Isabel and Arthur Watres Student Research Award Grant

Isabel and Arthur Watres Student Research Award Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Lacawac Sanctuary
Amount: Up to US $500
Last Updated: November 27, 2025

Summary

The Isabel and Arthur Watres Student Research Award, offered by Lacawac Sanctuary, provides financial support for undergraduate research focused on the natural resources of the Sanctuary. Awards range from $250 to $500, prioritizing costs related to residence and research user fees. Open to undergraduate students at any stage, this fund encourages new projects and collaboration with faculty. Recipients may need to present their findings and acknowledge the fund in publications, fostering a connection between research and conservation.

Overview

Isabel & Arthur Watres Student Research Fund Lacawac Sanctuary exists because of L. Arthur Watres and his mother Isabel Reyburn Watres. The Watres family owned the land the Sanctuary now occupies since 1913. Both Arthur and Isabel were dedicated conservationists and formed the Lacawac Sanctuary Foundation in 1966. They wanted Lacawac to be a “living laboratory” where scientists could conduct research and train the next generation. To further this vision, Lacawac Sanctuary offers financial support for undergraduate research in the form of the Isabel & Arthur Watres Student Research Fund (WSRF). The WSRF will support the expenses of college or university students whose research deals, in whole or substantial part, with the natural resources (biological or physical) of the Lacawac Sanctuary. Priority in expending funds will be given to supporting the costs of residence at Lacawac and/or the research user fees of undergraduate students. Only after appropriate support of those costs will consideration be given to supporting the costs of research supplies or materials. Awards generally range from $250- to maximum of $500 . Rolling application cycle each year and will continue until all funds are awarded.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Applicants can be undergraduate students at any stage of their degree program. Students must be advised by a faulty member, graduate student, or post-doc. Matching funds are not requiredAwardees may be asked to present their research to the Science Committee, contribute an article to Lacawac’s newsletter, “Forest Notes”, describing their research for a general audience, or to present their research at Lacawac’s Ecology Symposium. Awardees are expected to comply with these requests if at all possible. All publications resulting from the supported research must acknowledge Lacawac Sanctuary and the Isabel and Arthur Watres Student Research Fund. A digital copy must be submitted to Lacawac’s Director of Science and Research upon publication.