W. Wesley Eckenfelder Graduate Research Award Grant

W. Wesley Eckenfelder Graduate Research Award Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors Foundation (AEESP Foundation)
Amount: US $1,500
Last Updated: November 22, 2025

Summary

The W. Wesley Eckenfelder Graduate Research Award, administered by the AEESP Foundation, recognizes outstanding graduate students in environmental engineering and science whose research enhances wastewater management knowledge. This prestigious annual award offers a $1,500 honorarium and a plaque for winners, along with a $500 travel stipend for attending the AAEES awards ceremony. Eligible candidates include both Master’s and Ph.D. students who demonstrate exemplary academic performance and innovative research contributions.

Overview

About the Foundation Mission The mission of the AEESP Foundation is to improve the state of knowledge in environmental engineering and science through the support and encouragement of excellent education, outreach, and scientific research. W. Wesley Eckenfelder Graduate Research Award This award is given annually to recognize an environmental engineering or environmental science graduate student whose research contributes to the knowledge pool of wastewater management. The award selection will be based on original, innovative research of publishable quality and other factors as provided below. Both Master’s and Ph.D. students are eligible. The award will consist of a plaque and a cash honorarium of $1,500.00 for the student and a plaque for the faculty advisor. A $500.00 travel allotment to student recipients who attend the AAEES Excellence in Environmental Engineering and Science awards ceremony will also be provided. This award selection committee is administered jointly by AEESP and AAEES, and is co-sponsored by HDR. Eligible applicants will be judged based on academic program performance (45%), professional or community service (15%), project significance (25%), purpose and goals (10%), and any other evidence provided (5%). An applicant remains eligible up to one calendar year following graduation and receipt of the degree earned. Refer to the nomination package for the required submission requirements.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Consideration for this award is open to Master's and Ph.D. students performing research in the field of wastewater management. An applicant remains eligible up to one calendar year following graduation and receipt of the degree earned.Requirements for nominators and letter writers: One nomination per cycle per award for a given category may be submitted by a single nominator.There is no limit on the number of nomination packages to which an individual letter writer may contribute.If a single individual is serving as a nominator or letter writer for more than one nominee during a single cycle, they will be contacted to provide a ranking of their contributions before the committee's review.Complete nomination package includes: A letter from the faculty advisor of the applicant, indicating that the applicant has completed all substantive requirements for the graduate degree sought, and has earned a minimum GPA of 3.3/4 in the current programTwo academic letters of recommendation, detailing the contributions of the research to the professionA professional resume of the student applicant, listing all professional affiliations, publications, honors, service, and relevant experienceAn applicant prepared statement of professional purpose in pursuing the graduate degree and goals for the first five years of professional practice (limit 500 words).