary leadership for KBS research, education, and outreach programs and is expected to maintain and enhance a creative and productive environment for faculty, students, and both academic and non-academic staff. The Director serves as the principal representative of KBS with authority and responsibility for administrative decisions. The Director reports directly to the Deans of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the College of Natural Science at MSU.

Instructions: Applicants for the position of Director should submit 1) a CV and 2) a cover letter describing your interest in the position with an emphasis on your leadership experience and philosophical approaches to faculty and staff development, student success, and achieving a culture of diversity and inclusion, with the latter evaluated using the Berkeley rubric focusing on Track Record and Plans. At the end of the cover letter, please include names and contact information for five (5) references who are familiar with your work and leadership experience. Letters are not initially required, but these individuals may be approached for additional information only after obtaining the applicant's permission to do so. Applications should be submitted online at https://careers.msu.edu.

Compensation: Salary commensurate with experience, competitive startup package
Contact: Andrea Case, caseand4@msu.edu
Web Link: https://careers.msu.edu/jobs/institute-center-director-management-hickory-corners-michigan-united-states
Review Starts: 1/21/2025
Application Closes: 12/3/2026


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89.

Title: Postdoc position at the LSUMNS - Evolutionary Biology/Systematics
Position Type: Post-doctoral Research Fellow
Institution: Louisiana State University
Department: Museum of Natural Science
Field: Zoology/Evolutionary Biology
City: Baton Rouge, LA, USA

General Information: Candidates applying for this position can choose between the zoology division curators of the LSUMNS (https://www.lsu.edu/mns/) to work with, including: Dr. Gregory Thom (Genetic Resources/Ornithology; https://www.thom-lab.org/join; gthom@lsu.edu), Jake Esselstyn (Mammalogy; https://esselstyn.github.io/; esselstyn@lsu.edu), Nick Mason (Ornithology; https://mason-lab.org/; mason@lsu.edu), Robb Brumfield (Genetic Resources/Ornithology; https://faculty.lsu.edu/brumfieldlab/index.php; robb@lsu.edu), Prosanta Chakrabarty (Ichthyology; https://www.prosanta.org/; prosanta@lsu.edu), and Chris Austin (Herpetology; https://www.museum.lsu.edu/Austin/lab.html; ccaustin@lsu.edu). Each curator has a research program that is associated with their taxonomic group of expertise.

Qualifications: Ph.D. in Biology or related discipline (the degree must be conferred by the effective date of the appointment); experience with next-generation molecular methods, such as whole-genome sequencing, target capture, and other genomic tools; strong publication record; ability to manage an active laboratory; and a record of and interest in continuing mentorship and outreach.

Responsibilities: 75% - Conduct research on a semi-independent basis. 25% - Responsible for helping with the laboratory, mentoring, and training of graduate and undergraduate research assistants, and management of the LSUMNS’s shared molecular genetics facility.

Instructions: Candidates are encouraged to reach out to their preferred supervisor prior to applying.

Contact: Gregory Thom, gthom@lsu.edu
Web Link: https://lsu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/LSU/job/B0009-MJ-Foster-Hall/Postdoctoral-Researcher_R00100975
Review Starts: 2/15/2025
Application Closes: 6/30/2025


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88.

Title: Assistant Professor - Wildlife Biology, Department of Biological & Environmental Sciences
Position Type: Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
Institution: East Texas A&M-Commerce University
Department: Biological & Environmental Science
Field: Wildlife Biology
City: Commerce, TX, USA

General Information: The Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at East Texas A&M University is inviting applications for a tenure-track assistant professor in our Wildlife and Conservation Science and Biology programs. This 9-month academic role emphasizes teaching, research, and service. The ideal candidate will establish an externally funded research program utilizing modern field and laboratory techniques to explore vertebrate ecology. Teaching responsibilities will encompass both graduate and undergraduate courses relevant to the candidate's field of expertise and in accordance with program needs. The expected start date for this position is September 1, 2025.

Qualifications:

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Education: A Ph.D. in wildlife biology, conservation ecology, or a closely related field

Experience / Knowledge / Skills: Research focus that includes significant field components along with modern laboratory techniques. Candidates for this position should exhibit a proven track record of conducting independent research and show strong potential for securing external funding and publishing high-quality research papers. Additionally, candidates must exhibit effective communication and organizational skills. Furthermore, the candidate should display a strong inclination toward establishing and nurturing and robust teaching program while providing unwavering support to undergraduate and graduate education and research initiatives.  

PREFERRED EDUCATION / SKILLS/ EXPERIENCE:

Postdoctoral experience in wildlife ecology or wildlife conservation.
Strong potential for securing external funding
Effective communication and organizational skills
Experience in teaching and mentoring students at the undergraduate and graduate levels

Responsibilities:

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Establish an externally funded research program employing field and laboratory methods to address conservation needs of vertebrates in Texas.
- Expected to be an important contributor to the career-preparedness of students in our Wildlife and Conservation Science program.
- Responsible for teaching comparative animal physiology and mammalogy as well as related courses in the undergraduate and graduate curriculum.
- Develop an externally funded research program that incorporates undergraduate and graduate students.
- Service activities will include university and departmental committees but will also include outreach activities to important agencies and area stakeholders.

Instructions: During the application process the “My Experience” page has a section provided “Attachments (Resume/CV, References, Cover letter, etc.)” to upload required documents. 

Use the Upload button to add each document.

You will be able to upload up to 5 documents. Be aware that the maximum size allowed for any one document is 5MB.

All documents must be electronically submitted through the Texas A&M Online Employment Services website to be considered.

Incomplete or improperly submitted applications may be excluded from consideration.

Please do not withdraw your application in an attempt to upload a missing document, instead please email HR for help.


Please provide the following documents:

- Cover Letter
- Resume/CV
- Three professional references with complete contact information (Unsolicited letters of recommendation will not be considered).
- Transcripts (Unofficial will be accepted with application. Official transcripts are required upon acceptance of verbal offer). 
- If transcripts are from an international institution, it is the responsibility of the prospective faculty member to have the transcripts translated and evaluated by an approved credential evaluator.

