The American Society of Mammalogists (ASM) seeks to promote high-quality research by its student members and has developed a number of mechanisms by which young scientists can establish and further develop their careers in mammalogy. The Grants-in-Aid of Research and the Latin American Student Research programs provide students (usually graduate students) with funding to conduct research in mammalogy at any stage of their research projects; students are eligible for more than 1 grant in successive years. The Latin American Student Field Research Award explicitly recognizes the historical and contemporary importance of field research in Latin America to ASM, and the Society's commitment to promoting field work by promising students from these countries. To acknowledge the highest-caliber research projects completed by its student members (supported by Grants-In-Aid or any other funding sources), the ASM offers the Graduate and Undergraduate Student Honoraria Research Paper Awards. In addition to funds to support travel to the Annual Meeting, Graduate Honoraria awardees have the distinct honor of presenting their research as part of the opening Plenary Session of the Annual Meeting, along with recipients of other ASM awards. Finally, the Albert R. and Alma Shadle Fellowship in Mammalogy and the ASM Fellowship are designed to recognize contributions to the field of mammalogy, service to the Society, and the potential to develop a productive career in mammalogy. By providing funding for student research (Grants-In-Aid of Research, Latin American Student Field Research Awards), recognizing the highest quality completed projects (Honoraria Research Papers), and honoring individuals that have made substantial contributions to mammalogy through their research and service (Shadle Award and the ASM Fellowship), the American Society of Mammalogists assists students throughout the early development of their careers. Submissions to these programs can be accomplished through  http://www.mammalsociety.org/applications/.

CALL FOR GRADUATE STUDENT HONORARIA ONLINE SUBMISSION

Graduate student members of the society are encouraged to submit a summary of a research project for consideration by the Honoraria Committee (detailed instructions below). The Anna M. Jackson, A. Brazier Howell, and Elmer C. Birney Awards are designed to recognize outstanding research projects completed by the Society's graduate student members and are among the Society's highest student honors. Award winners will present their research to the Society at the Plenary Session of the Annual Meeting.

The competition is open to all graduate student members of the American Society of Mammalogists, regardless of nationality or current institutional affiliation. [To become a member of the Society visit the ASM membership page at  http://www.mammalsociety.org/membership/index.html.] Applicants must be Masters or doctoral students (or have completed their degrees during the previous Fall term) when they apply. Applicants must not have received a previous Graduate Honorarium from ASM nor a Shadle or ASM Fellowship. However, recipients of ASM Grant-in-Aid of Research and Latin American Student Field Research are eligible and encouraged to apply. Students unsure of their eligibility are encouraged to contact the Honoraria Committee well in advance of the application deadline (vhayssen@smith.edu).

Application procedure: for details of the application procedure, please see the website  http://www.mammalsociety.org/committees/index.asp and choose the Honoraria Committee from the left frame.

Winners of honoraria will present their research at the Plenary Session of the ASM Annual Meeting. These platform presentations will be 15 min in length (12 min for the oral presentation, 3 min for questions). Regardless of the outcome of the competition, applicants intending to present a paper at the Annual Meeting must submit the usual abstract and pre-registration materials to the local committee before the abstract deadline for the meeting.

CALL FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH AWARDS

The American Society of Mammalogists (ASM) encourages undergraduate students to apply for the American Society of Mammalogists Undergraduate Student Research Awards to be presented at the annual meeting of the Society. The competition is open to all undergraduate student members of the American Society of Mammalogists, a long-standing society organized to promote the study of mammals. ASM has an international membership and encourages international students to join the Society and enter the competition. ASM student members enrolled in an undergraduate program at the time of application and who have not received a previous Undergraduate Award from ASM are eligible. Two awards of $500, intended to subsidize attendance at the meeting, are available for winners of the competition. The Honoraria Committee will review applications and select award recipients on the basis of the originality and quality of research and the student's curriculum vitae. To become a member of the Society visit the ASM membership page at  www.mammalsociety.org/membership.

