The Society for the Study of Evolution was founded in March, 1946. The objectives of the Society for the Study of Evolution are the promotion of the study of organic evolution and the integration of the various fields of science concerned with evolution. The Society publishes the scientific journal Evolution and holds annual meetings in which scientific findings on evolutionary biology are presented and discussed.

Officers and Council Members
Committees
Publishers Contacts
Business Office
Past Officers

Handbook for SSE Council and Committee Members

Council Nomination Form: Nominate yourself or someone else for SSE Council. Officer nominations submitted by April 1 will receive full consideration by the nominating committee for that year's election cycle. Nominations for the Editorial Board submitted by July 1 will receive full consideration for that year's nomination cycle. 

SSE Officers and Council Members: 2024

+ denotes voting members

2024 SSE Committee Memberships

* Committee designated in Constitution or Bylaws

To learn more about the role and objectives of each committee, please consult the SSE Handbook for Council and Committee Members.

International Affairs Committee

María del Rosario Castañeda (Chair)
Australia/New Zealand: Henry Arenas-Castro (Australia), Tim Connallon (Australia)
Africa: Conrad Mathee (South Africa)
Asia: Deepa Agashe (India), N.G. Prasad (India), Srijan Seal (India), Suhua Shi (China)
Europe: Arvid Ågren (Sweden), Madlen Prang (Germany), Bibiana Rojas (Austria), Isa-Rita Russo (UK), Vincent Savolainen (UK)
North America: Anne Yoder (USA)
South America: Thales Moreira de Lima (Brazil), Diogo B. Provete (Brazil)

international [at] evolutionsociety.org

International Committee Webpage

Joint Meeting Committee
Brian Hollis (Co-chief Meeting Officer)
Alex Wong (Co-chief Meeting Officer)
April Wright (Assistant Meeting Officer)
Mike Wiser (Assistant Meeting Officer, Virtual)
Michael Whitlock (SSE representative)
Tracy Heath (SSB representative)
Mark McPeek (ASN representative)
Howard Rundle (SSE EVP)


Evolution Meeting Website

Education & Outreach Committee
Rich Kliman (2014) (Chair)
Gustavo Adolfo Agudelo Cantero (2022)
Maria Jose Albo (2022)
Michael Antolin (2001)
E Dale Broder (2013)
Jay Bundy (2022)
Scott Edwards (2000)
Phil Gibson (2018)
Joseph L. Graves Jr. (2000)
Michael Grillo (2022)
Kathleen Grogan (2022)
Vanessa Koelling (2022)
Louise S. Mead (2008)
Mohamed Noor (2013)
Sam Scheiner (2001) (ASN Representative)
Leslie Rissler (2022)
Barrie Robison (2017)

Contact: Rich Kliman, education [at] evolutionsociety.org

Education and Outreach Webpage

Publishers Contacts

Business and Communications Contacts

Past Officers

View past officers and editors on this pdf.

The wide gap that existed in the first third of the 20th century between genetics on one hand, and taxonomy and paleontology on the other, began to narrow down in the 1930's to such an extent that representatives of both groups began to see that there was no fundamental conflict between their views. It was particularly in regard to the study of evolution that an area of understanding and mutual interest developed. Julian Huxley suggested to several participants of the AAAS meeting at Columbus, Ohio, in December, 1939 (Dobzhansky, Epling, and Mayr), that a society be formed including members of the various fields interested in speciation. Dr. Alfred E. Emerson of the University of Chicago undertook to organize an informal Society for the Study of Speciation and issued a number of mimeographed bulletins. Owing to war conditions, this society never became formally organized. Shortly afterwards, a parallel movement started under the initiative of Professor Walter Bucher of Columbia University at whose recommendation the National Research Council established on February 6, 1943, a Committee on Common Problems of Genetics, Paleontology and Systematics. This committee held two discussion meetings in the summer of 1943, one of a group consisting primarily of botanists at Berkeley (University of California) on June 14-16, and the other one consisting primarily of animal paleontologists and geneticists at the American Museum History in New York on July 24-25. Since further such meetings were impossible owing to wartime travel difficulties, it was decided to continue an exchange of ideas among members of the Committee through correspondence. Copies of these letters were gathered and issued in mimeographed bulletins under the editorship of Dr. Ernst Mayr. Six such bulletins were issued, four of which contained a discussion of numerous evolutionary problems.

The work of the Committee revealed that such a keen interest in the problems of evolution that it was felt that a larger and more permanent organization was needed than a temporary Committee of the National Research Council. This was particularly true in view of the obvious need for a journal that would include evolutionary studies from the diverse fields of biology and thus help to bridge the gaps between them. Informal correspondence between Professor Dobzhansky, Dr. Simpson, Dr. Mayr, and other members of the Committee, revealed much enthusiasm for such a journal, as well as for a society that would support it. Dr. Emerson suggested that the dormant Society for the Study of Speciation should join forces with the National Research Council group in the establishment of a Society for the Study of Evolution. An organization meeting was held in St. Louis on March 30, 1946, at which Dr. Emerson presided. At this meeting, attended by fifty-seven biologists, the Society for the Study of Evolution was officially founded, a tentative policy adopted, and a slate of officers elected. The officers of the first year were the following:

President: G. G. Simpson
Vice Presidents: E. B. Babcock, A. E. Emerson, and J. T. Patterson
Secretary: E. Mayr
Treasurer: K. P. Schmidt
Council: E. R. Dunn, H. J. Muller, Sewall Wright, G. L. Jepsen, Th. Dobzhansky, and R. Chaney

Over 500 members joined the Society during the first year of its existence, and on the occasion of the First Annual Meeting in Boston, December 28-31, 1946, the Society felt sufficiently well established to authorize publication of a research journal in the field of evolution. In a wave of enthusiasm and optimism the Council voted to publish 1500 copies of the Journal. Thanks to this decision the Society lived for years on the sale of back copies. A grant had been awarded to the Society by the American Philosophical Society to make this publication possible. At this same meeting, a constitution was also adopted by the Society.

Despite considerable interest in assuming control of the American Naturalist the Society decided to found a new journal. Some of the older members wanted the word "Organic" included in the Journal title but in the final vote the title "Evolution" won out, not only for its simplicity but also because it corresponded to Ecology and Genetics. Several long defunct journals had that same name and efforts to avoid legal difficulties included leters to the former publishers all of which were returned for a "better address". During the fall of 1946 six firms were invited to submit bids for the printing. All but Lancaster Press declined to submit a serious bid because of the post war printing backlog and the great paper shortage. Additionally there was a shortage of suitable manuscripts and at least one paper was written just to fill an issue. There was strong support from the very beginning to have the journal as international as possible. Indeed the editorial board included distinguished evolutionists from abroad.

Following policies established during its first year of existence, the function of the Society is to promote the study of organic evolution in all its aspects. The Society is a common meeting ground for representatives of all fields of science concerned with organic evolution, including genetics, paleontology (vertebrate, invertebrate, plant), taxonomy (animal, plant), ecology, anthropology, and others. The journal EVOLUTION is established in order to stimulate evolutionary research and to bring its results together in readily accessible form. A journal broadly devoted to the particular subject of evolution will help to counteract the previous extreme scattering of pertinent literature, which has handicapped evolutionary study by the tendency to confine results within numerous different narrowly specialized groups. The journal will not publish taxonomic monographs or other descriptive studies properly addressed to a more specialized audience, but it will encourage the expression of the evolutionary significance of such material and will make this available to the broader group of students of evolution in general. Research primarily directed toward various evolutionary problems will also be encouraged.

The aims of the Society, through its journal and otherwise reflect the conviction that the evolutionary approach will clarify many unsolved biological problems and will provide common goals and mutual comprehension among all the life sciences.

E. Mayr

Read more

Read more about the founding of the Society for the Study of Evolution:

"Disciplining Evolutionary Biology: Ernst Mayr and the Founding of the Society for the Study of Evolution and Evolution (1939–1950)" by Vassiliki Betty Smocovitis

"Organizing evolution: Founding the society for the study of evolution (1939–1950)" by Vassiliki Betty Smocovitis

View past elected representatives on this pdf.

CONSTITUTION OF SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF EVOLUTION, INC.

Adopted December 29, 1946, Boston; Revised December 29, 1947; December 27, 1949; October 15, 1953; April 8, 1955; September 2, 1958; November 27, 1959; April 28, December 29, 1960; August 1, 1961; August 19, 1965; June 20, October 1, 1968; June 21, 1985; January 1, 1986; January 1, 1991; January 1, 1992; June 20, 1998; June 23, 1999; January 1, 2000; June 23, 2006; March 1, 2007; February 15, 2009; June 12, 2009; July 7, 2016; January 1, 2018; January 1, 2020; September 29, 2020; December 11, 2020; May 9, 2022; November 22, 2022; January 1, 2024

CONSTITUTION

Article 1. The organization shall be called "Society for the Study of Evolution, Inc" and referred to as the “Society.”

Article 2. The object of the Society shall be the promotion of the study of biological  evolution and the integration of various fields of science concerned with evolution.

Article 3. The Society has voting Members with rights and privileges as specified in the Bylaws. 

Article 4. The officers of the Society shall include President, President-Elect, Past President, Executive Vice-President, two Vice-Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, and Editor-in-Chief of the journal Evolution. Officers and offices shall be elected or appointed according to the Bylaws for the Society.

Article 5. Governance and management of the Society shall be vested in a board of directors known as the “Council.”

Article 6. The time and place of the annual meeting of the Society shall be determined by the Council.

Article 7. Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed in writing by any member to the Secretary, who shall submit them to the Council for consideration and vote. Such proposed amendments as have been approved by the Council shall be submitted to the members for a vote and may be adopted by a favorable vote of the majority of the members voting. 

Article 8. The fiscal year, tax year of the corporation, and terms of office are January 1 to December 31 unless otherwise specified in the Bylaws.

Article 9. The Society shall have no capital stock. No member shall be entitled to receive as dividends, profits, or otherwise, any property or money derived from the operation of said Society, but all property earnings and income of the Society, after the payment of necessary charges and expenses of operations, shall be used exclusively to carry out the scientific and educational purposes of the Society as expressed in Article 2 of the Constitution.

Article 10. SSE solicits and accepts gifts for purposes that will help the organization further and fulfill its mission. SSE will not accept gifts that (a) would result in the society violating its corporate charter, (b) would result in the society losing its status as an IRC § 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, (c) are too difficult or too expensive to administer in relation to their value, (d) would result in any unacceptable consequences for SSE, or (e) are for purposes outside SSE’s mission. Decisions on the restrictive nature of a gift, and its acceptance or refusal, shall be made by the Council.

 
BYLAWS 

ARTICLE I. PURPOSE  

Section 1. Purpose. The purposes of the Society for the Study of Evolution, Inc. (the “Society” hereafter) are exclusively those allowed for organizations defined under §501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. Within these limits, the purposes of the Society include the promotion of the study of organic evolution and the integration of the various fields of science concerned with evolution.

Section 2. Vision. The Society aspires to advance knowledge of evolutionary biology for the benefit of science and society and to cultivate and support a global community of evolutionary biologists.
 
Section 3. Mission. The Society promotes evolutionary biology research, education, application, outreach, and community building in an equitable and globally inclusive manner.

ARTICLE II. MEMBERS

Section 1. Membership. Any person who is interested in the study of evolution, who supports the purpose and mission of the Society, and who upholds the Society's values, is eligible for membership. 

Section 2. Member Categories. The Council may, by resolution, establish, eliminate, or define categories of membership. All categories of membership include electronic access to the journal of the Society (Evolution), the right to vote in Society elections, and all other privileges of membership. Membership categories may include: Student, Postdoc, K–12 Educator, Emeritus, Family, Regular, and Life. Members may belong to more than one category. 

Section 3. Powers and Purpose of Members. Members have the power to vote for Society Council members and Officers. Members do not have the power to make or approve the Society budget or take actions reserved for the Council or Officers. Members attend the Annual Meeting and the Annual Business Meeting. Some membership categories may have special or exclusive membership rights. The purpose of the Membership is to participate in Society-sponsored activities and opportunities, engage as an academic community, and participate in elections.

Section 4. Selection of Members. Membership shall be automatically approved following a determination that the applicant has paid any required dues, agrees to uphold the Society's Code of Ethics, and satisfies any other qualifications required for membership. 

Section 5.  Records of Members. The Secretary shall ensure that the Society maintains a current and formal record of the names, contact information, and status of Members.

Section 6. Conduct of Members. The Council may define general or specific standards of professional and personal conduct that all Members or other participants are expected to respect, honor, and model, when involved in Society meetings, business, initiatives, or any other activity. These standards shall include a Society Code of Ethics and a Meetings Code of Conduct, together with such enforcement policies as deemed appropriate.

