Forest Fungal Ecology Award Grant

Forest Fungal Ecology Award Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Mycological Society of America
Amount: US $1,250 - US $2,500
Last Updated: January 16, 2026

Summary

The Forest Fungal Ecology Research Award supports innovative ecological studies of fungal interactions in old growth forests and endangered ecosystems. Applicants, including Masters or PhD students, must be current MSA members. The award requires a detailed plan of study, a curriculum vitae, and a letter of support. Awardees will contribute an article about their research and are encouraged to attend the annual MSA meeting. This initiative promotes research and community engagement within mycology.

Overview

Forest Fungal Ecology Research Award The Forest Fungal Ecology Research Award supports ecological studies of fungal interactions in old growth forests or other unique or endangered ecosystems. Proposals should address innovative approaches to examining fungal systems or interactions of individuals, or groups of fungi, with hosts or substrates in old growth forests or other sensitive ecosystems. Award Terms All awardees must provide a short biography (100-200 words) and a photo (if possible) within two weeks of notification from the Awards Coordinator, using the Awardee Document Submission Form. These will be requested at the appropriate time. Photos and biographies will be published in Inoculum.The award check must be deposited or cashed within 5 months. Each award recipient is required to complete a W-9 form prior to receiving their award funds. Awardees will be contacted by the management company regarding this process. (This only applies if you have a U.S. Social Security Number).Keep copies of your W-9 and all receipts and expenses that are part of this award. These documents are important and may be necessary for tax purposes.Each awardee will contribute a short article about their research to MSA within a year of receiving the award. Articles should be written for a general audience and may be published in Inoculum or other MSA venues (e.g. MSA website). This will be a great opportunity to promote your research to the MSA community. Articles will be requested by the Awards Coordinator at the appropriate timePlease acknowledge MSA in any products that result from this support (e.g. poster presentations, oral presentations, and scientific articles). Note:  We expect all award winners to make every effort to attend the annual meeting and encourage all applicants to concurrently apply for an MSA Travel Award in support of that. Presence at the MSA meeting to accept the award gives awardees the opportunity to meet the mycological community, and it gives MSA members an opportunity to meet the awardees.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Award RequirementsApplicants must be students working on their Masters or PhD degrees or be recent recipients of a PhD. Honors these for BA/BS degree students may be considered. Applicants must be current members of MSA or must have applied for membership at the time of the award application. Documents RequiredApplication FormA curriculum vitae that includes at least (maximum 3 pages):Name, contact address, email address, and phone numberEducation and professional historyPrevious awards and honorsPublications and other significant professional output (if available)Service (if available)A detailed plan of study. The text of study must be no longer than 5 pages; including tables, figures, and references. The text of this proposal should be single-spaced and printed in a regular sized font (10cpi or 12 point) with one-inch margins on all sides. Section headings and double spacing between paragraphs may be used to make your proposal easier to read. The proposal must include:Abstract (200-250 words)Introduction: explains what you want to do and why it is interesting or importantObjectivesMethods: demonstrates that the project is feasible and describes how the study will be conductedSignificance and preliminary results, if available (be concise in your explanation)Budge and budget justification. Include in this section a timeline to complete the proposal (generally one year) and a plan for dissemination of resultsReferencesCopy of the permit or letter requesting a permit if it is needed to work in a sensitive site (as part of the PDF file)A letter of support from the major professor addressing the student’s abilities and potential, and briefly summarizing the student’s research and the appropriateness of the award. All documents must be in English to be considered with the exception of the collecting permit. You must be a member of this organization to apply for this award - become a member. Applicants must be current members of MSA or must have applied for membership at the time of the award application.

Ineligibility

Floristic and systematic studies will not be considered.Applications that include proposals exceeding the 5-page limit will not be considered. The reference letter should not be sent directly by the individual writing the letter, not the applicant. Indirect cost is not allowed on MSA awards.