The American Ornithological Society (AOS) proudly recognizes the students who received research awards for 2018. These awards are not ranked but honor research that advances our understanding of birds and their conservation. The 2018 awardees are listed below (in alphabetical order by award's last name and recipient's last name).

DONALD L. BLEITZ AWARD

Austin Spence, University of Connecticut

Using molecular scatology to reveal novel biotic interactions induced by climate change

HERBERT AND BETTY CARNES AWARD

Heather Skeen, University of Chicago

Characterizing the gut microbiome of Kirtland's Warblers on the wintering and breeding grounds

JOSEPH GRINNELL AWARD

Jessica Hernandez, Virginia Tech

Sexually transmitted microbes as a cost to extra-pair fertilizations in female Tree Swallows

WERNER AND HILDEGARD HESSE AWARD

Stepfanie Aguillon, Cornell University

Using hybridization to understand the genomic underpinnings of phenotypic differences

Juan Benito, University of Bath

The origin of the modern bird body plan: Cretaceous Ornithurae from the Old World

Gemma Clucas, University of New Hampshire

Multi-colony analysis of the diet of adult Atlantic Puffins with novel DNA metabarcoding techniques

Brittany Coppinger, University of Tennessee

Flock density and its influences on social and vocal complexity

Nikole Freeman, University of Guelph

Carry-over effects of early-life food availability on stress physiology and survival: A supplementation experiment in a winter breeding passerine

Chauncey Gadek, University of New Mexico

Replicated adaptation to altitude in marsh-dwelling songbirds: A natural experiment

Rebecca Garlinger, Villanova University

Sociality and dominance: Behavioral mechanisms in a moving songbird hybrid zone

Kathryn Grabenstein, University of Colorado - Boulder

Disturbance-mediated hybridization: An experimental assessment of species' barriers

Haley Hanson, University of South Florida

Epigenetic potential in native and introduced populations of House Sparrows (Passer domesticus)

Michael Hanson, Yale University

The evolutionary origins and development of the avian cranial kinetic system

Suzanne Hartley, North Carolina State University

Eggshell characteristics as predictors of heavy metal concentration in House Sparrow eggs

Johanna Harvey, University of Connecticut

Evolution of host defenses against introduced parasites of Darwin's finches

Shanta Hejmadi, University of Minnesota

Evolutionary history and extinction risk in raptors (Falconiformes and Accipitriformes): A new framework for integrating phylogeny and community assembly in risk assessment and conservation

Amanda Hund, University of Colorado

The role of early environment in the expression of a lifelong melanin-based sexual trait

John Jones, Tulane University

Proximate mechanisms of female multimodal signal expression in a tropical songbird

Todd Jones, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Do pre- to post-fledging carryover effects drive patterns of differential post-fledging survival in altricial songbirds?

Sarah Khalil, Tulane University

Flexible and variable carotenoid-based ornamentation in the Red-backed Fairywren: Proximate mechanisms and adaptive consequences

Shelby Lawson, University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign

Investigating the neural and perceptual basis of functional reference calls in Yellow Warblers

Anna Lello-Smith, Cornell University

Understanding drivers of avian community assembly in regenerating cattle pastures

Marisa Martinez, Florida Atlantic University

Predicting wading bird foraging habitat in dynamic intertidal systems

Molly McDermott, University of Colorado–Boulder

How does non-breeding environment affect sexual signaling? A comparative analysis in two subspecies of Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Lucas Pavan, Stanford University

Avian community response to patterns of defaunation in Central Africa and its effect on understorey seed predation

Subir Shakya, Louisiana State University

An investigation of the genetics of coloration in Black-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus atriceps) of Southeast Asia

Naima Starkloff, University at Albany, SUNY

Geographic variation in host immunogenetics and malarial parasite infection in breeding populations of Catharus thrushes

Andrew Stillman, University of Connecticut

An empirical test of two hypotheses explaining patch-based population dynamics in the Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus)

Sheela Turbek, University of Colorado–Boulder

Explaining mismatches between genetic and phenotypic divergence in a rapid radiation of finch-like birds

MEWALDT-KING AWARD

Vitek Jirinec, Louisiana State University

Does microclimate change explain declines of terrestrial insectivores in central Amazonia?

MARGARET MORSE NICE AWARD

Fernanda Duque, Georgia State University

Diversification of vocal communication in Andean hummingbirds

JOSSELYN VAN TYNE MEMORIAL RESEARCH AWARD

Stefanie Siller, Columbia University

Epigenetic mediation of early environmental influences on the stress response

ALEXANDER WETMORE MEMORIAL RESEARCH AWARD

Marion Donald, Rice University

Avian and floral microbiomes as an early warning signal of avian pollinator loss in fragmented forests

Jordan Herman, University of Utah

Do ecologically distinct parasites have interacting effects on host fitness?

Benjamin Lagasse, University of Colorado–Denver

Assessing an Arctic-breeding shorebird's capacity for adapting to environmental change along three major flyways of the world

Kara Leimberger, Oregon State University

Effects of keystone species loss on a tropical plant–hummingbird network

Brian Trevelline, University of Pittsburgh

Dietary shifts over the annual cycle of a Neotropical migratory songbird