If you need assistance, please contact us at HR.Hiring@tamuc.edu

Compensation: Commensurate
Contact: East Texas A&M HR Department, HR.Hiring@tamuc.edu
Web Link: https://tamus.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/ETAMU_External/job/Commerce-TX/Assistant-Professor---Biological---Environmental-Sciences_R-079800
Review Starts: 12/9/2024
Application Closes: 12/9/2025


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84.

Title: Open rank faculty position in Vector Biology
Position Type: Open rank tenure track
Institution: Florida International University
Department: Biological Sciences
Field: Vector Biology
City: Miami, FL, USA

General Information: The Department of Biological Sciences at Florida International University (https://biology.fiu.edu) invites qualified candidates for an Open Rank (Assistant, Associate, or Full) Professor position in vector biology. Scientists working in the areas of arthropod molecular genetics, biochemistry, population genetics/genomics, neurobiology, or physiology are especially encouraged to apply.

Qualifications: The minimum requirements are a doctoral degree in a related field from an accredited institution and evidence of active research.

Responsibilities: The successful candidate is expected to build an internationally prominent research program by securing external funding, publishing in peer-reviewed journals, recruiting and mentoring graduate students, and contributing to undergraduate and graduate teaching.

Instructions: Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply to Job Opening ID 534013 at careers.fiu.edu and attach a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, a research statement, as well as a statement of teaching and mentoring philosophy. Candidates will be requested to provide names and contact information for at least 3 references who will be contacted as determined by the search committee.

Compensation: TBD
Contact: Janna Fierst, jfierst@fiu.edu
Web Link: https://hr.fiu.edu/careers
Review Starts: 1/5/2025
Application Closes: 1/1/2028


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Title: Tenure System Assistant Professor in Functional Genomics
Position Type: Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
Institution: Michigan State University
Department: Integrative Biology
Field: Functional Evolutionary Genomics
City: East Lansing, MI, USA

General Information: The Department of Integrative Biology at Michigan State University (MSU) invites applicants for the position of Tenure System Assistant Professor in Functional Genomics. We are seeking applicants who apply state-of-the-art experimental techniques in traditional or non-traditional animal model systems to understand the genetic mechanisms of genotype-to-phenotype interactions, genome function, developmental or physiological evolution, comparative animal evolution, adaptation, and/or biodiversity. Computational and theoretical approaches are welcomed when combined with experimental validation. The successful applicant will be an investigator with a proven record of research accomplishments in the targeted areas and the ability to build an extramurally funded, independent research program in Functional Genomics. While the particular research focus within Functional Genomics is open, preference will be given to applicants that can contribute to MSU IBIO?s strengths in comparative studies of biodiversity across evolutionary and ecological scales. The future faculty member will contribute to undergraduate and/or graduate teaching according to candidate strengths, and participate in undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral training. The successful applicant will also be expected to contribute to the highly interactive, diverse, and collaborative MSU Department of Integrative Biology (MSU IBIO; https://integrativebiology.natsci.msu.edu/).

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Statement

MSU is committed to providing a work environment that supports employees' work and personal life, and offers employment assistance to the spouse or partner of candidates for faculty and academic staff positions.

Qualifications: Required Qualifications:

- Ph.D. or equivalent degree in biology or a related field in the life sciences
- At least one year of postdoctoral experience
- Demonstration of expertise in animal functional genomics
- Strong record of research productivity including lead author publications in peer-reviewed journals
- Clear plan to build an independent, competitive, and externally funded research program in animal functional genomics
- Clear knowledge of and interest in dimensions of diversity that result from different lived experiences, such as ethnic, socioeconomic, racial, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and cultures

Desired Qualifications:

- Prior stage-appropriate external funding support such as research fellowships and grants
- Experience with undergraduate research training and mentorship
- Evidence of instructional experience at the undergraduate and/or graduate level
- Prior contributions to initiatives fostering diversity, equity, and inclusions in research and/or teaching

Responsibilities: The new faculty will strengthen the core mission of the MSU IBIO Department to advance understanding of the function, stability, resilience, and adaptation of complex biological systems via research, teaching, and service. We use cutting-edge tools to address important questions about genetics, genomics, development, physiology, behavior, ecology, and evolution in a wide array of species and model systems, over temporal and spatial scales. The department includes more than 30 faculty members and strong graduate and undergraduate programs. Many faculty members are also affiliated with the MSU Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Program (https://eeb.msu.edu/), the MSU BioMolecular Science Program (https://biomolecular.natsci.msu.edu/), and numerous other cross-college units and interdisciplinary graduate programs. MSU IBIO is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace that enriches our learning environment and innovative research and seek colleagues driven by the same motivation.

Instructions: Interested applicants should submit a single PDF file with required application materials to the MSU Applicant Page (MAP) for faculty positions (online at https://jobs.msu.edu).

https://careers.msu.edu/en-us/job/521081/assistant-professortenure-system-functional-genomics 

The single, concatenated PDF document will include the following documents, each labeled with the appropriate title:

1) A Cover Letter that frames the application in context of this ad and the IBIO Department at Michigan State University.
2) A Curriculum Vitae listing publications, awarded and pending grant proposals and/or fellowships, contributed or invited presentations and talks, teaching and mentoring experiences, leadership positions, contributions to the academic community, and public outreach efforts. Other professional information may also be included, as the applicant sees fit.
3) A 3-page Research Statement highlighting the relevance of the research, research accomplishments, and future plans for independent research and funding.
4) A 1-page Teaching and Mentoring Statement including experiences, goals, and plans to address these goals.
5) Contact information (name, address, email and phone) for three individuals who can provide reference letters.

Successful applicants are expected to summarize their contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the application materials outlined above.

Deadline for Receipt of Applications

Complete applications must be received preferably by 11/27/2024 to receive full consideration. Late submissions will be considered if suitable candidates are not identified by the deadline.

Contact: Ingo Braasch, braasch@msu.edu
Web Link: https://careers.msu.edu/en-us/job/521081/assistant-professortenure-system-functional-genomics
Review Starts: 11/27/2024
Application Closes: 11/7/2026


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Title: Assistant/Associate Professor of Biology (Tenure-Track)
Position Type: Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
Institution: The University of West Alabama
Department: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences
Field: Biology
City: Livingston, AL, USA

General Information: The UWA Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics invites applications for the Assistant/Associate Professor of Biology position. The rank of associate professor can be further considered for qualified candidates.