Section 7. Suspension or Removal of Members. A Member may be suspended or expelled from the Society for serious misconduct that adversely affects the interests or reputation of the Society, violations of the Society Code of Ethics, or for any other reason. Suspended Members may be reinstated through an application to the Ethics Review Committee that satisfactorily explains reasons for reinstatement.

Section 8. Resignation of Members. Any member may resign at any time by sending or delivering a written resignation to the Secretary. Prorated dues may not be refunded.

Section 9. Dues. Annual dues shall be determined by the Council and will include a subscription to the journal Evolution. Payment shall be due January 1. Members who have not paid their dues by January 1 shall be dropped from the rolls. The dues for Life membership shall be twenty (20) times the Regular membership rate.

ARTICLE III. COUNCIL

Section 1. Council Members and Purpose. The Council (a “board of directors” in operation, responsibility, and authority) shall be the managing and governing body of the Society. The Council shall determine matters of publication policy, formulate and modify program rules, fill temporary vacancies among officers, appoint Editors and Associate Editors of Evolution, set and approve the annual budget, review expenditures, and conduct other business as required.

Section 2. Qualifications of Council Members and Composition of the Council. Nominees for positions on the Council must have demonstrated a commitment to the mission and purposes of the Society and a commitment to uphold the Society's Code of Ethics. There shall be two classifications of Council Member (also known as “Councilor”): Member-Elected Councilor and Council-Appointed Councilor. No individual shall simultaneously hold two Member-Elected positions on Council. In the event that a sitting elected Council Member is elected to a second position, their prior position will be considered vacant. Member-Elected Councilors shall be eligible for re-election one year after vacating their previous position. 

Section 3. Number of Voting Council Members. The voting members of Council shall consist of the Officers (Article IV), up to nine (9) at-large Member-Elected Councilors, and two (2) Council-Appointed Councilors represented by the Chair and Past-Chair of the SSE Graduate Student Advisory Committee (GSAC). 

Section 4. Terms. At-large Member-Elected Councilors serve three-year terms. Councilors assume office on January 1. Unless they resign or are removed from office, the Council may authorize Councilors to remain in office until their successors are properly elected, designated, or appointed, for up to a maximum period of one term. Member-Elected Councilor terms are staggered such that a maximum of three Councilors are on the Members’ annual ballot.

Section 5. Selection of Voting Council Members. Society Members elect the at-large Councilors and Officers (Art. IV). Elections are held annually and include Officer or Member-Elected Councilor seats due to become vacant at the end of the calendar year. Election slates are developed by the Nominating Committee (Art. VI) and approved by the Council. All members in good standing at the time of the issuing of ballots shall be eligible to vote. In the event that an election for Councilor results in a tie for winner, the three Presidents presiding before the election (President, President-Elect, Past-President) shall decide upon the outcome between the two top vote-getters by majority vote. The Council annually appoints the GSAC Chair-Elect as a Non-voting Advisor and as the successor to the current GSAC Chair. 

Section 6. Removal of Council Members. Any Member-Elected Councilor may be removed with or without cause by a Society Members’ vote or by the Council on the recommendation of the Ethics Review Committee. Proper notice of a Society Members’ vote must be given in advance, as required for an annual membership meeting, or for a regular meeting of the voting members, or as required for a special meeting of the voting members, whichever is appropriate, stating that the removal of a Councilor is to be considered. The Council may remove any Councilor appointed by the Council. When a Councilor is removed, any Society office held by that Councilor is immediately vacated.

Section 7. Resignation of Voting Council Members. A Voting Council Member may resign at any time. The resignation of a Councilor must be in writing and be delivered to the Council, a President, or the Secretary. Once delivered, a notice of resignation is irrevocable. When a Councilor resigns, any Society office held by that Councilor is immediately vacated.

Section 8. Filling Vacancies on Voting Council. In the event of a vacancy on Council that will have a duration of more than one year, the Nominating Committee may be charged with nominating one or two candidates to fill the vacant position and serve as interim for the remainder of the term. This interim appointment will then be made by majority vote of Council and will begin immediately following the appointment. For vacancies that will have a duration of less than one year, the position on Council may remain vacant if so agreed by majority vote of the Council.

Section 9. Quorum for Conducting Council Business. At all meetings of the Council, the presence or participation by phone or other conference communication forum, of a quorum, which is at least two thirds of the number of voting Council members (which does not include Non-Voting Advisors) in office immediately before the meeting begins, is necessary to allow the transaction of corporate business or the making of corporate decisions. Non-Voting Advisors do not count toward the number needed for a quorum nor are they counted in the quorum. 

Section 10. Decision-Making and Voting by Council. The Council must diligently and conscientiously attempt to make decisions by consensus. They must employ all standard consensus practices and techniques including the expression and careful consideration of minority views. Consensus decisions must be recorded in the written minutes. When a consensus apparently cannot be achieved, any Councilor may request and require that a vote be taken. 

Decisions that are not obtained by consensus require a clearly stated motion by a Voting Councilor (a Member-Elected Councilor or a Council-Appointed Councilor), a second by a Voting Councilor, and a vote by the Voting Councilors that must be recorded in the written minutes. Each member of the Voting Council will have one vote. At the request of any Voting Councilor, the names will be recorded in the minutes of each Councilor who voted for, voted against, or abstained on a particular motion. Non-Voting Advisors may participate in discussion, but do not make motions, second, or vote on any Council motions. 

The three Presidents break ties when they arise in any Council vote, reaching a decision through discussion amongst themselves and a vote, if necessary. Ties in these Presidential votes withdraws the motion.

Section 11. Proxy Voting. Proxy voting is not allowed at any meeting of the Council or as part of reaching any decision of the Council.

Section 12. Telephonic and Video Meetings. Realtime meetings may be held by telephone, video teleconference, or other distance method, so long as all participating Councilors may simultaneously hear and speak with each other. A Councilor participating in such a meeting is deemed present for purposes of a quorum.  

Section 13. Decisions Without Meetings. The Voting Council may make any decision or take any action within its power without a meeting through a written resolution that sets forth the action so taken. The resolution is effective when a majority of the voting Councilors have voted in the affirmative. The resolution may be sent or transmitted by any medium in which a written record of the resolution, its recipients and their votes is retained. 

Section 14. Voting Council Meetings. The Voting Council must meet at least two times per year, and shall strive to do this by meeting at least once every six months or so. One of these meetings should take place during the annual membership meeting. Only Voting Council Members, Non-voting Advisors, and others invited by the President may attend Council meetings. The President chairs Council meetings. Council meeting minutes are not published and are only open to current and future Councilors. A President-approved summary of Council decisions may be published following the meeting.

Section 15. Notice of Council Meetings. Notice must be given to every Councilor of every meeting of the Council, stating the date, time, and location (physical or electronic) of the meeting, and the purpose of the meeting if so required by law or these Bylaws. The notice must be given not less than seven days in advance of the meeting and can be delivered by telephone, in person, mail, email, text, fax or any other acknowledged contact provided by the Councilor.

After the initial notice is given of the schedule for a single or series of regular Council meetings, which will occur at a fixed time and place (physical or electronic), no further separate notice is required for each of those meetings. The Council may, by resolution, establish or change the dates of regularly scheduled Council meetings, with proper notice given to all Councilors.

Section 16. Waiver of Notice. Any Councilor may waive the right to receive full advance notice of any meeting. Waivers of notice must be in writing, signed by the person entitled to notice, and must be given to the Secretary to be placed in the corporate records. Waivers may be signed before or after the meeting has taken place. The attendance of a Councilor at any meeting without specific objection to the notice constitutes a waiver of the full notice of that meeting.

Section 17.  Authority of Council Members. No Councilor, Officer, staff member, or representative may communicate or act on behalf of the Society without specific or general authorization by the Council.

Section 18. Conduct of Council Members. Councilors must discharge their duty of loyalty and their duty of diligence in good faith with the care an ordinarily prudent person in a similar position would exercise under similar circumstances and in a manner the Councilor reasonably believes to be in the best interest of the Society. Councilors are also subject to the same personal and professional conduct expectations and directives as Members. Content of any Council discussion should not be shared outside the Council without permission. 

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS AND OTHER OFFICES

Section 1. Officers. Officers are members of the Council and hold a Member-Elected Councilor or Council-Appointed Councilor seat. The Officers are Members of the Society and must carry out policies and decisions as directed by the Council. The Officers include President, President-Elect, Retiring Past-President, Executive Vice-President, North American Vice-President, Non-North American Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Editor-in-Chief of Evolution. The same person may not hold more than one office simultaneously. 

Section 2. Other Offices. Other appointed offices of the Society may carry out duties as directed by the Council. Other offices may include Committee Chairs, Non-Voting Advisors, staff, or contractors. Other office assignments are made by the Council and serve at the pleasure of the Council. The Council may determine definition and specification for any office, including term, Society privileges, and Council meeting participation.

Section 3. Terms. Council Officer terms are three (3) years except for President-Elect, President, Past-President, all of which have one (1) year terms and the North American and Non-North American Vice-Presidents, both of which have staggered two (2) year terms. Official terms shall commence on 1 January of the year following the election, except that the term of the Editor-in-Chief for Evolution shall commence at the next Annual Meeting of the Council following their selection. The President-Elect shall be elected annually, and shall automatically become the President for the next year; similarly, the President automatically becomes the Past-President in the year following their term. The North American and Non-North American Vice-Presidents shall be elected biennially and are eligible for the same office one year after the expiration of their previous term. The Executive Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Editor-in-Chief shall be elected for terms of three (3) years and may be re-elected. Terms for Executive Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer are staggered such that no two are elected in the same year. 

Section 4. Selection. As they are a class of Councilors, Officers are elected in the annual Councilor election per Article III Section 5. 

The Council may create and fill any other office (see Article IV Section 2). But nomination of the candidate for the position of Editor-in-Chief of Evolution is the responsibility of a special-purpose ad hoc committee consisting of the President plus one member of the Evolution Editorial Board and one member of the Council (both appointed by the President). The Editor-in-Chief of Evolution shall be elected by the Council by secret ballot prior to January 1 of the year of editorial transition.

Section 5. Officer Vacancies and Rules of Succession. If any office (except President) of the Society becomes vacant by death, resignation, retirement, removal, disqualification, or any other cause, see Article III Section 8. 

If the office of President becomes vacant, the position shall be filled by the President-Elect, who shall serve as President for the remainder of the current term and the following term as Past-President. If no President-Elect is available to fill a vacant President’s office, Council must appoint one within thirty (30) days of the Presidential vacancy.

If the office of Editor-in-Chief of Evolution is vacant, the three Presidents (past, acting, and president-elect) shall appoint an acting Editor-in-Chief until a successor is chosen according to Article IV Section 4. 

Section 6. Officer and Other Office Duties.

President – The president is the principal officer of the organization and will, in general, supervise or oversee the supervision of all of the affairs of the organization.  The president generally will preside at all meetings of the Council, unless the Council selects another person to preside. The president will also perform other duties as may be assigned by the Council.  The president may serve as an ex-officio member of any committee. The President shall preside at scientific sessions, at the business and Council meetings, and shall appoint such committees as directed by the Council or prescribed by the Constitution and Bylaws. It shall be the privilege of the President to plan and arrange one symposium to be held at the annual meeting of the Society. The President also assists the Executive Vice-President and the Council in planning other symposia, including those to be co-sponsored by the Society in collaboration with other societies. The President cooperates with the President-Elect and Past-President in leading the Council and Society planning. The President appoints one new member of the three-member Nominating Committee each year. The President appoints members of the Education and Outreach Committee, Hamilton Award Committee, Diversity Committee, Public Policy Committee, and Finance Committee.

President-Elect – Cooperates with the other two “presidents” in leading the Council and Society planning. In the absence of the President or in the event of the President's inability to act, the President-Elect will perform the duties of the President. The President-Elect, when acting as President, will have all the powers of and is subject to all the restrictions on the President. Appoints members to the Ethics Review Committee, with approval of the Council.

Past-President - Cooperates with other two “presidents” in leading the Council and Society planning. Chairs the Presidents’ Award committee, which, when formulated, consists of the President, Past-President and President-Elect. Serves as chair of the Ethics Review Committee. 

Executive Vice-President - The Executive Vice-President, in consultation with the President, shall be responsible for the administration, management and operation of the Society in accordance with the existing constitution, bylaws and policies. Is responsible for oversight of all business operations, financial management, publishing contracts, and general Society and conference activities. Nominates the next Executive Vice-President. Works with the Joint Meeting Committee in Annual Meeting Planning. Acts as signatory on meeting contracts. Assures that all contracts are approved by the Society’s legal advisor prior to signing. Oversees the Society’s financial books. Shall seek Council approval for expenditures above a Council-defined amount. Shall make a report to the Council at each Annual Meeting of the financials of the preceding fiscal year, an informal interim report for the current fiscal year, and a report of other programs and activities. 

