AOS Student Research Grants

AOS Student Research Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: American Ornithological Society
Amount: Up to US $2,500
Last Updated: November 28, 2025

Summary

The American Ornithological Society (AOS) offers annual Student Research Grants, providing up to $2,500 to support avian biology research by undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs. Multiple awards are available, including the Donald L. Bleitz Award and the Mewaldt-King Award, focusing on various aspects of ornithology. Applicants must be AOS members and can apply for multiple grants throughout their academic careers, promoting research that enhances our understanding of bird conservation and biology.

Overview

AOS gives annual Student Research Grants of up to $2,500 to support research in various areas of avian biology by undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs. AOS encourages undergraduate students from any region to apply. Donald L. Bleitz Award: Supports graduate student research (Masters or Doctorate) in all areas of avian biology.Herbert and Betty Carnes Award: Supports graduate student research (Masters or Doctorate); designated to support women who are non-smokers (i.e., have not smoked for at least the previous six months).Joseph Grinnell Award: Supports beginning research efforts of doctoral students in their first or second year of enrollment, in any aspect of avian biology.Werner and Hildegard Hesse Award: Supports graduate student research (Masters or Doctorate), with preference given to those studying birds in the wild.Mewaldt-King Award: Supports graduate student research (Masters or Doctorate) in any area of ornithology that relates to the conservation of birds. Studies of species from threatened ecosystems or that reference large-scale conservation issues such as climate or landscape change are especially welcome, as are studies that involve the demographics, breeding biology, or disease ecology of species that are endangered, threatened, or otherwise of management concern.Margaret Morse Nice Award: Supports graduate student research (Masters or Doctorate); designated to encourage ornithological research by women students.Josselyn Van Tyne Memorial Research Award: Supports graduate student research (Masters or Doctorate) in all areas of avian biology.Alexander Wetmore Memorial Research Award: Supports graduate student research (Masters or Doctorate) in avian systematics, paleo-ornithology, biogeography, and especially neotropical biology.AOS Student Research Awards: Multiple awards supporting student research (Undergraduate, Masters, Doctorate, non affiliated researcher) in all areas of avian biology.AOS Postdoctoral Research Awards: Multiple awards supporting postdoctoral research in all areas of avian biology for those that do not have access to major funding and can demonstrate need. Applicants need not indicate that they are applying for a particular award. After evaluating and ranking all proposals, the Committee Chair will determine which fund is most appropriate for supporting the top proposals.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The applicant must be an AOS member and a full-time or recently graduated undergraduate, masters, or doctoral student, OR a postdoctoral researcher without access to funds from major granting agencies.The applicant must be the individual conducting the specific research project and responsible for data analysis.An applicant may receive a maximum of one research award per year and two research awards per lifetime. Typically, two lifetime awards would consist of one award for an M.S. project and a second later award for a Ph.D. project; however, other scenarios are possible. Individuals are limited to one award per degree program or project.Applicants for an AOS Research Award may also apply for funds from other sources such as the Frank M. Chapman Memorial Fund, Sigma Xi, and Animal Behavior Society. However, requests for funding from other sources must be noted in your application. If successful in obtaining funds from both AOS and other sources, applicants are expected to notify the Committee Chair. You must be a member of this organization to apply for this award - become a member.