Qualifications: Required:

• Ph.D. in biological sciences or a related field (ABD candidates are considered for instructor rank until the Ph.D. is obtained). 
• A commitment to excellence in teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, with a student-centered, active-learning approach.
• A commitment to excellence in research with undergraduate and graduate students.
• Demonstrated potential and dedication to attract extramural funding.
• Ability to work effectively with administration, faculty, staff, and students from varied socio-economic/ethnic backgrounds.

Desired:

• Postdoctoral experience in modern and emerging technologies.
• Recent research publications.
• Successful teaching in a small, student-centered regional university setting.
• Successful experience in directing undergraduate and graduate research.
• Demonstrated ability to obtain extramural funding from public and/or private sources
• Successful experience in advising students.
• Experience with online courses.
• A commitment to be involved in recruiting students to programs.

Responsibilities: • Teach 5-6 courses (21 hours) per year, including introductory biology and upper- and graduate-level specialty courses

• Teach online courses based on departmental needs and applicant’s expertise.
• Direct undergraduate and graduate research.
• Develop an extramurally funded research program.
• Serve on departmental and University committees.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Chairperson and Dean.
• Fulfill other duties expected of a faculty member, such as student advising, curriculum development, departmental recruitment and retention activities, public service, etc.

Instructions: https://apply.interfolio.com/156426 

Contact: Mustafa Morsy, mmorsy@uwa.edu
Web Link: https://apply.interfolio.com/156426
Review Starts: 10/30/2024
Application Closes: 5/1/2025


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Title: Post-doctoral Researcher in Evolutionary Physiology and Reproduction
Position Type: Post-doctoral Research Fellow
Institution: Colorado State University
Department: Biology
Field: Evolutionary Physiology/Reproductive Biology
City: Fort Collins, CO, USA

General Information: The Wilsterman Lab at Colorado State University (Fort Collins, CO, USA) is hiring a post-doctoral researcher position with applicant review starting immediately.

This post-doctoral researcher will work as part of our collaborative team on a 5-yr NIH award focused on understanding how local adaptation to high elevations protects reproductive dysfunction associated with low oxygen. We are particularly interested in the development of the placenta and identifying cell-type specific expression profiles that are hypoxia-sensitive within this ephemeral organ.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have some bioinformatics experience and experience working with lab rodents, but all interested applicants are encouraged to reach out to discuss the position.

Responsibilities: The post-doctoral researcher will be involved in generating and analysing single-nuclei RNAseq and ATAC-seq data as well as supporting primary cell culture experiments.

Instructions: Please email Dr. Kate Wilsterman to chat further (kwilst@rams.colostate.edu).

Compensation:
Contact: Kate Wilsterman, kwilst@rams.colostate.edu
Web Link: http://www.thewilstermanlab.com/new-post-doc-position.html
Review Starts: 7/1/2024
Application Closes: 4/30/2025


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EVOLUTION 2018

Symposium proposal submissions for Evolution 2018 in Montpellier, France are now open! Symposia proposals will be accepted until June 26. Note that this is during the Evolution 2017 meeting, so be sure to submit your proposal before you leave! Information about the format of the meeting, the symposia and what we expect for symposia organizers can be found at http://evolutionmontpellier2018.org/call-symposia.

MARCH FOR SCIENCE

Thank you to all who participated in a March for Science, either in DC or at one of the 600+ satellite marches around the world! More than 1 million people marched on April 22. (Read more about the number crunching on the March for Science blog.) Here is Sally Otto, SSE President, at the Vancouver march. To stay involved in advocating for science, check out the AAAS Force for Science page and the new March for Science website.

EVOLUTION LETTERS

The first issue of the open access journal Evolution Letters is now live! This journal is co-owned by SSE and the Society of Systematic Biologists, and members receive reduced publication fees. Read the first issue here. Submit your manuscript here.

EVOLUTION 2017 INFORMATION

Register today and join us for EVOLUTION 2017: June 23-27, 2017 in Oregon Convention Center Portland, Oregon. Information about the  SYMPOSIA and meeting schedule, as well and past and future meetings, can be found on our meeting web page. 

Diversity in Science Luncheon

Please come join the Diversity in Science luncheon at Evolution 2017! This event will be a discussion on identifying bias and increasing diversity across all dimensions. Cost is $15, and lunch is included. Add it to your registration by logging in here.

AIBS Policy Communication Workshop

A few seats are still open for the AIBS Workshop following the meeting! The workshop is titled "Informing and Engaging Decision-makers" and will take place June 28. Learn more here and add it to your registration by logging in here.

Meet the NSF DEB Program Officers at Evolution 2017

A number of program officers from the NSF's Division of Environmental Biology will be at Evolution this year. For a full list see the DEB Blog. There will also be an NSF Information Session during the meeting.

Regular Talks Full

Regular talks are now full, but you can still submit a poster until May 20. To submit a poster, follow this link, click on "Registration", sign in with the email and password you used to register, click "Author Center" in the top menu, and then click "Author/Attendee Login." The option to submit a poster will be on that page.

SSE Graduate Student and Postdoc travel supplements

Travel Award recipients for the Evolution 2017 meeting in Portland have been selected! Applicants should check their emails for award notifications. These awards total $43,500 in funding support to our student and postdoc members to attend and present at this year's meeting. Travel Award recipients are not eligible for the registration rebate offered in return for volunteering at the conference.

SPENDING BILLS

We were pleased to see that the NSF, NIH and others were largely spared in the recent federal fiscal decisions. Learn more from the AIBS Policy Report.

STEPHEN JAY GOULD PRIZE 

The SSE Education Committee is pleased to announce the winner of the 2017 Stephen Jay Gould Prize: Dr. Timothy R. Birkhead. Dr. Birkhead is Professor of Behavior and Evolution at the University of Sheffield and has made major contributions to understanding how animal behavior evolves under environmental pressures and in response to competition. Dr. Birkhead has had a distinguished career both advancing the science of evolution and in conveying that knowledge to the general public. Dr. Birkhead has promoted evolution through his extremely successful popular science books that include Promiscuity: An Evolutionary History of Sperm Competition (2000), The Red Canary(2003), The Wisdom of Birds (2008), Bird Sense (2012), Ten Thousand Birds: Ornithology Since Darwin (2014), and The Most Perfect Think: The inside (and Outside) of a Birds Egg (2016), as well as through many popular science articles.  Congratulations!

