Departmental Memorial Research Funds: Application Guidelines

The Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolution is proud to offer small research and travel grants to our graduate students. These funds are made possible through the generosity of our founding faculty—Profs. Lawrence B. Slobodkin, Robert R. Sokal, George C. Williams—and their colleagues, families, and friends.

💡 Important Note: These merit-based awards are designed to support active graduate research and professional development. They are separate from standard tuition scholarships or Teaching Assistantships (TA).

📋 The Memorial Funds

When you apply, your proposal will be considered for one or more of the following funds based on your research focus:

The Lawrence B. Slobodkin Fund: Supports graduate student education and research in ecology (with preference for work focusing on lower animals and non-flowering plants).
The Robert R. Sokal Fund: Supports graduate student research emphasizing statistical applications and quantitative methodology in evolutionary biology.
The George C. Williams Fund: Supports graduate student research in any area of evolutionary biology.
The Ecology & Evolution Student Excellence Award: Merit-based awards celebrating overall academic and research excellence.

Individual awards typically range from $500 to $1000.

⚙️ Eligibility & Conditions

To apply for these funds, you must meet the following criteria:

You must be a currently matriculated graduate student in the Stony Brook University Department of Ecology & Evolution.
Funds must be used directly for research expenses, pilot data collection, specialized training, or travel related to your research.
Awardees are expected to present their progress or findings at the annual Department Retreat, where the awards are officially announced.

📝 Application Requirements

Your application must be compiled and submitted digitally. It consists of three core parts:

1. Proposal Narrative (Maximum 2 Pages)

A brief description of your proposed research or travel project. Be sure to write for a general scientific audience, as the reviewing committee represents diverse fields within ecology and evolution. Please include:

An introduction outlining the scientific question or hypothesis.
Your specific methods and research plan.
The significance of this work to your graduate progress.

2. Itemized Budget & Justification (Maximum 1 Page)

A clear table of how you plan to spend the award money (up to $750), along with a brief explanation of why these purchases or travel costs are necessary for your project.

3. Endorsement Letter

A brief letter or email of support from your faculty advisor confirming the viability of your project.

🚀 How to Submit

To comply with university accessibility guidelines, we no longer accept paper forms or email attachments. Please submit your application entirely online.

Ready to apply?

👉 Click Here to Access the Online Memorial Funds Application Form ↗

If you have any questions regarding the application process or need assistance, please contact the Ecology & Evolution Graduate Program Coordinator.