The Executive Vice-President, in conjunction with the Chief Meeting Organizer, shall conduct negotiations for sites for the annual meeting, appoint local committees, and distribute announcements of the meeting to members. The Executive Vice-President is authorized to contract clerical and accounting assistance when necessary.

The Executive Vice-President may receive a stipend during their term in office.

North American Vice-President - May be assigned a variety of tasks by the Council, often associated with award committee oversight. Representative to the Joint Meeting Committee.

Non-North American Vice-President - May be assigned a variety of tasks by the Council, often associated with award committee oversight. Chair of the International Committee.

Secretary - The Secretary will perform or oversee the performance of the following duties: a) record and keep the minutes of the meetings of the members and of the Council and of any committees; b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law; c) be custodian of the corporate records; d) keep a register of the mailing address of each Member as provided by such Member; e) ensure that all required state and federal reports are prepared and filed in a timely fashion; and f) perform or oversee all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the President or by the Council. The secretary may delegate some or all of these tasks but remains responsible for their proper completion.

The Secretary is responsible for communications within the Society, and manages all Society elections and ballots. At least 30-days before any election the Secretary shall send to members the official election slate and any other ballot initiatives. The Secretary shall tabulate the votes, report to the Council, and transmit names of elected officers to the editor of the Journal for publication. The Secretary shall communicate expectations and documents to all entering Council members and committee chairs.The Secretary shall inform committee members that they have been asked to serve on a Standing Committee or a Nominating Committee. Following the nomination of an Editor-in-Chief by the editor’s special nominating committee, the Secretary shall call for a secret ballot of the Council to elect the Editor-in-Chief. The Secretary is authorized to contract for clerical assistance when necessary with approval of the Executive Vice-President. 

The Secretary is responsible for ensuring required reports are supplied to Council members before meetings. 

The Secretary may receive a stipend during their term in office.

Treasurer - The Treasurer will perform or oversee the performance of the following duties: a) be responsible for the proper management and control of all funds of the Society; b) prepare full and accurate financial records on a timely basis of all the income, expenses and assets of the Society; c) present reports at every Council meeting on the financial affairs of the Society; d) provide financial information necessary to prepare and file the required reports to state and federal government agencies, showing the income, disbursements, and assets of the Society; and coordinate with the secretary to prepare a register of current voting Members. The Treasurer may delegate some or all of these tasks but remains responsible for their proper completion.

In consultation with the Executive Vice-President, the Treasurer shall manage the society budget and coordinate payments of invoices, grants, prizes, fees and reimbursements. The Treasurer shall provide a report to the Council one week prior to the annual meeting summarizing the current status of the Society's financial activities. The Treasurer is authorized to contract clerical and accounting assistance when necessary with the permission of the Executive Vice-President. The Treasurer shall submit in advance and present a report on the status of society business at the Annual Meeting.

The Treasurer is Chair of the Finance Committee.

The Treasurer may receive a stipend during their term in office.

Editor-in-Chief - The Editor shall be responsible for the editing and publishing of the Journal of Evolution and for the care of the reserve stock of the publications of the Society. 

The Editor-in-Chief may receive a stipend during their term in office.

Committee Chairs – Committee Chair fill committee seats unless that right is assigned elsewhere. Chairs must act in good faith to execute the committee charge. They report quarterly to the Council

Non-Voting Advisors – Participate in Council meetings. Non-Voting Advisors may serve on committees and be assigned other duties by the Council. Non-Voting Advisors are not counted in Council quorum and do not participate in Council votes.

ARTICLE V. MEMBER MEETINGS AND VOTING

Section 1.  Annual Membership Meeting. There must be an annual meeting of the Members (a.k.a. the business meeting). It will be held at a time and location determined by resolution of the Council. Annual Meetings may be virtual.

Written notice of the Annual Meeting must be sent by mail, e-mail, or other familiar method, to all Members, at the physical and electronic address provided by the Member or as it appears in the Society records, at least thirty (30) days in advance of the meeting. 

At the annual meeting, Members will hear and consider reports from the Council, officers and staff concerning the activities, management and budget of the Society. Members may then vote on any matters for which proper notice was given. The failure to hold an Annual Meeting does not affect the validity of any Society action.

Section 2. Other Membership Meetings. Special meetings may be called by the President with the approval of the Council. 

Section 3. Content of Notice. A single notice sent to the address provided by the Member, at least thirty (30) days in advance of the beginning of a meeting will be sufficient and no further notice is required so long as the meeting date and time which were announced do not change.The notice must contain the date, time, location and, when required, the purpose of the meeting. Notices of special meetings always require a statement of the purpose(s) for which the meeting is called.

Section 4. Waiver of Notice. Any member may waive the right to receive full advance notice of any meeting. Waivers of notice will be in writing, signed by the person entitled to notice, and will be given to the Secretary to be placed in the Society records. Waivers may be signed before or after the meeting has taken place. The attendance of a Member at any meeting without specific objection to improper notice will constitute a waiver of the full notice of that meeting.

Section 5. Record Date. The record date for determining the members entitled to receive notice of a meeting will be the day before the day on which the notice is sent. The record date to determine the members entitled to vote at a member’s meeting will be the date of the meeting.

Section 6. Quorum for Membership Meetings.  A quorum will consist of the presence, participation by conference call, or voting by mail, or email, where that is allowed, of at least 10% percent of the Members. 

Section 7.  Decision-Making by Members. The affirmative vote of at least a majority of the Members present at or participating by conference call, mail or e-mail in a properly called meeting, for which a quorum has been achieved, is necessary and sufficient to make decisions or pass resolutions by the Members, unless a greater proportion is required by law, the Constitution or Bylaws. All decisions require a clearly stated motion, a second, and a vote. All motions, which are successfully adopted, must be recorded in the written minutes.

Section 8. Proxy Voting.  Proxy voting will not be allowed at any meeting of the Members or as part of reaching any decision by the Members. 

Section 9. Voting by Mail, Fax or Email. Unless prohibited or limited by the Constitution or Bylaws, any action which may be taken at any annual, regular or special meeting of the Members may be taken without a meeting if the Society delivers a written (electronic or physical) ballot to every member entitled to vote on the matter, by mail or e-mail, at the address provided by the Member. The written ballot will:  a) set forth each nominee or proposed action; and b) provide an opportunity to vote for each vacant position, and for or against each proposed action. Approval by written ballot will be valid only when the number of votes cast by ballot equals or exceeds any quorum required to be present at a meeting authorizing the action.  The vote is limited to the subject specified on the ballot. 

Section 10. Unless otherwise stated, all decisions shall be by majority vote of those voting, assuming that a quorum is present.

Article VI. COMMITTEES

Section 1. Establishment of Committees. The Council may establish any committee, including Council Committees, Standing Committees, Temporary Committees, or Ad Hoc Committees, by a resolution. Such resolutions must name the committee and the purpose of the committee, must state whether it is a Council committee, an organizational standing committee, or an ad hoc committee, and must state what powers, authority and duties have been delegated to the committee, how the chair of the committee and how the members of the committee will be appointed or elected, and may state what procedures, if any, the committee will use in carrying out its work. Other committees shall be appointed by the President at the authorization of the Council, as the occasion arises.

Section 2. Committee Definitions. Council Committees must consist of two or more Councilors, and must not have any members who are not members of the Council. Standing Committees must consist of at least one Council member and can be populated by Society members and nonmembers. Temporary Committees are populated as Standing Committees and have a maximum existence duration. Ad Hoc Committees are populated by Society members and may include nonmembers. No committee can consist of fewer than two members.

Section 3. Committee Chairs and Terms. Committee chairs are appointed by the Executive Committee. Committee chairs typically serve three (3) year terms.

Section 4. Committee Procedures. All committees submit oral or written reports to the Council twice annually. All committees must follow Society procedures for meetings and activities as defined in these Bylaws. Committees will record minutes of all meetings and file them with the Secretary.

Section 5. Council Committees. The Council may establish Council Committees to which are delegated part of the power of the whole Council to authorize expenditures and draft budgets, policies and programs to be approved by the full Council. Such committees must be established by the affirmative vote of a majority of all Counselors then in Council. Unless otherwise specified, Council Committee meetings will operate with the same quorum and voting requirements as the full board, and will operate according to the procedures of the board as stated in these Bylaws. If any formal decisions or resolutions are voted on at a committee meeting, then the votes and the resolutions so adopted must be recorded in the form of corporate minutes and filed with the Secretary. 

Section 6. Executive Council / Committee. Together, the three “presidents,” as well as the Secretary and Executive VP, form the Executive Council. The Executive Council operates as a Council Committee and has the power to make decisions between Council meetings, including financial and budgetary decisions. The Executive Council must comply with the provisions of the Bylaws concerning the full Council as far as those are reasonably applicable to the Executive Council. All Executive Council decisions must be recorded in official minutes, which will be submitted to the full Council. The Executive Council must make reasonable efforts to inform all Council members of the issues to be dealt with at an Executive Council meeting.

Section 7. Finance Committee. The Finance Committee (a Standing Committee) shall consist of the Treasurer, Executive Vice-President, the past Treasurer, and two additional members of the Society elected for two (2) year terms. The additional members shall be nominated by the President and elected by the Council at the annual meeting of the Society. Proposed major changes in expenditures and/or income should be reviewed by the Finance Committee, following which the committee will make specific recommendations to the Council for its approval.

Section 8. Nominating Committee. The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee (an ad hoc Committee) not less than six months before the election. The Committee shall consist of three members, one appointed each year for a three year term. 

The Nominating Committee shall be chaired by the senior member. It shall be the duty of the Committee, after receiving from the membership proposals for nominations for each office (including vacancies on the Council), to nominate two candidates for each office, except for the offices of Executive Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary, for each of which a single nomination shall be made. In selecting candidates, due consideration shall be given to representation of the various fields of interest to the Society. The committee shall transmit its nominations to the Secretary at least three months before the election for Council consideration and approval.

Section 9. Ethics Review Committee and Adjudication Committee. The Ethics Review Committee and Adjudication Committee enforce the Society’s Code of Ethics according to approved procedures. The Ethics Review Committee shall consist of the Past-President (chair) and four Members in good standing appointed by the President-Elect with approval of the Council. The four members will serve for three years each until their successors assume. Successor members will be appointed by the Ethics Review Committee chair or the President-Elect with approval of the Council. As needed, an Adjudication Committee will comprise the Chair and two members of the Ethics Review Committee selected by the Chair after considering any disclosed conflicts of interest.

Section 10. Limitations on Powers. The Council must always have the power to amend, alter, or repeal the decisions of its committees, subject to limitations on the unilateral amending of contracts, interference with third-party rights, and other legal limitations. The Council may dissolve any committee, including temporarily dissolving the Executive Committee. The Council determines at the outset of any committee, and at any intervening time, any committee's authority to make budgets, spend or allocate Society funds, make decisions for the Society, or develop policy.  

ARTICLE VII. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 1. Non Discrimination.  In the delivery of its services, the Society strives to serve all persons fairly independent of their ethnicity, nationality, place of origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, economic status, age, mental or physical ability, or any other recognized category of personal identity.

Section 2. Annual Financial Review. The Council must require the performance of an internal annual financial review which must involve the services of a trusted person with bookkeeping or accounting skills and knowledge, and which does not rely upon the services of the person who does the financial bookkeeping for the organization, or the person(s) who sign the checks for the organization. This financial review need not be formal, but must at least review and reconcile the checkbook entries, bank statements, deposit slips, receipts and expense documentation. The Council may authorize a full formal audit as necessary.

Section 3. Compensation of Officers, Councilors and other Appointees. Unless specifically defined in these bylaws, no Officer or member of the Council will receive any compensation for fulfilling the responsibilities of a member of the Council or of an Officer as defined in these bylaws. However, the Society may pay compensation to Officers and members of the Council for other services performed as employees or independent contractors as long as the required rules for conflicts of interest are followed. Council members and their relatives who receive regular compensation from the Society must always constitute less than a majority of the Council. Officers and members of the Council may receive reimbursement for actual expenses incurred in the course of fulfilling their responsibilities.

Section 4.  Conflict of Interest. A conflict of interest is always present whenever the Society awards compensation or provides any tangible benefits to an Officer or member of the Council or to a member of a Councilor’s or Officer’s family or dependents. A conflict can also exist when the Society takes an action that results in an indirect benefit to an Officer or Councilor. Conflicts of interest must be disclosed to the Council by the person in conflict as soon as they are aware of them. The Council may then decide to allow the conflict or approve an alternative action that avoids the conflict, or mitigates it. Councilors or Officers for whom a conflict exists must recuse themselves from voting on the matter (a recuser is not counted in the quorum).  The Council must analyze the conflict in sufficient detail to ensure that the management of the conflict of interest is fair to the Society.