ROSEMARY GRANT WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Congratulations to the 27 graduate students who were selected to receive a Rosemary Grant Research Award from the SSE.  The goal of these grants is to identify and support innovative and potentially high impact research by beginning graduate students. These awards represent over $60,000 per year of investment into research by our doctoral student members.

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2016 SSE Grants for Local and Regional Outreach Promoting the Understanding of Evolutionary Biology

This note is a call for proposals for support for local and regional educational outreach activities to take place during 2016. 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 previously projects that have evidence of success are allowed. Guidelines for applying for funds to support SSE 2016 outreach projects are as follows:

1. Proposal: Clearly but briefly state your plans in NO MORE THAN one single-spaced page.
2. Amounts requested may be up to $1000.  Include a short justification for the use of the funds.  Indicate any additional matching funds and include letters of commitment from collaborative partners.  NOTE: Projects under $500 will receive funds upon award.  Projects from $500 - $1000 will receive funds upon completion of the project and submission of receipts.
3. Send your request by email attachment (subject heading 'SSE Outreach 2016') to Robert Pennock [pennock5@msu.edu] no later than 25 January 2016.

Applications will be ranked by an SSE Education Committee working group according to the following criteria:

1. Clarity and quality of the proposed activity;
2. Expected impact in terms of reaching a critical or broad audience;
3. Evidence, in the form of matching funds, of partnership outside of your immediate academic department;
4. Indication as to how the project might lead to new or ongoing successful outreach collaborations.

We expect to fund in the range of 10-20 applications, with announcement of awards to take place by February 8, 2016. 

Examples of past outreach activities have included public lectures, exhibits, student competitions, and professional development events for teachers.  We especially encourage proposals that focus on discussing and implementing evolution education reforms recommended in the Vision & Change in Undergraduate Biology Education: Chronicling Change, Inspiring the Future (2013) report < http://visionandchange.org/files/2015/07/VISchange2015_webFin.pdf > or on dialogues between undergraduate instructors and K-12 teachers around the new emphasis on evolution in the AP Biology Curriculum Framework (2015) <https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/ap/ap-biology-course-and-exam-description.pdf> and the Next Generation Science Standards <http://www.nextgenscience.org/next-generation-science-standards>. We look forward to your applications!

Even if you are not interested in applying for funding from the SSE, we encourage you to engage through whatever means are at your disposal in opportunities to promote public understanding of evolutionary biology.
Sincerely,

Robert T. Pennock
Chair, SSE Education Committee Outreach Grants Program

Evol2014 About Women in Science events on the topic of Implicit Bias

Dear Colleagues,

Below are the links from the Evol2014 About Women in Science events on the topic of Implicit Bias. For each session, we have provided Joan’s presentation and the workshop responses from the attendees. We hope that you find the information useful.

We would like to thank the organizers of Evol2014, the three societies who sponsored these events, our guest speaker, Joan Herbers, and our attendees.

Post-tenure PowerPoint Presentation
http://www.clfs.umd.edu/biology/dudashlab/Evol2014%20Post-Tenure%20Workshop%20ImplicitBias%20Final.pdf

Post-tenure Take Home messages
http://www.clfs.umd.edu/biology/dudashlab/Post-Tenure%20Workshop%20Summary%20Evol2014%20Final%202July2014.pdf

Lunchtime PowerPoint Presentation
http://www.clfs.umd.edu/biology/dudashlab/Lunchtime%20NetworkingWorkshop%20Evol2014%20Final%202July2014.pdf

Lunchtime Take Home messages
http://www.clfs.umd.edu/biology/dudashlab/LunchtimeWorkshop%20Summary%20Evol2014%20Final%202July2014.pdf


Sincerely,
Michele Dudash and Jenny Boughman

Call for Symposia for 2015 Annual Meeting

The 2015 annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Evolution is planned for June 26-30, 2015 in Guaruja, Brazil. The SSE Council invites proposals for the two Society-sponsored symposia to be held in conjunction with the meeting. Symposium proposals should include: (1) a synopsis of the symposium theme (about one page); (2) a tentative list of speakers, including institutional affiliations, and topics; (3) a rationale for the symposium explaining why this topic and this group of speakers are particularly appropriate for a Society-sponsored symposium; and (4) a statement that all potential speakers have been contacted and agree to participate in the symposium.

In evaluating proposals, SSE Council seriously considers the diversity of participants as a major qualification. Symposium organizers are expected to take into account gender, seniority, nationality, and other aspects traditionally underrepresented in Society symposia when preparing proposals. In addition, Council will favor those proposals whose topics concern newly emerging fields, fields ripe for syntheses, and fields different from those that have been included in recent Society symposia.

The Council will select two proposals for half-day symposia at the annual meeting in June 2014. All applicants will be notified of the Council's decision in August. The Society provides travel support for organizers and participants in sponsored symposia. Details are available on request. To be assured of full consideration, proposals must be received by midnight Eastern Standard Time on June 6, 2014:

Butch Brodie
Executive Vice President, SSE
Department of Biology
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400328
Charlottesville, VA 22904-4328
bbrodie@virginia.edu

Proposals should be sent by email (bbrodie@virginia.edu) as a single attachment in PDF format (under subject heading: SSE Symposia Proposal). Please expect and request confirmation of receipt of the proposal.

Local and Regional Outreach Promoting the Understanding of Evolutionary Biology

This note is a call for proposals for support for such activities to take place during 2014. It is our hope that these projects will lead to ongoing outreach collaboration in future years.

Guidelines for applying for funds to support SSE 2014 outreach projects are as follows:

1. Clearly but briefly state your plans in NO MORE THAN a single page.
2. Amounts requested may be up to $1,000, with additional matching funds clearly indicated. Include letters of commitment from collaborative partners or indicate whom you have approached in this regard.
3. Send your request by email attachment (subject heading 'SSE Outreach 2014') to Robert Pennock [pennock5@msu.edu] no later than 25 January 2014.