Applicants should submit a 200–250 word abstract for an oral or poster presentation, a 300–500 word summary of the research project, a curriculum vitae, and a letter from their research advisor. Authors must submit either PDF or Word files. No other formats will be accepted. Applications must be submitted electronically to  http://www.mammalsociety.org/applications by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on 15 February. Please also email the chair of the committee (Virginia Hayssen, vhayssen@smith.edu) when you apply. The advisor's letter must be submitted separately from the student's material. Packets that do not meet the above requirements or are received after the deadline will not be considered. Applicants will be notified of the committee's decision around 15 March.

Students receiving awards also must present an oral or poster presentation at the Annual Meeting. Applicants should also submit their abstract and pre-registration material to the local organizing committee before the regular abstract submission deadline for the meeting. For details about the next meeting, including abstract submission, see the ASM website: www.mammalsociety.org/whatsnew/meetings.html.

Questions should be directed to honoraria@mammalsociety.org (or via snail mail to Virginia Hayssen, Biology Department, Smith College, Northampton, MA 01063 [413 585-3856]).

FELLOWSHIPS IN MAMMALOGY

Applications are solicited for two graduate fellowships in mammalogy for 2011–2012. The fellowships are intended to promote a professional career in mammalogy by allowing the recipients greater freedom to pursue research, but are not grants in support of specific research projects. These fellowships are the premier awards given to graduate student members of ASM, and are awarded in recognition of both current accomplishments and future potential. Careers of applicants should have progressed sufficiently (in terms of publications, presentations, and development of their research program) to clearly demonstrate the potential for productive roles in professional mammalogy. Awards do not preclude support from other sources.

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAMMALOGISTS FELLOWSHIP IN MAMMALOGY

The Board of Directors of the ASM provides a fellowship in mammalogy for any graduate student member of the ASM enrolled in a college or university for the forthcoming academic year (Fall 2011–Spring 2012). The stipend of $12,500 for 2011–2012 has been approved. The ASM Fellow will be invited to present the results of his/her research at the Plenary Session of the 2012 Annual Meeting of the ASM.

ALBERT R. AND ALMA SHADLE FELLOWSHIP IN MAMMALOGY

The Albert R. and Alma Shadle Endowment Fund provides a fellowship in mammalogy for a graduate student member of the ASM enrolled in a college or university in the United States for the forthcoming academic year (Fall 2011–Spring 2012). The stipend for 2011–2012 is expected to be approximately $4,000. The Shadle Fellow will be invited to present the results of his/her research at the Plenary Session of the 2012 Annual Meeting of the ASM.

Applications for either fellowship should be submitted electronically through the ASM web site ( http://www.mammalsociety.org/applications/). All electronic applications must consist of 9 items: an application form; an abstract; description of research project; brief statement of how support from the Fellowship would be used; summary of professional experience in mammalogy, research interest, and career goals; a curriculum vita; and 3 letters of recommendation, including one from the applicant’s research advisor. Applicants may apply for either or both fellowships with a single application as indicated on the electronic application form. See the ASM web site for additional information. Applications including letters of recommendation must be received by 1 May 2011. Contact C. William Kilpatrick (C-William.Kilpatrick@uvm.edu) if there are exceptional reasons why an application cannot be submitted electronically. The nominees for both fellowships will be announced at the 2011 Annual Meeting.

GRANTS-IN-AID OF RESEARCH

Applications are solicited for Grants-in-Aid of Research in mammalogy from funds made available by the Directors of the ASM. Applicants must be graduate students or upper-level undergraduates who are members of the ASM. Awards (maximum $1,500) will be made in support of any aspect of research except travel to meetings. Individuals may receive a career maximum of two Grants-in Aid awards. The ASM encourages foreign students, especially those in developing countries, to submit applications.