All Councilors and Officers must sign a disclosure of all conflicts of interest annually, and update it if that disclosure needs to be changed.

Section 5. Termination of the Corporation (Society). In the event of dissolution or termination of the Society, title to and possession of all the property of the Society shall pass forthwith to such organization, dedicated to similar purposes and qualified for exemption under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, or under such successor provision of the code as may be in effect at the time of the Society's dissolution or termination, as the Council of the Society shall deem best qualified to carry on the functions of the Society.

Section 6. Publication. The Society shall publish and own a Journal in the field of evolution and such other publications as authorized by the Council. The membership dues include a subscription for the Journal. 

The Editor-in-Chief shall form a Senior Editorial Team consisting of himself/herself as well as two Handling Editors. The Handling Editors are nominated by the Editor-in-Chief, are appointed by a majority vote of council, and serve at the pleasure of the Editor-in-Chief. The term of the Editors coincides with that of the Editor-in-Chief. Editors may serve multiple terms if nominated by the next Editor-in-Chief and reappointed by vote of Council; they may serve immediately following a term as Associate Editor. Only the Editor-in-Chief is a member of Council. If the Editor-in-Chief is unable to attend the annual Council meeting, another member of the Senior Editorial Team may serve as a voting member (proxy) in their stead.

The Senior Editors shall be assisted by editorial assistants and a Board of Associate Editors. Editorial assistants shall be nominated by the Editor-in-Chief, appointed by the Council, and serve at the pleasure of the Editor-in-Chief. Board members shall be nominated by the Editor-in-Chief and appointed by the Council for a term of three (3) years. Retiring Associate Editors are again eligible one year after the expiration of their previous term. Appointees to the Editorial Board should represent the diversity of the membership of the Society, in so far as this is compatible with the acquisition of excellent and committed personnel. 

A Senior Editor or Editor-in-Chief may be removed by a 3/4 vote of Council. Associate Editors can be removed by a more than 4/5 vote of the Senior Editors, Editor-in-Chief, President, and Executive Vice President.

Section 7. Communications. Throughout the Constitution and Bylaws, “mail” refers to postal or electronic correspondence, and “vote” refers to a paper, voice, or electronic vote.

Section 8.  Tax Year.  The tax year of the corporation is January 1 to December 31.

ARTICLE VIII.   AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Amendments. Bylaws may be amended by the Council by majority vote.

Section 2.  Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, and Bylaws.  The majority affirmative vote by the Council is necessary to make, alter, amend or repeal the Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, or the Bylaws.  Quorum requirements apply. Proper written notice must be given in advance to all voting Councilors, including a written copy and written explanation of the proposed amendments.

Business Office Contacts

Heather Cacanindin, Executive Director, Botanical Society of America
SSE-Manager@EvolutionSociety.org

Society for the Study of Evolution
4344 Shaw Blvd
St. Louis, MO 63110
314-577-9554 
www.EvolutionSociety.org  

Society Contacts

Communications
Kati Moore, Communications Specialist
communications@evolutionsociety.org

President
Anne Charmantier, President 
president@evolutionsociety.org

Executive Vice President
Howard Rundle, Executive Vice President
execvp@evolutionsociety.org

Secretary
Sarah Schaack, Secretary
secretary@evolutionsociety.org

Treasurer
Courtney Murren, Treasurer
treasurer@evolutionsociety.org

Graduate Student Advisory Council (GSAC)
Susu Cong, Graduate Student Advisory Council Chair
gsac@evolutionsociety.org

Diversity Committee
Pamela Yeh and Laurie Stevison, Diversity Committee Co-chairs
diversity@evolutionsociety.org

Education & Outreach Committee
Rich Kliman, Education & Outreach Committee Chair
education@evolutionsociety.org

International Committee
María del Rosario Castañeda, International Committee Chair
international@evolutionsociety.org

Nominating Committee
Cameron Ghalmbor, Nominating Committee Chair
cameron [dot] ghalambor [at] ntnu [dot] no

Public Policy Committee
Liz Alter, Public Policy Committee Chair
policy@evolutionsociety.org

Evolution Edited by: Jason Wolf, PhD  Impact Factor: 3.3  ISI Journal Citation Reports © Ranking: 2023: 20/52 (Evolutionary Biology); 59 out of 169 (Q2) (Ecology); 73/171 (Q2) (Genetics & Heredity) Online ISSN: 1558-5646	Evolution Letters Edited by: Judith Mank, PhD Impact Factor: 5.3 Online ISSN: 2056-3744 ISI Journal Citation Reports © Ranking: 2023: 7/52 (Q1) (Evolutionary Biology)
Evolution Highlights	Evolution Letters Short Talks

SSE members can publish for free in Evolution. SSE members can also receive a 50% discount on Open Access publication in Evolution and a 30% on publication in the Open Access journal Evolution Letters. To access these publication discounts, input the email address associated with your SSE membership on the Oxford University Press website when prompted for a membership number. Contact communications@evolutionsociety.org with any questions. 

The Evolution annual meetings are held jointly by the Society for the Study of Evolution, the American Society of Naturalists and the Society of Systematic Biologists.

2017 Meeting - Portland, OR

Past Meetings

2016 - Austin, TX   1,786 Attendees
2015 - Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil
2014 - Raleigh, NC  1,958 Attendees 
2013 - Snowbird, UT   1,429 Attendees 
2012 - Evolution Ottawa   2,450 Attendees
2011 - Norman, OK   1,150 Attendees
2010 - Portland, OR   1,967 Attendees
2009 - Moscow, ID   1,102 Attendees
2008 - Minneapolis, MN  1,450 Attendees
2007 - Christchurch, NZ
2006 - Stony Brook, NY
2005 - Fairbanks, AK
2004 - Fort Collins, CO  1,296 Attendees
2003 - Chico, CA

2024 Deadlines

January 29: Undergraduate Diversity at Evolution Program
January 31: SSE Presidents’ Award for Outstanding Dissertation Paper in Evolution
January 31: International Travel Stipends
February 1: Thomas Henry Huxley Award
February 23: Graduate Research Excellence Grants - R.C. Lewontin Early Awards
March 1: Small Grants Program for Local and Regional Outreach Promoting the Understanding of Evolutionary Biology 
March 15: Graduate Student and Postdoc Registration Waiver
March 15: Caregiver Awards
April 15: Hamilton Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Presentation
September: Sponsored Symposia 
September: Lifetime Achievement Award
October: Inclusiveness, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Award
October: Graduate Research Excellence Grants - Rosemary Grant Advanced Awards
December 1: Theodosius Dobzhansky Prize

Accepted on a rolling basis:
SSE Membership Awards

Deadline to be determined:
International Event Grants

Not being held in 2024:
Stephen Jay Gould Prize 
Early-Career Vocational Opportunities Workshop Grants

Award Descriptions

NOTE: Indirect costs may not be charged to any of our awards or grants.

PRIZES

Theodosius Dobzhansky Prize 

The Theodosius Dobzhansky Prize is awarded annually by the Society for the Study of Evolution to recognize the accomplishments and future promise of an outstanding early-career evolutionary biologist. The prize was established in memory of Professor Dobzhansky by his friends and colleagues, and reflects his lifelong commitment to fostering the research careers of young scientists.

SSE Presidents’ Award for Outstanding Dissertation Paper in Evolution

The SSE Presidents' Award for Outstanding Dissertation Paper in Evolution is awarded annually by the Society for the Study of Evolution for an outstanding PhD dissertation paper published in the journal Evolution during a given calendar year.

Stephen Jay Gould Prize 

The Stephen Jay Gould Prize is awarded annually by the Society for the Study of Evolution to recognize individuals whose sustained and exemplary efforts have advanced public understanding of evolutionary science and its importance in biology, education, and everyday life in the spirit of Stephen Jay Gould. This prize will not be offered in 2024.

W. D. Hamilton Award 

The Hamilton Award will be given to a student or recent graduate who has presented an outstanding talk at the annual meeting, as judged by a committee of SSE members. Applicants will present their papers during regular sessions of the meeting, appropriate for their topic. The most competitive talks will be those that can convey a complete story.

Thomas Henry Huxley Award

This award named in honor of Darwin's very public supporter T. H. Huxley, was established in 2013 to recognise outreach and education achievement for early and mid career scientists. Winners of this award are provided with support to present on behalf of the Society for the Study of Evolution at the annual meeting of the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT). Annual calls for nomination will be advertised on the SSE web site and through appropriate Evolutionary Biology web sources such as EVOLDIR in late January/early February.

Inclusiveness, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Award

The American Society of Naturalists, the Society for the Study of Evolution, and the Society of Systematic Biologists announce the call for nominations for the 1st annual ASN/SSE/SSB Inclusiveness, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Award. The IDEA Award will be given to a person at any career stage who has strengthened the ecology and evolutionary biology community by promoting inclusiveness and diversity in our fields. The award can also be presented to a group. The recipient will receive a plaque at the annual meeting of ASN/SSB/SSE and a $1000 honorarium. 

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award was created to recognize individuals who have made substantial contributions to the study of evolution, who have demonstrated outstanding mentorship of trainees, and/or who have provided noteworthy service to the evolution community. Nominations should be submitted by April 1. 

SSE Membership Award

This award offers free two-year SSE memberships to 100 individuals of any career stage who identify as racial or ethnic minorities, either in their country of origin or their country of residence. This initiative is part of SSE Council’s 2020 commitment to actions to increase inclusion of and support for members of historically excluded groups, particularly individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC), in the field of evolutionary biology and through all of the society’s activities and programs. Learn more and apply here. 
 
 

GRANTS

Graduate Research Excellence Grants (GREGs)

R.C. Lewontin Early Awards: The GREG – R.C. Lewontin Early Awards are to assist students in the early stages of their PhD programs by enabling them to collect preliminary data (to pursue additional sources of support) or to enhance the scope of their research beyond current funding limits (e.g. by visiting additional field sites, or working at other labs). Awards up to $2500. Students must confirm that the proposed work is outside of funding already held by the student or advisor. 

Rosemary Grant Advanced Awards: The GREG - Rosemary Grant Advanced Awards are to assist students in the later stages of their PhD programs. Funds can be used to enhance the scope of dissertation research, such as to conduct additional experiments or field work. Awards up to $3500. Only PhD students who have completed at least 24 months of PhD work and are at least 12 months from degree completion at the proposal due date are eligible. Eligibility can be confirmed by the advisor or graduate director stating that the student fulfills these requirements. Students must confirm that the proposed work is outside other funding held by either the student or their advisor. 

Early-Career Vocational Opportunities (EVO) Workshop Grants

The SSE Council and GSAC invite proposals for grants up to $3,000 to help support Society-sponsored Early-career Vocational Opportunities (EVO) Workshops. This is a new program to provide valuable learning opportunities for Society graduate students and postdocs. The topic of the workshop can be anything, and material can be presented in any format, as long as it is interactive and its content serves to provide foundational skills that are appropriate for early-career SSE members in the areas of conceptual understanding, data collection, data analysis, or professional development. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. (Paused for 2023.)

Small Grants Program for Local and Regional Outreach Promoting the Understanding of Evolutionary Biology

The SSE provides opportunities for SSE members to apply for awards up to $1,000. The Committee encourages partnerships between other bodies engaged in outreach, such as museums, local schools, etc.

International Event Grants 

The goal of these grants is to foster communication and collaboration between scientists from different countries by sponsoring international symposia, workshops, courses, and other events within the field of evolutionary biology. Our priority is to support events that benefit emerging communities in the field of evolutionary biology. These grants replace the “Co-sponsorship of symposia organized by non-US based evolution societies” grants and Evolution International Events Awards (EIE Awards).

Sponsored Symposia 

The Society for the Study of Evolution supports symposia (typically two) at its annual meetings in order to highlight new topics, provide new perspectives, or generate new syntheses. The exact configuration of symposia may vary from year to year, but proposals should tentatively assume six half-hour slots. The Society provides support for organizers and participants in sponsored symposia to attend and present at the annual meeting (up to $9000 per symposium).  

TRAVEL AWARDS

Travel award recipients are not eligible to volunteer at the conference.

SSE Graduate Student and Postdoc Registration Waiver

This program is for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows interested in attending and presenting at the in-person annual Evolution meeting, especially those who need additional financial support in order to attend. This program replaces the SSE Graduate Student and Postdoc Travel Supplement. 

Undergraduate Diversity at Evolution Program 

The Undergraduate Diversity at Evolution (UDE) program sends undergraduate students to the annual Evolution meeting, the joint meeting of the Society for the Study of Evolution (SSE), the Society of Systematic Biologists (SSB), and the American Society of Naturalists (ASN). At the meeting, students will (i) present a poster, (ii) receive mentoring from graduate students, postdocs, and faculty, and (iii) participate in a career-oriented 'Undergraduate Futures in Evolutionary Biology' panel and discussion. Each selected awardee receives conference registration, round-trip airfare, dorm accommodations (double occupancy), a $200 meal stipend, and a ticket to the Super Social. Learn more on the UDE Program page. 