Applications will be ranked by an SSE Education Committee working group according to the following criteria:

1. Clarity and quality of the proposed activity;
2. Expected impact in terms of reaching a critical or broad audience;
3. Evidence, in the form of matching funds, of partnership outside of your immediate academic department;
4. Indication as to how the project might lead to ongoing outreach collaboration.

We expect to fund in the range of 10-20 applications, with announcement of awards to take place by February 15, 2014. 

Examples of past outreach activities have included public lectures, exhibits, student competitions, and professional development events for teachers.  This year we would especially encourage proposals that focus on discussing and implementing evolution education reforms recommended in the Vision & Change in Undergraduate Biology Education (2011) report <http://visionandchange.org/finalreport/> or on dialogues between undergraduate instructors and K-12 teachers around the new emphasis on evolution in the AP Biology Curriculum Framework (2012-13) < http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/ap/10b_2727_AP_Biology_CF_WEB_110128.pdf> and the Next Generation Science Standards <http://www.nextgenscience.org/next-generation-science-standards>.

We look forward to your applications!

Even if you are not interested in applying for funding from the SSE, we encourage you to engage through whatever means are at your disposal in opportunities to promote public understanding of evolutionary biology.

Sincerely,

Robert T. Pennock, On behalf of the SSE Education Committee

Local and Regional Outreach Promoting the Understanding of Evolutionary Biology

This note is a call for proposals for support for such activities to take place during 2013.  It is our hope that these projects will lead to ongoing outreach collaboration in future years.

Guidelines for applying for funds to support SSE 2013 outreach projects are as follows:

1. Clearly but briefly state your plans in NO MORE THAN a single page.
2. Amounts requested may be up to $800, with additional matching funds clearly indicated.  Include letters of commitment from collaborative partners or indicate whom you have approached in this regard.
3. Send your request by email attachment (subject heading 'SSE Outreachm2013') to Robert Pennock pennock5@msu.edu no later than 10 March 2013.

1. Clarity and quality of the proposed activity;
2. Expected impact in terms of reaching a broad audience;
3. Evidence, in the form of matching funds, of partnership outside of your immediate academic department;
4. Indication as to how the project might lead to ongoing outreach collaboration.

Examples of outreach activities might include public lectures, exhibits, student competitions, etc; but we do not want to be overly prescriptive. Indeed, we look forward to seeing how imaginative the SSE might be collectively. We look forward to your applications!

Even if you are not interested in applying for funding from the SSE, we encourage you to engage through whatever means are at your disposal in opportunities to promote public understanding of evolutionary biology.

Sincerely,

Robert T. Pennock, On behalf of the SSE Education Committee

SSE International Committee (SSE-IC)

The SSE-IC mission is to foster international relationships between evolution societies and its members with particular focus on students and early-career scientists. The committee sponsors annually a series of activities/awards to reach this goal:
1. International Travel Stipends (IT- Awards)
2. Co-sponsorship of symposia organized by non-US based evolution societies
3. Evolution International Events (EIE) awards
The International Travel Stipend is managed directly by the SSE-IC committee. For the other two award types, the SSE-IC committee will present the best proposals to the SSE council, which will decide on the winner for that year. The equivalent of 10,000 euros will be devoted to the International Travel stipends. The rest of the available funding will be either given to either a single proposal from one category or divided amongst the best proposals in either of the two categories.

SSE Travel Stipends

These stipends are for students and young scientists to attend the SSE meeting in Snow Bird, Utah in June (http://www.evolutionmeeting.org/) and the ESEB Congress in Lisbon in August 2013 (http://www.eseb2013.com/). The stipend will contribute to covering travel, living expenses and congress registration fees. The stipend will be paid out as a reimbursement after the congress, based on specification of the expenses.

Eligibility:
Applicants must be SSE members (for becoming a member of SSE, see http://cms.gogrid.evolutionsociety.org/)

Applications can be submitted by scientists at various stages of their professional career (e.g., Masters and PhD students, postdocs, and lecturers).

Scientists working in a country with high GDP are not eligible (for the list of excluded countries see below).

People who received an SSE travel stipend in the last five years are not eligible.

Applicants must submit to present either an oral communication or a poster to be eligible for the stipend. This will be verified before the reimbursement, but no proof that a poster or talk is accepted is necessary at the application stage.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE STIPENDS ARE GIVEN IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANALOGOUS STIPENDS TO ATTEND THE LISBON MEETING OFFERED BY ESEB (separate call), SO THERE IS NO NEED TO APPLY TO BOTH

How to apply: send your application by email to the SSE International Committee, c/o Prof. N Wedell <N.Wedell@exeter.ac.uk>. The application should be no more than 2 pages long and include:

• Name of the applicant;
• Budget, including sources of additional support;
• An explanation of how attendance to the meeting will further the attendant’s professional goals;
• and a CV

Please submit the application as a single PDF-file.
A support letter from the applicant advisor/mentor/senior colleague is also required. Support letters should be sent to the same email address (N.Wedell@exeter.ac.uk) by the applicant’s mentor.

Deadline: March 31, 2013, 24:00 GMT.

Members professionally based in the following countries are not eligible for the travel stipend: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland , United Kingdom, United States of America.

Co-sponsorship of symposia organized by non-US based evolution societies

The goal of this award is to foster communication between scientists from different countries by stimulating scientific dialogue through co-sponsored symposia. Evolution societies with limited financial resources will have the opportunity to invite speakers (SSE members) to their meeting. This will provide growth opportunities for both societies, since it will not only benefit the hosting society but also create the opportunities for new collaborations for the invited speakers.
Eligibility: Organizers of approved symposia may apply to seek partial support for symposia that include SSE members as invited speakers.
Application: An application should not be more than 3 pages long and include:
   1. Name(s) and affiliations of the symposia organizer, including CV (not included in the page limit).
   2. The meeting and its dates.
   3. The symposia title.
   4. A list of the committed symposia speakers.
   5. Name(s), affiliations of the symposia speakers to be supported through this award, including CV (not included in the page limit).
   6. The institution/organization responsible for administering the funds.
   7. A rationale of the event explaining how the presence of the invited speaker(s) will foster international cooperation and mutually benefit SSE and the meeting sponsors.
    8. A budget showing (1) how funds from SSE, (2) the meeting sponsors, (3) and other sources will be used to cover the symposium.
Applications should be sent as a single pdf document to Prof. Nina Wedell (SSE-IC Chair; N.Wedell@Exeter.ac.uk).
Deadline for application is March 31, 2013; applications received after that date will be considered as funds allow.

