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Society Information / Awards and Funding / Graduate Student Research Grant Funds
Contributions support students (both master's and doctoral levels) conducting field work, herbarium travel, and/or laboratory research in any area of plant systematics. Every year we present 10-15 of these awards to promising young scientists.
General Graduate Student Research Grant Fund
Shirley and Alan Graham Graduate Student Research Grant Fund. This fund was generously endowed by the Grahams in 2002 and represents the first dedicated ASPT student research grant fund.
William R. Anderson Graduate Student Research Grant Fund. As the second dedicated ASPT student research grant fund, this fund was formed in 2002 in honor of William R. Anderson through contributions from colleagues and former students.
Rogers McVaugh Graduate Student Research Grant Fund. Created in 2004 through contributions from his colleagues and former students, this student research grant fund honors Rogers McVaugh's dedicated, exceptional career.
W. Hardy Eshbaugh Graduate Student Research Grant Fund. Announced in 2011 and created through contributions from his colleagues, former students, and the ASPT Council, this student research grant fund honors W. Hardy Eshbaugh’s dedication to mentoring students.
Frequently Asked Questions
Graduate Student Grant Report Form - download the form here!
Graduate Student Grant Reports - 2011
Graduate Student Grant Reports - 2010
2013 ASPT Research Grant Recipients:
The ASPT Honors and Awards committee received 48 highly competitive proposals. Each proposal was reviewed by panel of three impartial referees using a standardized rubric; referees were drawn from a pool of 18 ASPT member-volunteers. The Committee was careful to avoid any conflicts-of-interest in the review and award process. Scores from the external reviews were tallied and the nineteen (40%) top-ranked proposals were selected for awards based on overall availability of funds. The four highest ranked proposals were awarded with support from the named research grant funds, the remaining 15 were awarded with support from the general research grant fund.
ASPT Named Graduate Student Research Grants ($1000), in alphabetical order.
Shirley and Alan Graham Graduate Student Research Award
Fay-Wei Li, Duke University. Ph.D. project, “Gene chimerism, horizontal gene transfer, and the origin of modern fern diversity.” Advisor: Dr. Kathleen Pryer.
W. Hardy Eshbaugh Graduate Student Research Award
Angela Rein, Oklahoma State University. Ph.D. project, “Enigmatic non-twining vines: Evolution and systematics of Matelea subgenus Chthamalia (Gonolobinae, Apocynaceae).” Advisor: Dr. Mark Fishbein.
William R. Anderson Graduate Student Research Award
Heather Rose Kates, University of Florida. Ph.D. project, “Reconstructing the domestication histories of pumpkins and squashes (Cucurbita) using phylogenomic techniques.” Advisor: Drs. Pamela Soltis and Douglas Soltis.
Rogers McVaugh Graduate Student Research Award
Keir Michael Wefferling, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ph.D. project, “Phylogeography of the Caltha leptosepala (Ranunculaceae) species complex.” Advisor: Dr. Sara B. Hoot.
ASPT General Graduate Student Research Grants ($800), in alphabetical order.
Lakshmi Attigala, The Iowa State University. Ph.D. project, “Understanding phylogenetics and natural hybridization in Sri Lankan temperate woody bamboos: Arundinaria (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) based on low copy nuclear markers.” Advisor: Dr. Lynn Clark.
John Chau, University of Washington. Ph.D. project, “Phylogeny, inflorescence evolution, and historical biogeography in Buddleja L.” Advisor: Dr. Richard Olmstead.
Ryan Folk, The Ohio State University. Ph.D. project, “Phylogenetic relationships in the context of hybridization: A study of the genus Heuchera (Saxifragaceae).” Advisor: Dr. John V. Freudenstein.
Laura Frost, University of Washington. Ph.D. project, “Evidence of phylogenetic niche shift in Citharexylum (Verbenaceae).” Advisor: Dr. Richard Olmstead.
Elliot Gardner, North Western University - Chicago Botanic Garden. Ph.D. project, “Population genetics and species limits of Artocarpus odoratissimus Blanco (Moraceae).” Advisor: Dr. Nyree Zerega.
Gionvanny Giraldo, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ph.D. project, “Molecular phylogeny and monograph of Epistephium, a key towards the understanding of the evolution of leaf venation and habitat in Vanilloideae (Orchidaceae).” Advisor: Dr. Kenneth Cameron.
Iwan Mologo, University of Florida. Ph.D. project, “Elucidating the polyploid complexes within Callisia Loefl. section Cuthbertia (Commelinaceae).” Advisor: Drs. Pamela Soltis and Douglas Soltis.
Diego Morales-Briones, University of Idaho. Ph.D. project, “Phylogeny and systematics of the genus Lachemilla (Rosaceae) in the Andes.” Advisor: Dr. David Tank.
Ryan Moraski, University of Florida. Ph.D. project, “Systematics and evolution of Guzmania (Bromeliaceae): exploring a Neotropical radiation with phylogenomics.” Advisor: Dr. Pamela Soltis.
Matthew Pace, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ph.D. project, “Phylogeography and species limits in Spiranthes (Orchidaceae): Implications and applications for conservation.” Advisor: Dr. Kenneth Cameron.
Audrey Ragsac, University of Washington. Ph.D. project, “Is it easier to move or evolve? Assessing the role of biome conservatism in Bignoniaceae diversification.” Advisor: Dr. Richard Olmstead.