International Travel Stipends 

These stipends are for students and young scientists to attend the annual Evolution meeting. Awards may also be used to attend the annual meeting of the European Society for Evolutionary Biology (ESEB). Scientists working in a country with high GDP are not eligible. 

ABOUT | ELIGIBILITY | HOW TO APPLY | EVALUATION CRITERIA | AWARD | PAST WINNERS

About

The Dobzhansky Prize is awarded annually by the Society for the Study of Evolution to recognize the accomplishments and future promise of an outstanding early-career evolutionary biologist. The prize was established in memory of Professor Theodosius Dobzhansky by his friends and colleagues, and reflects his lifelong commitment to fostering the research careers of young scientists.

Eligibility

We seek nominees working in all areas of evolutionary biology, on any taxonomic group/system, using empirical and/or theoretical approaches. We hope the pool of nominees will reflect the many axes and components of diversity in the evolutionary biology community. We are specifically looking for candidates who take creative approaches to answering pressing questions in evolutionary biology. We welcome nominations of researchers around the globe.

Specific requirements:

• The nominee's university must have officially awarded their degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) between December 1, 2019 and December 1, 2023.*
• The nominee must be actively involved in research in the field of evolutionary biology.
• The nominee does not have to be a member of the Society for the Study of Evolution, but membership is encouraged. Learn more about the benefits of SSE membership and how to join.

*Please note that this is the official date the PhD or equivalent was awarded by the nomination's institution, which may not be the same date as an oral defense, viva, or live defense. The committee will consider circumstances that may extend eligibility (e.g., parental leave) and encourages nominations of biologists from historically under-represented groups. Please contact committee chair Sarah Schaack at secretary@evolutionsociety.org with any questions about eligibility.

How to Apply

Candidates may apply directly or may be nominated. Each nomination should include:  

• a curriculum vitae, which should include any research, teaching, and/or mentorship, and outreach activities
• a summary of research accomplishments (maximum 3 pages, including references)
• a statement of research plans for the next 5 years (maximum 4 pages, including references)
• full text of three recent publications
• three reference letters

Please submit items 1-4 as a single pdf. Reference letter writers should send their letters via email to the SSE Secretary at secretary@evolutionsociety.org by December 1, 2023 with the nominee’s name in the subject line. Please provide the names and email addresses of references on the nomination form.

Deadline: December 1, 2023, 5:00 PM EST
 
Note: Be sure to click “Complete” after filling out the nomination form in order to submit your nomination! You may be prompted to log in after clicking “Complete”, but that is not necessary. Rest assured that your application has been submitted!
 
 

Evaluation Criteria

Nominations will be scored on the following areas:

1. How engaged is this person, in terms of papers, talks or posters, and outreach?
2. How independent, broad, and deep is the record of past evolution research?
3. What is the potential impact, scope, and clarity of future research plans?
4. Are this person's discoveries contributing to major changes within the field of evolution?

Award

The Dobzhansky Prize is accompanied by a check for U.S. $5000, and is awarded at the annual Evolution meeting. The recipient is expected to be present to receive the award and to give an oral presentation about their research. To facilitate attendance, SSE provides funds to cover the costs of conference registration, accommodation during the conference, and expenses for travel to and from the conference. The recipient will be notified of the award in late March.

Awardees will also be encouraged to submit an accompanying article to Evolution (primary research, review, insight or commentary, fast-tracked through review and made freely available) within 2 months of the conference. Published articles would highlight the award obtained.

Past Winners:

ABOUT | ELIGIBILITY | AWARD | HOW TO APPLY | PAST WINNERS
 
 

About

This award is awarded annually by the Society for the Study of Evolution for an outstanding Ph.D. dissertation paper published in an issue of the journal Evolution during a given calendar year. Applications open in the fall and close January 31. The award comes with a $1000 honorarium.

Eligibility

To be eligible for consideration, a manuscript must be based on PhD work of the primary author. The manuscript must have been published in a 2023 issue of the journal Evolution (Volume 77).* Nominees do not need to be members of SSE.

*Note that this does not include all papers that were published as Early View in 2023. The paper must have been included in an issue in 2023.

Award

The SSE Presidents’ Award is accompanied by a check for U.S. $1000, and will be awarded at the annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Evolution. The recipient is invited to attend the annual meeting to receive the award. To facilitate attendance, SSE provides funds to cover the costs of conference registration, accommodation during the conference, and travel expenses to and from the conference. The recipient will be notified of the award in April.

How to apply

Nominations are accepted through our online awards portal. SSE members must log in with their SSE username and password. Non-members must create a free account to submit a nomination.

Nominations must include:

• the final version of the manuscript  
• dissertation completion date
• supporting letter from the PhD supervisor or other individual familiar with the candidate and their work 

The supporting letter should indicate the candidate’s role in completing the research and writing the paper (if the candidate is not the sole author), should place the work in the larger context of the field (novelty, importance), and should discuss the overall quality of the student's research.

Or click here to access the application.

Note: Be sure to hit “Complete” after filling out the application form in order to submit your application!

You may be prompted to log in after clicking “Complete”, but that is not necessary. Rest assured that your application has been submitted!

DEADLINE: 5:00 PM Eastern Time (GMT-4:00), January 31, 2024
 
 
 

Past Winners

2023 Michael Itgen (more info)
2022 Maddie James (more info)
2021 Gabriel Jamie (more info)
2020 Dorota Paczesniak (more info)
2019 Matthew Zuellig (more info)
2018 Valerie Morley (more info)
2017 Megan Greischar (more info)
2016 Jennifer Lohr (more info)
2015 Alison E. Wright (more info)
2014 Amy Hurford (more info)
2013 William Soto
2012 David McCandlish
2011 D. Luke Mahler
2010 Britt Koskella
2009 Megan Higgie
2008 R. Brian Langerhans
2007 Guillaume Martin
2006 Maurine Neiman

 
2023

The 2023 winner is Dr. Michael Itgen for his paper, “Genome size drives morphological evolution in organ-specific ways” (Evolution, Volume 76, Issue 7 1 July 2022, Pages 1453–1468, https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.14519.)

In this paper, Dr. Itgen and co-authors examined the influence of large genome size and cell size on the morphological variation in the heart and liver of salamanders in the genus Plethodon, which have some of the largest genomes known for tetrapods. The authors found that evolutionary increases in genome and cell size result in dramatic changes in tissue structure in the heart and liver. In both cases, these structural changes should have negative impacts on organ function. To explain how these changes persist, the authors propose that the effects on organismal performance and fitness may be negligible because very low metabolic rates in salamanders relax selective pressure on the function of key metabolic organs. This study shows how comparative and developmental studies can yield surprising insights on long-standing evolutionary development questions such as the variation and evolution of genome size. Dr. Itgen earned his Ph.D. at Colorado State University and is now a postdoctoral research fellow at Marian University in Indianapolis, IN.  

2022

The 2022 recipient is Dr. Maddie E. James for her paper, “Phenotypic and genotypic parallel evolution in parapatric ecotypes of Senecio.” Evolution (2021) 75-12: 3115–3131. 

In this paper, Dr. James and co-authors investigated potential parallel evolution in dune and headland ecotypes of the Australian wildflower Senecio lautus. A comparison of nine dune-headland pairs, most phylogenetic sister groups, found strong parallel evolution of phenotype of branch and leaf traits with dune plants tall and headland plants prostrate. Despite phenotypic similarity among populations within each ecotype, evolutionary change was found in different genes. However, further investigation found a number of these genes had the same predicted function. This study shows response to selection that leads to parallel phenotypes is more complex when viewed at the underlying genetic level. Dr. James earned her Ph.D. at the University of Queensland, where she is now a Postdoctoral Research Fellow. 

2021

The 2021 recipient is Dr. Gabriel Jamie for his paper, “Multimodal mimicry of hosts in a radiation of parasitic finches,” Evolution (2020) 74: 2526-2538. 

In this paper, Dr. Gabriel Jamie and co-authors investigated host-specific multimodal mimicry by nestlings of brood-parasitic Vidua indigobirds and whydahs to assess their role in adaptation to novel hosts. The premise was that imprinting of parasitic nestlings on their hosts promotes the maintenance of specialized host-parasite associations over generations. This exposes lineages to consistent selection from host species that could allow host-specific nestling adaptations to evolve. Over four rainy seasons in Zambia, Dr. Jamie and his research assistants recorded aspects of nestling morphology and behavior, and developed a new methodology to quantify phenotypes. Remarkable matching was found in the patterns and colors of the parasitic nestlings and the nestlings of their different host species, whose diverse appearances can be seen in the cover photo of the issue (74:11). The team also found matching in the sounds and postural movements of the nestlings. This study shows that imprinting can lead to the evolution of host-specific mimetic adaptations that can generate pre- and post-zygotic isolation and contribute to sympatric speciation. Dr. Jamie earned his Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge, where he is now a BBSRC-funded post-doctoral research associate. He is also a research associate of the FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology at the University of Cape Town.

2020

The 2020 winner is Dr. Dorota Paczesniak for her paper, "Parasite resistance predicts fitness better than fecundity in a natural population of the freshwater snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum," Evolution (2019) 73: 1634-1646.

A longstanding question in evolutionary biology is what evolutionary processes determine whether a species is sexual or asexual.  Dr. Paczesniak addressed this question in a species of freshwater snail, Potamopyrgus antipodarum, native to New Zealand. Using mesocosms in a field setting, she found that the most fecund asexual clones had annual reproductive rates equal to or greater than the most fecund 10% of sexual families, indicating that fecundity selection is sufficient to favor the proliferation of asexual clones, over and above the expected two-fold cost of sex. Somewhat paradoxically, however, she found that the most fecund asexual clones were not the most predominant ones. Because the mesocosms excluded predators and parasites, she hypothesized that differential predation or parasitism might explain this pattern. This hypothesis was confirmed by an experiment that demonstrated a positive correlation between clone abundance in the field and resistance to parasitism in the laboratory. This study thus elegantly demonstrates the importance of interactions with natural enemies in determining the fitness and relative abundance of asexual clones in a natural population. Dr. Paczesniak earned her PhD at the ETH Zurich, and recently completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Saskatchewan.

2019

 The 2019 winner is Dr. Matthew Zuellig for his paper, “A two‐locus hybrid incompatibility is widespread, polymorphic, and active in natural populations of Mimulus” Evolution (2018) 72: 2394-2405. 

How do barriers that bar reproduction between two species arise and persist within each of the species, in spite of ongoing gene flow between them? To address this question, Dr. Zuellig studied two naturally hybridizing species of monekyflower, Mimulus guttatus and M. nasutus. He had previously identified a two‐locus hybrid lethality system, in which each species carries a hybrid lethality allele at a different locus, resulting in hybrid offspring that lack chlorophyll in F2 and later generations. Building on this finding, he here conducted extensive series of crosses with plants sampled across a large geographic range of western U.S. to map the spatial distribution of alleles underlying this system and estimate their frequencies. Because both species also have alternative alleles at substantial frequencies in some populations, hybrids do not necessarily result in lethality, allowing some introgression. This work elegantly explores how "speciation loci" that were first identified in the lab behave in real populations across their range. Dr. Zuellig earned his Ph.D. at the University of Georgia and is now a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Bern.
 

2018

The 2018 winner is Dr. Valerie Morley for her paper, “Dynamics of molecular evolution in RNA virus populations depend on sudden versus gradual environmental change” Evolution (2017) 71:872-883.

Do organisms evolve differently in slowly versus rapidly changing environments? In this study, Dr. Morley examined the evolutionary dynamics of the RNA sequence of Sindbis virus, exposed either directly to a novel host or to a gradually increasing proportion of that host. By sampling and sequencing in depth at eight time points, Dr. Morley and co-authors were able to track the genetic changes that occurred in precise detail. Their study revealed that large-step mutations were more likely to fix during the early stages of evolution with a sudden host switch, but this pattern disappeared with a gradual switch. As selection was weaker and fixation took longer in the gradually changing treatment, there was more evidence of clonal interference and the fixation of clusters of mutations. By contrast, single mutations were more likely to sweep in the sudden treatment. By combining experimental evolution with whole-genome sequencing, the paper by Morley et al. provides novel insights into the ways that populations adapt to a changing world.

2017

 The 2017 winner is Dr. Megan Greischar, for her paper “Predicting optimal transmission investment in malaria parasites.” Evolution (2016) 70:1542-1558.