Evolution International Events Awards (EIE Awards)

These events are aimed at furthering the purpose of the Evolution Society by fostering international collaborations amongst evolution oriented societies and scientists. Eligible events would include specialized symposia, workshops and short courses in any aspect of evolutionary biology. The events could be hosted either in the US or abroad and preference should be given to events that specifically include participants from countries other than the USA.
Eligibility:  If held in the US, the event should have a clear training component targeting students and young scientists from countries other than the US. If held abroad, this event should be co-sponsored by SSE members and by scientists from the hosting country.  Co-sponsorship by the Evolution society from the hosting country, when possible, will be encouraged.  SEE membership for one year is a mandatory requirement to be included in the registration fee (not for participants that are already SSE members).

An application should not be more than 3 pages long and include:
1. Names and titles of the organizers.
2. The institution that will be responsible for administering the funds.
3. The title event.
4. A rationale of the event explaining why the event is needed, how does it fit with the purpose of the SSE and the goals of this specific award, how SSE support will improve the event, how participation of young scientists from the geographic region where the event will be promoted.
5. A description of the event.
6. A list of the primary participants who have been contacted and have expressed interest in being part of the event, if funded.
7. Dates and location of the event.
8. How the participants will be selected.
9. A budget showing (1) how funds from SSE will be used, (2) how funds from other sources will be used, (3) the fee structure to attend the event, if funding will not allow to cover all the costs.
10. A CV of the proposal PI’s (SSE member and co-sponsor from the hosting country). The CV’s are not included in the 3 pages limits for the proposal.

Applications should be sent as a single pdf document to Prof. Nina Wedell (SSE-IC Chair; N.Wedell@Exeter.ac.uk).

Deadline for application is March 31, 2013; applications received after that date will be considered as funds allow.

Ninth Annual University of Michigan "Early Career Scientists Symposium"
March 16, 2013

MACROEVOLUTION: FOSSILS, FRAMEWORKS, AND PHYLOGENIES

Call for nominations

The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Michigan invites nominations of outstanding scientists early in their careers to take part in an exciting international symposium on the conceptual and methodological integration of paleontological and phylogenetic approaches to the study of macroevolution. The symposium events will take place from 15-17 March 2013, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Nine early-career scientists will be selected to present their work alongside two plenary speakers and participate in panel discussions. We welcome nominations of scientists who are studying any aspect of macroevolution using paleontological, molecular phylogenetic, or theoretical approaches. We are especially interested in scientists whose work recognizes the promises and/or challenges of developing a unified neontological and paleontological framework for understanding macroevolutionary patterns.

Early career scientists are defined as senior graduate students (who stand to receive their Ph.D. within one year), postdoctoral researchers, and first- or second-year faculty.  A colleague or advisor must provide the nomination.

A nomination consists of a brief letter of recommendation addressing the nominee’s scientific promise and ability to give a good talk, the nominee's curriculum vitae, and a brief abstract of the proposed presentation (< 200 words, written by the nominee).  Nominations may be sent electronically (in one file if possible) to eeb-ecss-nomination@umich.edu using the nominee's name as the subject line (last name first, please).  More information is available at http://sitemaker.umich.edu/ecss2013.

All nominations must be received by January 15, 2013.

Selected participants will be contacted by February 1, 2013 and will have all expenses covered (registration, travel and accommodation). An official announcement of the slate of speakers will be issued soon thereafter.

For more information, contact Cindy Carl at cacarl@umich.edu and/or go to our website at http://sitemaker.umich.edu/ecss2013.

National Science Foundation’s Division of Integrative Organismal Systems UPDATE

Dear SSE Members,

The National Science Foundation’s Division of Integrative Organismal Systems has issued an updated solicitation for the core programs (NSF 13-506) along with a revised set of IOS Frequently Asked Questions (NSF 13-09) which are now available on the IOS home page at: http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=IOS

The core programs covered under this solicitation in the Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS) support research aimed at understanding why organisms are structured the way they are and function as they do.  Areas of inquiry include, but are not limited to, developmental biology and the evolution of developmental processes, nervous system development, structure, and function, physiological processes, functional morphology, symbioses, interactions of organisms with biotic and abiotic environments, and animal behavior.

The Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS) will also host a Webinar to discuss the outcomes of the new preliminary proposal system thus far and answer questions about the updated solicitation on Monday, December 10th. Information about how to sign up for the webinar will follow shortly and be posted to the IOS home page.

Please feel free to post these links and information for your membership and include them in your newsletters.

Michelle Elekonich

Michelle M. Elekonich, PhD
IOS Science Advisor
   ICOB Program Director
   Behavioral Systems Cluster Leader
Division of Integrative Organismal Systems
Directorate for Biological Sciences
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22230
tel : 703.292.7202
fax : 703.292.9153
email: melekoni@nsf.gov

The next preliminary proposal deadline for IOS is January 18, 2013. The current IOS core program solicitation NSF 13-506 can be found here:    nsf.gov - Publications - nsf13506 Division of Integrative Organismal Systems - Core Programs - US National Science Foundation (NSF)

FAQs for the core solicitation can be found here:   http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13009/nsf13009.jsp?

 The Education & Outreach Committee was established in 1997.  The Committee sponsors outreach to educators and the general public through annual presentations at the NABT, SACNAS, and symposia and workshops at the annual meetings of the SSE.  The Committee also supports SSE members for outreach activities (see Awards and Funding opportunities below).

Committee Membership

Statement on Evolution

Resources for Teachers and Students

evoED Digital Library

Awards and Funding Opportunities

Statement on evolution by the Society for the Study of Evolution   
"Evolution" refers both to a set of scientific facts and to a theory explaining such facts. "Evolution" refers to the scientific fact that biological organisms have changed through time, and that all life, including humanity, has descended with modification from common ancestors. Evolution is as well documented as are other currently accepted scientific facts. The theory of evolution is a comprehensive and well-established scientific explanation, based on natural processes, of the fact of biological evolution.

