Les Mehrhoff Botanical Research Award Grant

Les Mehrhoff Botanical Research Award Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: New England Botanical Society
Amount: Up to US $2,000
Last Updated: February 23, 2026

Summary

The Les Mehrhoff Botanical Research Award, established by the New England Botanical Society, supports innovative botanical research that enhances our understanding of New England's flora. Open to applicants without membership, it prioritizes projects lacking traditional funding sources. Eligible expenses include fieldwork, lab supplies, and moderate stipends. This award encourages researchers to explore unconventional inquiries and fosters a deeper appreciation for the diverse plant life in northeastern North America.

Overview

Background Established by the New England Botanical Society in memory of renowned botanist, NEBS Herbarium Curator, and long-time supporter of the New England Botanical Club, Dr. Leslie J. Mehrhoff, the award supports botanical endeavors of the sort that Les championed: field studies, herbarium, library, and archival research. The objective of NEBS in offering the award is to add to our understanding of the flora of New England and floristically related regions. The selection committee favors projects for which traditional funding (such as academic grants and in-house agency support) is difficult to secure. NEBS wishes to thank the Hollis Declan Leverett Memorial Fund, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee, for their support of this award. Applicants do not need to be a member of our organization to apply for this award. Project Requirements The research must advance our knowledge of plants that occur in northeastern North America, especially the New England region. Work of a broader scope that is pertinent to New England will also be considered. For purposes of the award, "plants" include vascular plants, nonvascular plants, algae, fungi, and lichens. Types of Expenses Eligible for Support Field, herbarium, library, and lab work are eligible for funding. Travel and living expenses associated with the research are eligible, as are supplies and equipment associated with field or lab work. Moderate stipends to help cover time spent on projects will be considered.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The award is open to anyone with background and experience sufficient to accomplish the proposed work. A central theme of the award is to encourage researchers to pursue lines of inquiry that might not otherwise be undertaken.Projects for which funding is difficult to secure from traditional sources are favored. Graduate students are eligible for projects outside the scope of their primary research (or prior to deciding on a project); more advanced graduate students are encouraged to apply for the NEBS Graduate Student Research Award. Advanced undergraduates are also eligible with a letter of support from their faculty advisor.

Ineligibility

Awards may not be used to augment budgets of established research projects.Awards will not be used to support proposals from conservation groups, state agencies, academic groups, or graduate students for support of their primary research projects, as these projects are usually already covered by existing funding. Requests for lab supplies that can be secured through collaborations and existing organizational infrastructure will not be recommended for funding.