In this study, Dr. Greischar examined the growth-reproduction tradeoff faced by malaria parasites, which must allocate resources to within-host proliferation as well as the production of specialized life stages for onward transmission. The way parasites balance this tradeoff influences exploitation of host resources---and hence virulence---and the rate of disease spread through host populations. She built a within-host model to examine the conflicting selection pressures and identify the optimal allocation to transmission. She developed novel computational methods to consider a wide range of potential strategies, using splines to describe plastic allocation with few parameters. The model suggested that parasites benefit from delaying transmission stage production, just as macroorganisms can benefit from delayed reproductive effort. Innate immunity and coinfecting parasites imposed strong selection favoring parasites that invest disproportionately in proliferation rather than transmission (“reproductive restraint''), resulting in more rapid and extreme exploitation of host resources. Selection on transmission investment therefore represents one mechanism by which enhanced virulence could be adaptive for parasites. More generally, the approach can accommodate highly complex strategies within richly detailed ecological models, providing a much-needed alternative to analytical methods that could be adapted to diverse organisms.

2016

The 2016 winner is Dr. Jennifer N. Lohr, for her paper: Lohr, J. N., and C. R. Haag. 2015. Genetic load, inbreeding depression, and hybrid vigor covary with population size: An empirical evaluation of theoretical predictions. Evolution 69:3109-3122.

In this paper, Lohr and Haag test predictions from population genetic theory on the genetic consequences of small population size, a fundamental question in evolutionary biology. Lohr used eight natural populations of Daphnia magna that varied in effective population size, along with carefully designed crosses within and among populations, to test these predictions. She showed that Ne accurately predicted inbreeding depression, genetic load, and hybrid vigor, strongly supporting theoretical predictions based on recurrent mutation to unconditionally deleterious alleles. These results have important implications for evolutionary processes in natural populations, including for the evolution of dispersal, breeding systems, local adaptation, and aging.

Dr. Lohr received her PhD in 2015 from the Department of Biology at the University of Fribourg, with Christopher Haag. She is now a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Hamburg with Susanne Dobler.

2015

The 2015 winner is Dr. Alison E. Wright, for her paper: Alison E. Wright, Peter W. Harrison, Stephen H. Montgomery, Marie A. Pointer and Judith E. Mank. 2014. Independent stratum formation on the avian sex chromosomes reveals inter-chromosomal gene conversion and predominance of purifying selection on the W chromosome. Evolution. 68(11):3281–3295.

In this paper, Wright and co-authors used a comparative approach across a monophyletic clade of birds, spanning 90 million years, to study the mode, mechanism and rate of divergence between the avian Z and W sex chromosomes. This work, based on the largest cross-species dataset of Z-W orthologs to date, revealed the complex recombinational history of the avian sex chromosomes. The results show that although birds share the same sex chromosome system, recombination between the sex chromosomes has been suppressed independently multiple times, allowing for convergent patterns of divergence. Wright and her co-authors also found that recombination and gene conversion persist on sex chromosomes over both long and short evolutionary trajectories. Importantly, the study shows that the female-limited and degenerated W chromosome is evolving with a significant contribution of purifying selection, indicating that the remaining W-linked genes play an important role in female-specific fitness.

Dr Wright received her PhD in 2014 from the Department of Zoology at the University of Oxford, with Judith Mank. She is now a Postdoctoral Research Associate at University College London.

2014

The 2014 winner is Dr. Amy Hurford for her paper: Hurford, A. and T. Day. 2013. Immune evasion and the evolution of molecular mimicry in parasites. Evolution 67(10): 2889-2904.

Hurford explored a variety of hypotheses about the coevolution of vertebrate immune systems and pathogens, using mathematical models. One of her primary goals was to understand the evolutionary origins of infection-induced autoimmune disorders. She developed mathematical models using techniques from dynamical systems and game theory to better understand the conditions under which we might expect pathogens to evolve molecular mimicry. She and her coauthor analyzed the patterns of molecular mimicry that are expected under two hypotheses regarding molecular mimicry by parasites. One of their findings was that the highest risk of autoimmunity comes from parasites that display intermediate levels of mimicry. Interestingly, and highly relevantly, they also explored the consequences of different medical interventions on the evolution of mimicry and the incidence of autoimmunity.

Dr. Hurford received her Ph.D. in 2011 from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Queens University, where he was advised by Dr. Troy Day. Following postdoctoral appointments at York University and the University of Toronto, she began a faculty position at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

 
ABOUT | ELIGIBILITY | HOW TO APPLY | SELECTION | FUNDING

About 

The W. D. Hamilton Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Presentation will be given to a current or very recent graduate student who presents an outstanding talk based on their graduate work at the annual Evolution meeting. Finalists will present their talks during the live-streamed Hamilton Award symposium during the virtual part of the meeting June 27-28. The application to become a Hamilton award finalist will be part of registration for the virtual meeting.

Eligibility

PhD graduates who defended their PhD research after June 27, 2023, as well as current graduate students who have been enrolled in a graduate program for at least two (2) years, are eligible for this year’s competition. Note that the Hamilton competition is for dissertation research, and abstracts may not contain results arising from postdoctoral studies. Applicants must be members of SSE (learn more about SSE membership here and join here). Note that SSE members from eligible countries and territories can receive free meeting registration.

How to Apply

The application to become a Hamilton award finalist is part of registration for the virtual portion of the annual Evolution meeting. During registration, you must submit an abstract for your talk and check a box indicating your interest in the Hamilton Award competition.

Meeting registration is now open. Please submit your abstract and indicate your interest in this award by April 15, 2024. Finalists will be notified in mid May.
All virtual meeting participants, including Hamilton finalists, may present in both the virtual and in-person portions of the meeting. Applicants are welcome to submit the same or different talks to the virtual and in-person portions of the meeting, but only virtual talks can be entered into the Hamilton competition.

Selection

Finalists will present their research during the live-streamed Hamilton Award Symposium during the virtual part of the meeting (June 27-28). Talks will be recorded and available on the Evolution Meetings YouTube channel. Talks not selected for the Hamilton Award Symposium will be scheduled during regular virtual talk sessions. Check the meeting website for more information about how to prepare your talk.

The most competitive talks will be those that can convey a complete story. Such talks are most likely to be given by graduate students who are close to completing their dissertations or by former graduate students who wish to present results from a dissertation defended within the past year. Talks that primarily present preliminary data or just an initial part of a dissertation are not likely to be competitive, and we strongly suggest that those students wait to compete for this award. 

Winners will be selected and notified after the virtual portion of the Evolution meeting. 

Funding

The winner(s) of the award will each receive $1,000 US and a one-year membership to the Society for the Study of Evolution, which includes one year of access to the journal Evolution. Finalists will receive $500 US. Up to two Honorable Mentions will each also receive a one-year membership to the Society for the Study of Evolution, including access to Evolution. 

Recipients will be encouraged to submit an accompanying article to Evolution (primary research, review, insight or commentary, fast-tracked through review and made freely available) within 2 months of the meeting. 

Previous Award Recipients

Winners and runners-up listed below; winners are listed in bold text.

2023
Arielle Fogel, Duke University
James Gallagher, University of Denver

2022
Thomas Day, Georgia Institute of Technology
Cinnamon Mittan, Michigan State University

2021
Liming Cai, Harvard University
Sarah Khalil, Tulane University
Arianna Kuhn, American Museum of Natural History

2020
Due to the cancellation of the Evolution 2020 meeting, this award competition was not held in 2020.

2019
Michelle Stitzer, University of California, Davis. Advisor: Dr. Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra.
Sarah Friedman, University of California Davis. Advisor: Dr. Peter Wainwright.
Rachel Moran, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Advisor: Dr. Suzanne McGaugh.
Rachel Thayer, University of California, Berkeley. Advisor: Dr. Nipam Patel.

2018
Christopher D. Pull, Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Supervisor: Dr. Sylvia Cremer.
Debora Goedert, Dartmouth College. Advisor: Dr. Ryan G. Calsbeek.
Karin van der Burg, Cornell University. Advisor: Dr. Robert Reed.

2017
Emily Behrman, University of Pennsylvania. Advisor: Dr. Paul Schmidt.
Jasmine Ono, Univ British Columbia. Advisor: Dr. Sally Otto.
Foen Peng, University of Washington. Advisor: Dr. H.D. 'Toby' Bradshaw.
Chathurani Ranathunge, Mississippi State. Advisor: Dr. Mark Welch.

2016
Nina Wale, Pennsylvania State University. Advisor: Dr. Andrew Read.
Amanda Gibson, Indiana University. Advisor: Dr. Curt Lively.
Jason Sardell, University of Texas at Austin. Advisor: Dr. Mark Kirkpatrick.

2015
Maude Baldwin, Harvard University. Advisor: Dr. Scott Edwards.
Sarah Fitzpatrick, Colorado State University. Advisor: Dr. Chris Funk.
Nathaniel Sharp, University of Toronto. Advisor: Dr. Aneil Agrawal.

2014
Daniel Field, Yale University. Advisor: Dr. Jacques A. Gauthier.
Benjamin Liebeskind, University of Texas, Austin. Advisors: Dr. David Hillis, Dr. Harold Zakon.
Megan Peterson, University of California, Santa Cruz. Advisor: Dr. Kathleen Kay.

2013
Emily Jacobs-Palmer, Harvard University. Advisor: Dr. Hopi Hoekstra.
Zoe Assaf, Stanford University. Advisor: Dr. Dmitri Petrov.
Matthew McGee, University of California, Davis. Advisor: Dr. Peter Wainwright.
Rebecca Satterwhite, University of Houston. Advisor: Dr. Tim Cooper.

2012
Christopher Martin, University of California, Davis. Advisor: Dr. Peter Wainwright.
Aleeza Gerstein, University of British Columbia. Advisor: Dr. Sally Otto.
Erin McCullough, University of Montana. Advisor: Dr. Doug Emlen.

2011
William Ratcliff, University of Minnesota. Advisor: Dr. R. Ford Denison.
Sarah Bodbyl Roels, University of Kansas. Advisor: Dr. John Kelly.
Christopher Oufiero, University of California at Riverside. Advisor: Dr. Theodore Garland, Jr.

2010 
Amanda Izzo, University of Michigan. Advisor: Dr. Elizabeth Tibbetts.
Benjamin Blackman, Duke University. Supervisors: Dr. John Willis and Dr. Daniel Rokhsar.
Christopher Martin, University of California – Davis. Advisor: Dr. Peter Wainwright.
David Lowry, University of Texas – Austin. Supervisor: Dr. Thomas Juenger.
Ian Wang, University of California – Davis. Advisor: Dr. Brad Shaffer.

From 2010-2017, SSE offered the Rosemary Grant Graduate Student Research awards to assist students in the early stages of their Ph.D. programs by enabling them to collect preliminary data (to pursue additional sources of support) or to enhance the scope of their research beyond current funding limits (e.g. by visiting additional field sites, or working at other labs). These awards were named for eminent evolutionary biologist Rosemary Grant for her strong mentorship and training of young evolutionary biologists.

In 2018, began offering a new award program for both early and advanced graduate students: the Graduate Research Excellence Grants.

View ALL Recipients:   2010  |  2011  |  2012  |  2013  |  2014  |  2015  |  2016 |  2017 

2017 Recipients

Amanda Benoit, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Advisor: Susan Kalisz
Catherine Chen, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Advisor: Karin Pfennig
Marion Donald, Rice University. Advisor: Tom Miller
Ryan Dunk, Syracuse University. Advisor: Jason Wiles
Marie Fan, Monash University. Advisor: Anne Peters
Jimena Golcher-Benavides, University of Wyoming. Advisor: Catherine E. Wagner
Valentina Gomez, University of Illinois at Chicago. Advisor: Boris Igic
Kathryn Grabenstein, University of Colorado, Boulder. Advisor: Scott Taylor
Molly Hetherington-Rauth, University of Toronto Mississsauga. Advisor: Marc Johnson
Johanna Jantzen, University of Florida. Advisor: Pamela Soltis
Emily Kopania, University of Montana. Advisor: Jeffrey Good
Joseph McGirr, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Advisor: Christopher Martin
Britany Morgan, Duke University. Advisor: Kathleen Donohue
Victoria Morgan, UC Davis. Advisor: Rick Grosberg
Nina Pak, UC Berkeley. Advisor: Patrick O'Grady
Giulia Irene Maria Pasquesi, University of Texas at Arlington. Advisor: Todd Castoe
Anna Peschel, University of Minnesota. Advisor: Ruth Shaw
Alice Shanfelter, University of Georgia. Advisor: Michael White
Kum Shim, University of Texas at Austin. Advisor: Daniel Bolnick
Megan Smith, Ohio State University. Advisor: Bryan Carstens
Ana Mafalda Sousa Ferreira, University of Porto. Advisor: Jose Melo-Ferreira
Maria Stager, University of Montana. Advisor: Zachary Cheviron
Benjamin Stone, Ohio State University. Advisor: Andrea Wolfe
Benjamin Van Doren, University of Oxford. Advisor: Sonya Clegg
Michael Yuan, University of California, Berkeley. Advisor: Ian Wang
Linyi Zhang, Rice University. Advisor: Scott Egan
Serena Zhao, University of Texas at Austin. Advisor: Nancy Moran

