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SICB Officers

Grants-in-Aid of Research


    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.


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