2025 Student Funds Available for Research and Outreach

We are now accepting applications for three student award opportunities for Penn State undergraduate and graduate student summer research and outreach projects on insect biodiversity and/or pollinators.

The Maria Sibylla Merian Research and Outreach Program provides annual grant awards for undergraduate and graduate students in support of projects aimed at improving our understanding of insect biodiversity and/or supporting health of insects and their communities, with emphasis placed on conservation value and engagement with the public. Eligible projects include research projects and/or projects in outreach and the arts. Example topics include biodiversity monitoring; systematics and natural history; impacts and remediation of stressors; habitat design, restoration, and/or management; ecological interactions and principles; science policy; and educational outreach. Students interested in pollinator-related projects should apply instead to the Apes Valentes Award Program. [~4 awards]

Apes Valentes Student Awards – This award supports student-led summer projects in pollinator biology and health. Applicants may be either graduate or undergraduate students. Research, extension, education and/or outreach projects related to all aspects of pollinator biology and health are encouraged. Students from non-biology backgrounds that would like to develop artistic or other scholarly works related to pollinators to be disseminated to the public are also encouraged to apply. [~4 awards]

Dutch Gold Honey Undergraduate Award – This award supports summer undergraduate research on bees, preferably on honey bees. [~1 award].

For consideration of any of these awards...

Projects should be conducted from May - August, 2025, with potential extension into the fall. Priority will be given to projects that can generate results by December. Applications should include a three-page project description, a one-page letter of support from a faculty mentor that will oversee the project and funds, and a one-page budget with itemized expenses. Applicants must include at least one proposed outreach activity related to their project.

Proposed budgets may be up to $6000 for the Maria Sibylla and Apes Valentes and up to $4000 for the Dutch Gold Award. Undergraduate applicants with proposals on bees will be considered for both Apes Valentes and Dutch Gold Awards. The budget can include costs for undergraduate wages (recommended $15-16/hr), travel, and materials and supplies, but cannot include graduate student stipend.

Interested students should submit their applications to Susan Bass (sgb13@psu.edu) by March 7, 2025. Applicants will be notified of decisions by April 1. For more information, please contact program coordinator Heather Hines (hmh19@psu.edu).

Proposal Specifics: The project description should include background, objectives, methodology, expected outcomes, and cited literature. It should also include a broader impacts section that explains how society will benefit from this project, importance of the work for fulfilling the mission of the award, and describes the proposed outreach activity. It is recommended that the student work closely with their mentor to develop the project, but the project should represent a student-generated effort. Thus, the student must be involved in all aspects of the proposal writing, project development, implementation, and data interpretation. Recipients of the award must submit a brief report on the project outcomes in December. Funds must be spent by December 31.