2016 Recipients

Mallory A. Ballinger, University of California, Berkeley, Advisor: Michael W. Nachamn
Nassima M. Bouzid, University of Washington, Advisors: Adam Leaché and Lauren Buckley
Kinsey M. Brock, University of California, Merced, Advisor: Danielle Edwards
Sofia de la Serna Buzon, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Advisor: Karin Pfennig
Lauren Carley, Duke University, Advisor: Tom Mitchell-Olds
Allan Castillo, Duke University, Advisor: Mark D. Rausher
Abhilesh Dhawanjewar, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Advisors: Colin Meiklejohn and Kristi Montooth
Annette Evans, University of Connecticut, Advisors: Elizabeth Jockusch and Mark Urban
Micah Freedman, University of California, Davis, Advisors: Sharon Strauss and Santiago Ramirez
Joshua Goldberg, University of California, Riverside, Advisor: David N. Reznick
Julie A. Herman, University of California, Santa Cruz, Advisor: Kathleen Kay
Alex Van Huynh, Lehigh University, Advisor: Amber Rice
Kedar Karkare, University of Houston, Advisors: Ricardo Azevedo and Timothy Cooper
Sara M. Keeble, University of Southern California, Advisor: Matthew Dean
Christopher Krieg, University of Florida, Advisor: Emily Sessa
Holly C. McQueary, University of Georgia, Athens, Advisor: David Hall
Iva Popovic, University of Queensland, Advisor: Cynthia Riginos
Patrick Reilly, Princeton University, Advisor: Peter Andolfatto
Kathryn R. Ritz, Duke University, Advisor: Mohamed A. F. Noor
Ummat Somjee, University of Florida, Advisor: Christine W. Miller
Chelsea M. Stehle, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Advisor: William Wagner
Sebastian Stockmaier, University of Texas at Austin, Advisor: Daniel I. Bolnick
Syuan-Jyun Sun, University of Cambridge, Advisor: Rebecca Kilner
Andrew Taverner, Princeton University, Advisor: Peter Andolfatto
Eric Wesley Wice, Rice University, Advisor: Julia B. Saltz
Su’ad Yoon, University of Nevada Reno, Advisor: Matthew Forister

2015 Recipients

Christopher Akcali, University of North Carolina
Samantha Ray Anderson, University of Arizona
John Benning, Univeristy of Minnesota
Sarah Carey, University of Florida
Eleanor Caves, Duke University
Catherine Debban, University of Virginia
Katherine Eisen, Cornell University
Eslam Elshahat, Rice University
Nikki Forrester, Pittsburgh University
Phillip Grayson, Harvard University
Mike Hague, University of Virginia
Maggie Hantak, University of Ohio
Carl Hutter, University of Kansa
Brendan Larsen, University of Arizona
Joanna Larson, University of Michigan
Christopher Law, University of California, Santa Cruz
Whitley Lehto, University of Denver
Kellen Cedar Paine, University of New Mexico
Ahva Lynn Potticary, University of Arizona
Shelley Sianta, UC Santa Cruz
Laura Southcott, University of Chicago
Jennifer Valvo, Florida State University
Rebekah Villalta, Cornell University
Ryan Weaver, Auburn University
David Zonana, University of Colorado

2014 Recipients

Phred Benham, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Advisor: Dr. Zachary Cheviron
Amrita Bhattacharya, Indiana University, Advisor: Dr. Curtis M. Lively
Jennifer Coughlan, Duke University, Advisor: Dr. John Willis
Shane DuBay, University of Chicago, Advisor: Dr. Trevor D. Price
Jay Falk, Cornell University, Advisor: Dr. Kerry Shaw
Tamara Fetters, Virginia Tech, Advisor: Dr. Joel McGlothlin
Cera Fisher, University of Connecticut, Advisor: Dr. Elizabeth Jockusch
Andrew Frank, University of Connecticut, Advisor: Dr. Elizabeth Jockusch
Amanda Gorton, University of Minnesota, Advisors: Drs. David Moeller and Peter Tiffin
Nicolai Hensley, University of California, Santa Barbara, Advisor: Todd Oakley
Audrey Kelly, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Advisor: Dr. Karin Pfennig
Megan Kobiela, University of Minnesota, Advisor: Dr. Emilie Snell-Rood
Elizabeth LaRue, Purdue University, Advisor: Dr. Nancy Emery
Rishi R. Masalia, University of Georgia, Advisor: Dr. John M. Burke
Nicholas A. Mason, Cornell University, Advisor: Dr. Irby J. Lovette
W. Tyler McCraney, UCLA, Advisor: Dr. Michael Alfaro
Tim O'Connor, University of Arizona, Advisor: Dr. Noah Whiteman
Renee Petipas, Cornell University, Advisor: Dr. Monica Geber
Kathleen Pieper, University of Georgia, Advisor: Dr. Kelly Dyer
Pascal Olivier Title, University of Michigan, Advisor: Dan Rabosky
Laurel Yohe, SUNY Stony Brook University, Advisor: Dr. Liliana M. Davalos
Kelsey M. Yule, University of Arizona, Advisor: Dr. Noah K. Whiteman

2013 Recipients

Jeffrey R. Adrion, Indiana University, Advisor: Dr. Kristi L. Montooth
Alexandra Barnard, University of Oklahoma, Advisor: Dr. John P. Masly
Noelle Bittner, University of Arizona, Advisor: Dr. Michael Nachman
Daren C. Card, University of Texas at Arlington, Advisor: Dr. Todd A. Castoe
Danielle M. D'Amore, Ohio University, Advisor: Dr. Molly R. Morris
Jesse Delia, Boston University, Advisor: Dr. Karen Warkentin
Emily DiBlasi, University of Utah, Advisor: Dr. Sarah Bush
Danielle H. Drabeck, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Advisor: Dr. Sharon Jansa
Lauren A. Eserman, University of Georgia, Advisor: Dr. Jim Leebens-Mack
Nicholas K. Fletcher, Cornell University, Advisor: Dr. Jeremy Searle
Brian E. Gress, Syracuse University, Advisor: Dr. Scott Pitnick
Alexander S. Hall, University of Texas at Arlington, Advisor: Dr. Matthew Fujita
Karolina Heyduk, University of Georgia, Advisor: Dr. Jim Leebens-Mack
Scott Hotaling, University of Kentucky, Advisor: Dr. David Weisrock
Gaston I. Jofre, Texas A&M University, Advisor: Dr. Gil G. Rosenthal
Benjamin Johnson, Cornell University, Advisor: Dr. Kelly Zamudio
Karina Klonoski, University of California, Berkeley, Advisor: Dr. Erica Rosenblum
Hannah E. Marx, University of Idaho, Advisor: Dr. David Tank
Brianna McTeague, University of Arizona, Advisor: Dr. Katrina Dlugosch
David T. Peck, Cornell University, Advisor: Dr. Paul Sherman
Jordan D. Satler, Ohio State University, Advisor: Dr. Bryan Carstens
Amanda Schweitzer, City University of New York, Advisor: Dr. Ana Carnaval
Allison J. Shultz, Harvard University, Advisor: Dr. Scott V. Edwards
Richard K. Simpson III, Arizona State University, Advisor: Dr. Kevin McGraw
Sam Slowinski, Indiana University Bloomington, Advisor: Dr. Ellen Ketterson
Nicholas D. Sly, University of Illinois, Urbana‐Champaign, Advisor: Dr. Zac Cheviron
Jessica D. Stephens, University of Georgia, Advisor: Dr. Russell Malmberg
Maria Strangas, City University of New York, Advisor: Dr. Ana Carnaval
Brittany Lynne Sutherland, University of Virginia, Advisor: Dr. Laura F. Galloway
Andrew Swafford, University of California, Santa Barbara, Advisor: Dr. Todd Oakley
Rebecca Tarvin, University of Texas at Austin, Advisor: Dr. David Cannatella
James Patrick Tumulty, University of Minnesota, Advisor: Dr. Mark A. Bee

2012 Recipients

Danielle M. Adams, University of Maryland College Park, Advisor: Dr. Jerry Wilkinson
Nooria Al-Wathiqui, Tufts University, Advisor: Dr. Sara Lewis
Emily Louise Behrman, University of Pennsylvania, Advisor: Dr. Paul Schmidt
Vikram Bantwal Baliga, University of California, Santa Cruz, Advisor: Dr. Rita S. Mehta
Kristina L. Cohen, Boston University, Advisor: Dr. Karen Warkentin
Vincent R. Farallo, Ohio University, Advisor: Dr. Donald B. Miles
Amanda Gibson, Indiana University, Advisor: Dr. Curtis M. Lively
Amanda Hund, University of Colorado at Boulder, Advisor: Dr. Rebecca Safran
Jen-Pan Huang, University of Michigan, Advisor: Dr. L. Lacey Knowles
Ambika Kamath, Harvard University, Advisor: Dr. Jonathan B. Losos
Jonathan Lambert, Cornell University, Advisor: Dr. Kerry Shaw
Shea M. Lambert, Stony Brook University, Advisor: Dr. John J. Wiens
Joshua B. LaPergola, Cornell University, Advisors: Dr. Walter D. Koenig & Paul W. Sherman
Lauren Lucas, Texas State University, San Marcos, Advisor: Dr. Chris Nice
Rajiv McCoy, Stanford University, Advisor: Dr. Carol Boggs
Tristan A. McKnight, University of Michigan, Advisor: Dr. L. Lacey Knowles
Mauricio Montaño-Rendón, University of Sheffield, Advisor: Dr. Roger K. Butlin
Karan J. Odom, University of Maryland, Advisor: Dr. Kevin E. Omland
Matthew W. Pennell, University of Idaho, Advisor: Dr. Luke J. Harmon
Paulo C. Pulgarín-Restrepo, University of Los Andes, Advisor: Dr. Carlos Daniel Cadena
Marius Roesti, University of Basel, Advisor: Dr. Walter Salzburger
Molly Schumer, University of Princeton University, Advisor: Dr. Peter Andolfatto
Jenna M. Moore, University of California, San Diego, Advisor: Dr. Greg W. Rouse
Alyssa B. Stewart, University of Maryland, Advisor: Dr. Michele Dudash
Maggie R. Wagner, Duke University, Advisor: Dr. Thomas Mitchell-Olds

2011 Recipients

Gerardo Arceo‐Gómez,   University of Pittsburgh,  Advisor: Dr. Tia-Lynn Ashman
Lisa N. Barrow,   Florida State University,  Advisor: Dr. Emily Lemmon
Thomas D. Brekke,   University of Montana,  Advisor: Dr. Jeffrey Good
Sally Marie Chambers,   Purdue University,  Advisor: Dr. Nancy Emery
Gerardo Antonio Cordero,   Iowa State University,  Advisor:  Dr. Fredric Janzen
Rongfeng Cui,   Texas A&M University,  Advisor: Dr. Gil Rosenthal
James C. Cureton II,   University of Oklahoma,  Advisor: Dr. Richard E. Broughton
Kira Delmore,   University of British Columbia,  Advisor: Dr. Darren Irwin
Elizabeth M. Droge-Young,   Syracuse University,  Advisor: Scott Pitnick
Sarah W. Fitzpatrick,   Colorado State University,  Advisor: W. Christopher Funk
Elisabeth Jane Forrestel,   Yale University,  Advisor: Michael Donoghue
Chang Seok Han,   University of New South Wales,  Advisor: Robert Brooks
Rachel E. Hanauer,   Indiana University,  Advisor: Ellen D. Ketterson
Kayla M. Hardwick,   University of Idaho,  Advisor: Erica Bree Rosenblum
Sarah M. Hird,   Louisiana State University,  Advisor: Drs. Robb Brumfield, Bryan Carstens
Elizabeth J. Kleynhans,   University of British Columbia,  Advisor: Drs. Sarah Otto, Mark Vellend
Matthew H. Koski,   University of Pittsburgh,  Advisor: Tia-Lynn Ashman
Ezra Lencer,   Cornell University,  Advisor: Amy McCune
Chase Mason,   University of Georgia,  Advisor: Lisa Donovan
Alicia Mastretta­Yanes,   University of East Anglia,  Advisor: Dr Brent Emerson
George Andrew Meindl,   University of Pittsburgh,  Advisor: Tia-Lynn Ashman
Julie S. Miller,   Cornell University,  Advisor: H. Kern Reeve
Tara A Pelletier,   Louisiana State University,  Advisor: Bryan C Carstens
Rebecca H. Penny,   Indiana University,  Advisor: Lynda Delph
Cheryl Pinzone,   University of Georgia,  Advisor: Kelly Dyer
Diana Jessie Rennison,   University of British Columbia,  Advisor: Dolph Schluter
Leila Teruko Shirai,   Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Portugal,  Advisor: Dr. Patrícia Beldade
Angela Stathos,   University of Montana,  Advisor: Lila Fishman
Alexa R. Warwick,   Florida State University,  Advisor: Emily Moriarty Lemmon
Corlett Wolfe Wood,   University of Virginia,  Advisor: Edmund Brodie III
LengxobYong,   East Carolina University,  Advisor: Jeffrey S. McKinnon

2010 Recipients

Cheryl Marie Andam,   University of Connecticut
Chelsea Berns,   Iowa State University
Megan DeMarche,   Colorado State University
Eva Fischer,   Colorado State University
Andrew Furness,   University of California, Riverside
Emily Jacobs-Palmer,   Harvard University
Christopher Muir,   Indiana University, Bloomington
Carlos Prada,   Louisiana State University
Darren Rebar,   University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Benjamin Sandkam,   Simon Fraser University
Seema Sheth,   Colorado State University
Sonal Singhal,   University of California, Berkeley
Frank Smith,   University of Connecticut
Caitlin Smukowski,   Duke University
Kathryn Stewart,   Queen’s University
Katherine Stryjewski,   Boston University
Conor Taff,   University of California, Davis
Marjorie Weber,   Cornell University

The SSE International Committee (IC) mission is to foster international relationships between evolution societies and its members with particular focus on students and early-career scientists. The committee sponsors annually the International Travel Stipends for students and postdocs to attend the annual Evolution meeting, and the International Event Grants to fund events that foster international communication and collaboration. 

