Awards are given for academic achievement and research excellence.
Graduate Student Award
This award is presented to the outstanding graduate student, selected for research, teaching and other contributions to the Department. This award is presented during the Department of Biology Annual Awards Ceremony.
Chapman Medal
This award is named in honor of the former Chair of the Department of Biology, Prof. George B. Chapman, who was a pioneer in cell biology using microscopy and who initiated a Senior Thesis requirement for all students (now optional and called Research Intensive Senior Experience or RISE). Prof. Chapman dedicated his life to research and education. This medal is awarded to the undergraduate student with the most outstanding research project carried out in the laboratory, field, or using computational approaches. Faculty nominate outstanding RISE students to a panel of faculty; the panel selects the recipient of the medal based in part on RISE poster symposium presentations.
Biology Medal
The Department of Biology has four awards given to recognize a senior in each major (Biology, Biology of Global Health, Environmental Biology, & Neurobiology) who exemplifies qualities of industry, perseverance, leadership, maturity, service, and promise in their respective major and field. (Not all majors are recognized every year.) Faculty select the recipients and the medals are awarded during the Tropaia Exercises.
Taylor-Weber Memorial Scholarship
This alumni-endowed prize is awarded to the student or students who enter the senior year with the highest academic grade record among all majors and is named for two outstanding and highly appreciated teachers in the Department’s early history, Profs Taylor and Weber.