Malcolm Gordon, Chair, Student Support Committee
Beginning in 1996, the SICB Student Support Committee (SSC) began an annual program of
awarding small numbers of competitive Grants-in-Aid of Research to support scientific
investigation in the fields of integrative and comparative biology. 1997 was the second
year for this program. Awards are limited to graduate students currently enrolled in
degree programs who are active members of SICB. Awards are made in amounts up to a maximum
of $1,000. Closing date for the receipt of completed applications is the following Dec. 1.
The results of the 1997 competition are as follows: eleven awards were made, totaling
$6,000; 41 completed applications were received; and five different divisions are
represented in the awards. The following is a list of the awardees in alphabetical order,
along with their places of study, the titles of their projects, and the division to which
they belong:
Angilletta, Jr., Michael J., Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, Pa. "Physiological Sources of Life History Variation in the
Geographically Widespread Lizard, Sceloporus undulatus." Division of Ecology
and Evolution.
Carello, Christy A., Department of EPO Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder,
Colo. "The Energetics and Biomechanics of Grade Running in Quail." Division of
Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry.
Carl, Timothy F., Department of EPO Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder,
Colo. "Developmental and Evolutionary Consequences of Embryonic Bone Development in
Direct-Developing Anurans." Division of Developmental and Cell Biology.
Coleman, Mark A., Department of Zoology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.
"Behavioral and Ecological Endocrinology of Aggression in White-Footed Mice (Peromyscus
leucopus)." Division of Comparative Endocrinology.
Ebersole, Ted Joseph, Department of Biology, University of Notre Dame, Notre
Dame, Ind. "Isolation and Cloning of the Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)
Gene(s) From the Brain of a Caecilian Amphibian, Typhlonectes natans."
Division of Comparative Endocrinology.
Hoback, William W., Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln,
Neb. "Mechanisms of Metabolic Downregulation in a Flood Plain Tiger Beetle
Larva." Division of Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry.
Schwab, Tammy, Department of Zoology, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.
"Physiological Localization of Reproductive Suppression in Pine Voles (Microtus
pinetorum)." Division of Comparative Endocrinology.
Shapiro, Michael D., Department of Organismic & Evolutionary Biology,
Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. "Integrative Study of Limb Reduction in the
Australian skink Hemiergis." Division of Vertebrate Morphology.
Storz, Jay, Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, Mass.
"Evolution in Socially Structured Populations: The Fruit Bat Model." Division of
Ecology and Evolution.
Tamse, Catherine T., Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode
Island, Kingston, R.I. "The Dynamics of Lead and Calcium in Neurons From Aplysia
californica (Mollusca)." Division of Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry.
Vaglia, Janet Lynn, Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS,
Canada. "Regulation of Trunk Neural Crest During Early Development of Teleost
Embryos." Division of Developmental and Cell Biology.
The members of SSC who reviewed all of the applications offer their congratulations to
the successful award recipients and their appreciation to all of the other applicants. The
other applicants are also encouraged to apply again for the 1998 competition, and all
other graduate student members of the society are encouraged to enter.
The committee offers the following suggestions for applicants: Make the main points
describing your proposed study as clearly and concisely as you can in your first
paragraph. The proposal should be written by the student, preferably with the advice of
the major professor. If the major professor does a substantial part of the writing it
defeats an important part of the process.
Ask for funding within the specified dollar limits of things which will contribute
directly to the success of your work. Routine things that are only generally supportive of
the work are unlikely to be given high priority. Carefully spell check and proofread the
entire application before you send it off. Maintenance of professional quality standards
in your writing will help greatly to establish your credibility.
Unfortunately, the SSC is unable to provide feedback to applicants concerning their
individual proposals.
For more information on the Grants-in-Aid of Research program, fill out and send in the
postcard inserted in this issue of SICB Newsletter.
The committee thanks Micki Unkrich for her excellent work in supporting this activity.