Applications should be submitted electronically through the ASM web site ( http://www.mammalsociety.org/applications/). All electronic applications must consist of 5 items: an application form, a description of the proposed research, a project budget, and 2 letters of recommendation, including one from the applicant’s research advisor. See the ASM web site for more information. Contact C. William Kilpatrick (C-William.Kilpatrick@uvm.edu) if there are exceptional reasons why an application cannot be submitted electronically. Applications including letters of recommendation must be received by 1 March 2011.

LATIN AMERICAN STUDENT FIELD RESEARCH AWARD

The Latin American Student Field Research Award is made annually to support field research projects by Latin Americans in Latin America. Eligible students must be citizens of Latin American countries (excluding Puerto Rico) and currently enrolled in a graduate program. Projects must be field-oriented investigations of natural history, conservation, ecology, systematics, wildlife biology, biogeography, or behavior of mammals. The selection committee, whose membership reflects these diverse fields and has field experience in Latin America, considers each of these areas of research equally important.

Application materials include a 2-page application and 2 letters of recommendation from persons familiar with your scientific background and current academic program, 1 of which must be from your graduate advisor. All application materials must be sent to the Committee Chair in files attached to email messages. Acceptable formats include pdf (preferred) and Word (doc and rtf files). Letters scanned in jpg format also are acceptable. Although we encourage applications and letters in English, documents written in Spanish or Portuguese are acceptable. Detailed instructions can be downloaded from the ASM website ( www.mammalsociety.org/committees/index.asp).

To be considered, all application materials must be sent electronically to Dr. Kristina A. Ernest (ernestk@cwu.edu; phone 509-963-2805) by APRIL 15. Recipients will be announced at the annual banquet of the American Society of Mammalogists, but awardees need not be present to receive the award.

ASM-AIBS GRADUATE STUDENT PUBLIC POLICY INTERNSHIP

The American Society of Mammalogists (ASM) and the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) are pleased to announce the availability of an internship in the Washington, DC. AIBS Public Policy Office. The internship is open to ASM members who are currently enrolled in a graduate program and who are engaged in research that will contribute to our understanding and conservation of mammals. The internship is for 3 months during fall 2011, and carries a generous monthly stipend of $2000. Selection criteria include demonstrated interest in public policy process, strong communications skills, and excellent academic record.

The AIBS Public Policy Office focuses on science and science education public policy (e.g., federal R & D funding policy). Additional information about ASM and AIBS can be found on their respective websites ( www.mammalsociety.org,  www.aibs.org).

The ASM-AIBS Public Policy Internship is an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in public policy at the national level. By working with the AIBS Public Policy Office, the intern will learn how scientific societies, non-governmental organizations (NGO's), executive branch agencies (e.g., NSF, USGS), and the legislative branch interact to craft science policy. Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Application requirements:

Letter of application describing applicant's interest in science policy issues and detailing how this fellowship would enhance his/her professional goals. Applicant should include the names of two individuals other than their advisor from whom recommendations can be requested. These individuals should be able to address the candidate's leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills.

A two-page resume that demonstrates the applicant's leadership and communication experience. It should include the following items: education (including relevant law or policy courses), work experience, honors and awards, memberships, and publications.

A statement describing the importance of federal support for fundamental mammalian research (750 words maximum). The statement should draw on the applicant's own experience and/or research area, and should illustrate how the applicant would try to convince his/her own congressional delegation to support federal research funding programs/agencies.

A letter of support/recommendation from academic advisor.

Copies of transcripts from each college or university from which applicant received a degree and/or is currently enrolled. If selected, official transcripts may be required.

Applicants are not required to be ASM members at the time of application but, if selected, must join the Society prior to starting the internship. The intern is expected to present a poster summarizing the internship experience at the June 2012 ASM Annual Meeting.

All application materials must be received by 1 May 2011 and should be sent to Dr. Alicia V. Linzey, Evaluation Committee Chair, 148 Double Brook Dr., Weaverville, NC 28787. Questions about the award can be addressed to Dr. Linzey at avlinzey@frontier.com.