Statement on the teaching of evolution by the Society for the Study of Evolution
Evolutionary theory should be taught in public schools because it is one of the most important scientific theories ever generated, and because it is the accepted scientific explanation for the diversity of life. As a scientific theory, it is testable and has been extensively tested. As stated by the great geneticist and evolutionist Theodosius Dobzhansky, "Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution." The theory of evolution is subject to refinements and revisions, but this is no different from any other major scientific theory, such as those providing the explanatory frameworks of geology, physics, or chemistry. There is no pedagogical or scientific reason to treat evolutionary theory any differently than any other well-accepted scientific theory, and it should be taught in public schools as the firmly established, accepted unifying scientific principle that it is.

To learn more about the evidence for and importance of evolution to a variety of scientific questions see the white paper "Evolution, Science, and Society."

The National Academy of Sciences Report on "Science and Creationism” states unequivocally that "creationism has no place in any science curriculum at any level...This booklet explores the nature of science, reviews the evidence for the origin of the universe and earth, and explains the current scientific understanding of biological evolution."

Statements by other scientific societies

Other scientific societies

Evolution Societies

American Society of Naturalists
Association pour l'Etude de l'Evolution Biologique
Australasian Evolution Society
Biologia Evolutiva em Portugal
Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution
Ecological Genetics Group
European Society for Evolutionary Biology
European Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology
Fachgruppe Evolutionsbiologie der Deutschen Zoologischen Gesellschaft
Human Behavior and Evolution Society
International Organization of Systematic and Evolutionary Biology
International Society for Behavioral Ecology
International Society for Evolutionary Protistology
Linnean Society
Sociedad Española de Biología Evolutiva
Societa' Italiana di Biologia Evoluzionistica
Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution
Verband deutscher Biologen

Genetics Societies

American Genetic Association
Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences
Genetics Society
Genetics Society of America
Genetics Society of Australia
Sociedade Brasileira de Genética

Paleontology and Geology Societies

Geological Society of America
Paläontologische Gesellschaft
Paleontological Society
Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Systematics Societies

Bay Area Biosystematists
Gesellschaft für Biologische Systematik
Polish Taxonomical Society
Société Française de Systématique
Society of Australian Systematic Botanists
Society of Systematic Biologists
Swiss Systematics Society
Systematics Association
Systematics Association of New Zealand
Willi Hennig Society

Resources for Teaching Evolution

Programs, Courses and Workshops for Teachers

Additional Resources

Other Organizations

International Evolution Education

Resources for Teaching Evolution

There are a number of excellent websites and organizations that provide extensive resources for teaching evolutionary biology:

• Course Source: http://www.coursesource.org/
  An open-access journal of peer-reviewed teaching resources for undergraduate biological sciences.

• Evo-Ed Cases: http://www.evo-ed.org/
  A set of online case studies that “track the evolution of traits from their origination in DNA mutation, to the production of different proteins, to the fixation of alternate macroscopic phenotypes in reproductively isolated populations.”

• Evolution: Education and Outreach: https://evolution-outreach.springeropen.com/
  An open access journal that “promotes accurate understanding and comprehensive teaching of evolutionary theory for a wide audience.”

• HHMI Biointeractive: https://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/evolution-collection
  A collection of short films, online activities, lecture series, and classroom activities for learning evolution

• LabXchange: https://www.labxchange.org/
  A free library of virtual lab simulations, teaching guides, annotated videos, and more.

• National Center for Science Education  https://ncse.com/
  NCSE is a nonprofit that “defends the integrity of science education against ideological interference. We work with teachers, parents, scientists, and concerned citizens at the local, state, and national levels to ensure that topics including evolution and climate change are taught accurately, honestly, and confidently.”

• NCSEteach: Program in which participants receive strategies for teaching evolution, classroom materials, professional development resources, and priority access to NCSE programs and sponsored activities. https://ncse.com/signup-ncseteach

• Scientist in the Classroom: A program that allows “teachers and scientists to collaborate as colleagues, peers and partners in the scientific enterprise to further science education.” https://ncse.com/scientistinclassroom

• Dealing with Denial: Specific strategies for addressing the challenges that can come with teaching climate change and evolution in the classroom. https://ncse.com/dealingwithdenial

• Classroom Resources: An extensive list of resources for both teaching and learning more about science, evolution, climate change, and more. https://ncse.com/classroom-resources

• PBS Evolution Series: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/educators/course/index.html 
  A set of videos and online activities lessons and activities for learning and teaching evolution.

• Sensory Ecology & Evolution Games: http://www.sensoryecology.com/games/
  A variety of citizen science games, where you help researchers better understand vision and camouflage, while learning about evolution along the way.

• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: http://humanorigins.si.edu/education/teaching-evolution-through-human-examples
  A set of four curriculum units for Advanced Placement (AP) Biology classes, aligned to the learning objectives, using human case studies to teach core evolutionary principles.

• Understanding Evolution:  http://evolution.berkeley.edu/
  An extensive set of materials and resources for teaching K-12 and undergraduate students about evolution.

• Understanding Science:  http://undsci.berkeley.edu/
  An extensive set of materials and resources for teaching K-12 and undergraduate students about science.

Programs, Courses and Workshops for Teachers

• American Museum of Natural History Seminars on Science: http://www.amnh.org/learn-teach/seminars-on-science/courses/evolution
  Seminars on Science is the American Museum of Natural History’s online professional learning program for educators. The program offers six-week online graduate courses in the life, Earth, and physical sciences.

• Evolution Education: http://www.evolutioned.org/
  Building a new model for K-12 science education based on teacher participation in scientific discovery.  Teachers can apply to be fellows and receive training and opportunities to participate in field work.

• Think Evolution: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/about/institute16.php
  Summer Institute for Science Educators by the University of California Museum of Paleontology

Additional Resources

• AAAS Project 2061: Benchmarks for Scientific Literacy: http://www.project2061.org/publications/bsl/online/index.php?home=true
  “Benchmarks specifies how students should progress toward science literacy, recommending what they should know and be able to do by the time they reach certain grade levels."
  
  

• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Biointeractive: http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive
  Multimedia resources that are designed to bring the excitement of scientific discovery to K16 classrooms.

• Scientists Promoting Evolution Education in Cincinnati (SPEEC): http://www.artsci.uc.edu/departments/biology/education_resources/speec/default.html
  A group of researchers who visit K-12 classes, provide assistance and workshops for teachers, and serve as spokespeople to the local media.