Lee Ripma, San Diego State University. M.S. project, “Applying the genome skimming method in Cryptanthinae: a technique to provide within-genus resolution in Oreocarya (Boraginaceae).” Advisor: Dr. Michael G. Simpson.
Marisol Sánchez-García, University of Tennessee. Ph.D. project, “Systematics and evolution of the tribe Leucopaxilleae (Fungi: Agaricales).” Advisor: Dr. Brandon Matheny.
Brandon Sinn, The Ohio State University. Ph.D. project, “Species of a new generation: The integration of next generation sequencing, distributional, and morphological data for species delimitation.” Advisor: Dr. John V. Freudenstein.
Thomas Stoughton, Claremont Graduate University - Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. Ph.D. project, “Evolution and systematics of Claytonia lanceolata s.l.: Untangling polyploid origins in a challenging species complex.” Advisor: Dr. J. Travis Columbus.
2012 ASPT Research Grant Recipients:
The ASPT Awards and Honors Committee received 68 highly competitive proposals. Each proposal was reviewed by panel of three impartial referees using a standardized rubric; referees were drawn from a pool of 20 ASPT member-volunteers. The Committee was careful to avoid any conflicts of interest in the review and award process. Scores from the external reviews were tallied and the eighteen (26%) top-ranked proposals were selected based on overall availability of funds. The four highest ranked proposals were awarded with support from the endowed research grant funds, the remaining 14 were awarded with support from the general research grant fund.
ASPT Endowed Graduate Student Research Grant ($1000), in alphabetical order.
Shirley and Alan Graham Graduate Student Research Grant
Michael Calonje, Florida International University. PhD project: Leaflet anatomical variation among plicate-leaflet species of Zamia (Cycadales, Zamiaceae). Advisor: Javier Ortega.
W. Hardy Eshbaugh Graduate Student Research Grant
Daniel J. Gates, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. PhD project: Phylogenetic assessment of hybridization across the subtribe Iochrominae (Solanaceae) using target enrichment and newly developed sequencing techniques. Advisor: Stacey D. Smith.
William R. Anderson Graduate Student Research Grant
Kristen Hasenstab-Lehman, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. PhD project: Testing adaptive radiation in the dry tropics: a phylogenetic approach to biogeography, inflorescence evolution, and hydraulic traits in the genus Varronia (Cordiaceae, Boraginales). Advisor: Lucinda McDade.
Rogers McVaugh Graduate Student Research Grant
Lauren D. Spitz, Rutgers University. PhD project: Niche evolution in nutrient-poor habitats. Advisor: Lena Struwe.
ASPT General Graduate Student Research Grants ($850), in alphabetical order.
Julian Andres Aguirre Santoro, New York Botanical Garden. PhD project: Systematics and biogeography of the Ronnbergia clade (Bromeliaceae). Advisor: Fabián Michelangeli.
Guadalupe Borja, Oklahoma State University. MS project: Integrating phylogeny, morphology, and population genetics: investigating species relationships in Paysonia (Brassicaceae). Advisor: Andrew Doust.
Andrew A. Crowl, Florida Museum of Natural History. PhD project: Evolution and phylogeography of rare, endemic Campanula species (Campanulaceae) in the eastern Mediterranean. Advisor: Nico Cellinese.
Alina Freire-Fierro, Drexel University. PhD project: Origin and diversification of Monnina (Polygalaceae). Advisor: Dr. Walter F. Bien.
Morgan Gostel, George Mason University. PhD project: Understanding morphological innovation in two recent radiations of Malagasy Commiphora Jacq. (Burseraceae). Advisor: Andrea Weeks.
AJ Harris, Oklahoma State University. PhD project: Towards understanding the historical biogeography of Billia Peyr. (Hippocastanoideae, Sapindaceae): resolving taxonomic uncertainties. Advisor: Linda Watson.
Laura P. Lagomarsino, Harvard University. PhD project: Phylogeny and the evolution of vertebrate pollination syndromes in the Neotropical Lobelioideae. Advisor: Charles C. Davis.
Matthew P. Nelsen, Field Museum. PhD project: Diversification following a transition to mutualism. Advisor: Richard Ree.
Suman Neupane, Old Dominion University. PhD project: Hedyotis L. (Rubiaceae) in Asia: phylogeny, character evolution, and biogeography. Advisor: Timothy Motley.
Joel H. Nitta, Harvard University. PhD project: Exploring the ecology of a cryptic life stage in the ferns of Moorea, French Polynesia. Advisor: Charles C. Davis.
Jorge A. Pérez-Zabala, University of California, Davis. PhD project: The diversification of the evergreen species of Prunus in the New World: linking form, function and environment through evolutionary time. Advisor: Daniel Potter.
Marcelo Reginato, New York Botanical Garden. PhD project: Biogeography of Leandra sensu stricto (Melastomataceae, Miconieae): the amphitropical pattern. Advisor: Fabián Michelangeli.
Brian J. Sidoti, University of Wisconsin-Madison. PhD project: Molecular phylogenetics and population genetics of the Tillandsia fasciculata complex (Bromeliaceae): biogeographical and evolutionary implications. Advisor: Kenneth Cameron.
Erin M. Sigel, Duke University. PhD project: Further refining the circumscription of Polypodium vulgare L. Advisor: Dr. Kathleen Pryer.