Other Organizations

• BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action: https://www.beacon-center.org/ 
  The BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action is an NSF Science and Technology Center founded with the mission of illuminating and harnessing the power of evolution in action to advance science and technology and benefit society.

• National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT): https://www.nabt.org/
  The National Association of Biology Teachers empowers educators to provide the best possible biology and life science education for all students.

• National Center for Science Education (NCSE): https://ncse.com/
  NCSE is a nonprofit that “defends the integrity of science education against ideological interference. We work with teachers, parents, scientists, and concerned citizens at the local, state, and national levels to ensure that topics including evolution and climate change are taught accurately, honestly, and confidently.”

• Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS): http://sacnas.org/
  SACNAS is “an inclusive organization dedicated to fostering the success of Chicano/Hispanic and Native American scientists, from college students to professionals, in attaining advanced degrees, careers, and positions of leadership in STEM.”

International Evolution Education Organisations

EvoKE: EvoKE aims to assess Europe's understanding of evolution and form a collaborative platform for new projects.

Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE): The Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) is the UK’s leading independent advocate for science and engineering. Our mission is to ensure that the UK has the skills, funding and policies to enable science and engineering to thrive.

Humanists UK lead a campaign to get teaching of ‘evolution not creationism’ into the National Curriculum and the teaching of this subject to primary as well as high school children. Their campaign succeeded and was adopted into the National Curriculum in 2015.

The Evolution annual meetings are held jointly by the Society for the Study of Evolution, the American Society of Naturalists and the Society of Systematic Biologists. 

Next Meeting:
Evolution 2013
Meeting and Conference Center
Snowbird, Utah, USA
June 21-25, 2013 Add text here ...

Past Meetings
2003 - Chico, CA
2004 - Fort Collins, CO
2005 - Fairbanks, AK
2006 - Stony Brook, NY
2007 - Christchurch, NZ
2008 - Minneapolis, Minnesota
2009 - Moscow, Idaho
2010 - Portland, OR
2011 - Norman, OK
2012 - Ottawa

Scott Edwards

Editor’s Reports

Evolution, Volume 65, 2011

Dear SSE Membership,

I hope you’ve recovered sufficiently from what can only be described as a fabulous annual meeting in Ottawa.  I write to update you on a few issues of relevance to the SSE membership and, as always, to ask you informally to let us know if you have thoughts as to how the Society could improve its service to its members.  I also wanted to let you know that the trouble we were experiencing with online access to Evolution has been resolved. 

Most importantly, here’s an update on our upcoming annual meetings. Save the date!! Next year we will meet in Snowbird, Utah from June 21-25.  The meeting organization is in the capable hands of past SSE Executive Vice President Charlie Fenster and details will be posted on the SSE web site soon.

In 2014, we will meet in Raleigh, North Carolina from 20 – 25 June for a meeting co-organized by the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent).  This will be NESCent’s last year of funding from NSF and we look forward to celebrating its remarkable contributions to the evolutionary community and beyond, and to helping it navigate its future.

Beyond 2014 we have no firm commitments for our annual meetings, so please step up if you are at all interested! There is a possibility under consideration that the 2015 meetings will be held in Brazil, but it is not confirmed yet. One of my goals as SSE President was to increase the international impact of the Society and help build bridges with nations where evolutionary studies are growing.  SSE has an important role to play in the advancement of evolutionary biology globally, and indeed we already support many overseas activities of nascent evolution societies and workshops through our international program.  Our last truly ‘overseas’ meeting was in New Zealand in 2007 and we expect to have in place some funding for US and other graduate students to attend any overseas meeting we organize, because we recognize that such meetings can be costly to one of our key constituents, graduate students. So stay tuned.

The results of several awards given out at the annual meeting in Ottawa are now posted on the SSE web site http://www.evolutionsociety.org/awards.asp.  Congratulations again to our award winners!  Also, the a complete video of the 2012 address by David Quammen, the 2012 Stephen Jay Gould Award winner, is available on the web site.  Take a moment to listen and watch again the many inspiring messages from this address.  The SSE council is currently discussing and exploring possible ways to involve graduate students in the council's activities and deliberations.  The Council envisions graduate students as an excellent and long-overdue conduit to the opinions and perspectives of our student members, which form the bulk of SSE membership. 

In other news, Evolution Editor-in-Chief Daphne Fairbairn has summarized the activities of the journal for 2011 and this REPORT has been placed on www.evolutionsociety.org behind the member log in.  There are some really interesting trends and perspectives in this Editor’s report, so I encourage you to take a look.  One of our two handling editors, Lynda Delph, will be stepping down at the end of 2012, and Jeff Conner from Michigan State University has accepted our invitation to fill this position for the coming three years.  Jeff studies plant evolutionary genetics and genomics, and the journal will benefit from his expertise.  We thank Jeff for his willingness to serve in this important capacity.

As always the Society is challenged by membership issues and competes with the many other ways in which members can spend their funds and time.  The current membership is 2590 and, while stable over the last few years, this number waxes and wanes with the location of the annual meeting.  For example, our membership numbers are up over 100 members from last year at this time, perhaps in part due to the exciting draw of the Ottawa meeting.  The SSE Council is keenly aware that the Society needs to deliver attractive products and services for its membership if we are to retain members and remain viable, and in addition to publishing Evolution and organizing the annual meeting we are constantly searching for ways to serve the membership better (for example, through research awards for graduate students).  We welcome your suggestions and look forward to another year of growth and exciting scholarly exchange for SSE!

Best wishes,
Scott

Scott Edwards  |  President
Society for the Study of Evolution
SSE Business Office 4475 Castleman Avenue
www.evolutionsociety.org

Dear SSE Colleagues:

We have checked our records and found that you HAVE NOT RENEWED your membership in the Society for the Study of Evolution for 2012.  I encourage you to renew today to continue to receive SSE member benefits such as our e-newsletters, updates, discounted meeting registration, access to Evolution, and SSE awards.  Take a few moments and renew online right now: https://payments.evolutionsociety.org/joinsse/

To view a brief program to help with your travel planning, visit: http://www.confersense.ca/Evolution2012/program.htm