To contact the International Committee Chair, please email international [at] evolutionsociety.org. View the current committee membership.
 

Global Membership Assistance Program

The Global Membership Assistance (GMA) Program offers free or discounted membership to students, researchers, and educators in 152 countries and territories around the world based on World Bank classifications. Check the list of eligible countries to see if you are eligible. If you reside in one of the eligible countries, please request a discount code using this form. Discount codes can be used for any 1-year, 2-year, or 3-year membership type.

This year, SSE members residing in countries and territories eligible for the GMA Program are also eligible for free registration to the virtual portion of the Evolution meeting. Visit the Membership page to learn more.
 

SSE International Travel Stipends

These stipends support attendance at the in-person portion of the Evolution meeting for scientists at various stages of their professional career (e.g., Masters/PhD students, postdocs, and lecturers). You must be a member of the SSE. Those working in countries with high GDP are not eligible. For additional information and the application procedure, consult the Travel Awards page.

International Event Grants

About

The goal of these grants is to foster communication and collaboration between scientists from different countries by sponsoring international symposia, workshops, courses, and other events within the field of evolutionary biology. Our priority is to support events that benefit emerging communities in the field of evolutionary biology. These grants replace the “Co-sponsorship of symposia organized by non-US based evolution societies” grants and the Evolution International Events Awards (EIE Awards).

Eligibility

1. At least one organizer must be a member of SSE.*
2. The topic of the event should relate to evolutionary biology and appeal to general SSE membership
3. The timing of the event must not overlap with the annual Evolution meeting (typically in June)
4. Preference will be given to events hosted outside of the US and in countries where evolutionary biology is emerging as a field of research; support for virtual events is also eligible.
5. The council seriously considers diversity of participants and invited speakers as a criterion for selection.

Participants are not required to be members of SSE, but discounts in event registration costs for SSE members will be appreciated.

*Note that individuals at any career stage from 152 countries and territories are eligible for free or discounted SSE membership through the Global Membership Assistance Program.

In addition, the organizing recipients of this award will be invited to submit an accompanying article to Evolution, if appropriate (primary research, review, insight or commentary fast tracked through review and made freely available) within 2 months of the workshop. Published articles would highlight the grant funding obtained.
 
 

How to Apply

The application should be no more than 3 pages and include:

1. Organizer names, affiliations, SSE membership, and contact details
2. Event title, dates, and location
3. A description of how the event will foster international communication and development of evolutionary biology, how it will favour diversity in this field of research, and how SSE funding will improve the event
4. Names and affiliations of invited speakers, if applicable. Mention SSE membership if applicable.
5. The name of the academic institution or research organization responsible for administering the award funds (reach out to the SSE Treasurer for questions at treasurer [at] evolutionsociety.org)
6. Explanation of how participants will be selected
7. A budget showing how SSE funds will be used, how funds from other sources will be used (if applicable), and the fee structure to participate in the events

In addition to the 3-page application, please include the CVs of the event organizers.

Please send applications and CVs as a single PDF document to the SSE International Committee Chair at international [at] evolutionsociety.org.

Deadline: October 31, 2023

View examples of previously funded events here and here.

Next Steps

Funded events should include an acknowledgement of SSE funding on the event website and/or printed material. We would also appreciate it if organizers share the benefits of becoming an SSE member with participants. 

Funded events must provide a short report to the SSE International Committee following the event. This report should include:

• General overview of the event
• Number of participants
• Nationalities represented by participants and organizers
• SSE wishes to evaluate what groups are underrepresented as direct/indirect recipients of its awards. If permitted under local jurisdiction, we would appreciate the report to include anonymized figures about representation (%) of self-reported gender, ethnicity, and/or any relevant categories among participants, who may suffer from unequal opportunities
• Any material (e.g. pictures, links towards productions such as synthesis papers, or websites) to communicate around these events and their broader consequences and impact are also welcome.

The SSE Huxley Award Committee is pleased to announce the winner of the 2024 T. H. Huxley Award, Tim Hartelt, PhD student advised by Dr. Helge Martens in the Department of Biology Education at the University of Kassel in Germany. Hartelt was selected for his educational resource, "Metaconceptual Learning Activities for Promoting Metacognitive Awareness and Self-Regulation of Intuitive Thinking in Evolution Education." In the activities, students actively engage with their intuitive thinking to develop an appropriate understanding of evolution. Learn more about the activity here, and read a recent paper by Hartelt and colleagues here. As part of the award, Hartelt will receive funding to present his work at the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) conference in November.

 

ABOUT | ELIGIBILITY | HOW TO APPLY | EVALUATION CRITERIA | AWARD | PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS

About

The SSE Education and Outreach Committee is pleased to announce the T. H. Huxley award, named in honor of Darwin's very public supporter T.H. Huxley, which recognizes and promotes the development of high quality evolution education resources. If you have an interesting project or educational activity to share, consider applying for this award. Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows are encouraged to apply. This award provides funding for an SSE member to present evolution education resources at an education-focused session or conference approved by the Huxley Committee (e.g., education session at the annual Evolution meeting or the annual National Association of Biology Teachers conference).

Examples of possible resources include classroom/museum activities, in-class or lab resources, podcasts, publications, websites, and videos. Competitive applications will be resources that include materials for student or audience engagement and assessment, not simply the presentation of information. All applications should include appropriate copyright and research permissions.

Eligibility

Applicants must be members of SSE. To join, visit https://payments.evolutionsociety.org/joinsse/. 

How to Apply

To apply, please complete this form.

Deadline: February 1, 2024

Questions? Contact the Huxley Award Committee at huxleyaward@evolutionsociety.org.

Evaluation Criteria

The proposed project or resource must:

• Communicate concepts in evolutionary biology to a broad audience
• Provide guidelines for transferability and adoptability
• Provide an interactive and accessible experience
• Be age-appropriate for the intended audience
• Have been previously assessed for educational effectiveness, such as pre and post evaluations of students or general audience; incorporation of feedback from instructors, students or other audience; post instructional surveys; etc

The following types of projects will not be considered:

• Lectures
• Collections of resources without supporting curriculum or educational effectiveness assessment

Priority will be given to materials that have been tested in multiple settings.

Award

The recipient will receive funding to present evolution education resources at an education-focused session or conference approved by the Huxley Committee (e.g., education session at the annual Evolution meeting or the annual National Association of Biology Teachers conference). Graduate student and postdoc awardees will receive a one-year membership as part of the award. A winner will be announced in early March. 
 

Previous Recipients

2023

Sarah Bordenstein
Discover the Microbes Within! The Wolbachia Project

Learn more about the project. 
 

2022

Not awarded.

2021

Dr. John Jungck and Dr. Sam Donovan
Beagle Investigations Return with Darwinian Data (BIRDD) project

Learn more about the project. 

2020

Erin L. McCullough, Lauren Verdeflor and colleagues Alaina Weinsztok, Jason R. Wiles, and Steve Dorus
Syracuse University & KIPP NYC College Prep High School
Exploratory activities for understanding evolutionary relationships depicted by phylogenetic trees: united but diverse

Read the paper describing the activity. 

2019

Brinda Govindan
San Francisco University
Bacterial Survivor 

Read the paper describing the activity here: https://evolution-outreach.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s12052-017-0074-2

2018

Katie Grogan and colleagues Teresa W. Lee and Justine Liepkalns
Emory University
Making evolution stick: using sticky notes to teach the mechanisms of evolutionary change

Read the paper describing the activity here: https://evolution-outreach.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s12052-017-0074-2

2017

Laura Bankers with Kyle McElroy, Joseph Jalinsky, James Woodell, Claire Adrian-Tucci, Katelyn Larkin, Robert Todd, Jorge Moreno, Dr. Emily Schoerning, and Dr. Maurine Neiman
National Center for Science Education Booster Clubs
Project website

2016

Amanda Gibson and Ariel Marcy 

Amanda Gibson, Evolution, Ecology and Behavior Department of Biology, Indiana University
Designed a hands-on game that requires students to collaborate to generate data and test predictions of the Red Queen Hypothesis.

Ariel Marcy - University of Queensland
Created Go Extinct! Players become zoologists competing to collect color –coded sets of closely related animal cards.

2015

Dr. Phil Gibson 
University of Oklahoma
How To Use Tree Thinking To Teach Plant Diversity and Evolution

2014

Dr. Jonathan Atwell,
Indiana University
Say Hello to the Junco! Teaching Evolution, Behavior, Genetics, and the Scientific Process with a Common Backyard Bird!

2013

Dr. William Ratcliff 
Georgia Tech
Yeast Experiment Hints at a Faster Evolution From Single Cells
Information on the awarded work: [1] [2] [3]

About | Eligibility | How to Apply | Evaluation Criteria | Award | Next Steps | Previous Recipients
 

About

These grants provide support for local and regional educational outreach activities to take place during 2023. It is our hope that these projects will lead to ongoing outreach collaboration in future years. Preference will be given to new collaborations, but extensions of previous projects that have evidence of success are allowed. Proposals will be accepted until March 1, 2024.

Examples of past outreach activities have included public lectures, exhibits, student competitions, and professional development events for teachers. We especially encourage proposals that focus on discussing and implementing evolution education reforms recommended in the Vision & Change in Undergraduate Biology Education: Chronicling Change, Inspiring the Future report or on dialogues between undergraduate instructors and K-12 teachers around the new emphasis on evolution in the AP Biology Curriculum Framework and the Next Generation Science Standards. We look forward to your applications!
 

Eligibility

Applicants must be members of SSE, and are advised to join SSE, if not already members, as soon as possible to facilitate their applications. To learn more about Membership types and available discount programs, visit our Membership page.
 

How to Apply

1. Proposal: Clearly but briefly state your plans in NO MORE THAN one single-spaced page.
2. Amounts requested may be up to $1000 USD.  Include a short justification for the use of the funds.  Indicate any additional matching funds and include letters of commitment from collaborative partners.  
3. Send your request by email attachment (subject heading 'SSE Outreach Grant 2024') to Barrie Robison (smallgrants [at] evolutionsociety.org).

DEADLINE: March 1, 2024
 

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be ranked by an SSE Education Committee working group according to the following criteria:

1. Does the activity explicitly deal with evolution and its concepts?
2. Is there a clear plan for outreach?
3. What is the overall impact of that outreach (i.e., number of participants, need for activity)?
4. Is the budget reasonable and justified?

Award

Projects under $500 will receive funds when the award is given. For projects from $500 - $1000, the preference is to award the funds to the applicant's institution at the start of the project, with the applicant then being reimbursed from their institution. In exceptional circumstances when this is not possible, funds can be paid directly to the applicant upon completion of the project with submission of receipts. Indirect costs may not be charged to this award. Please email the SSE Treasurer at treasurer@evolutionsociety.org with questions.
 

Next Steps

We expect to fund in the range of 5-10 projects, with announcement of awards to take place in April. We look forward to your applications!

Recipients of this award will submit an accompanying report within two months of the activity. These may be highlighted in the SSE newsletter. All reports and associated talks should highlight the grant funding obtained.

Even if you are not interested in applying for funding from the SSE, we encourage you to engage through whatever means are at your disposal in opportunities to promote public understanding of evolutionary biology.

Previous Recipients

2022 

Andy Flick, Vanderbilt University
Telma Laurentino, University of California – Berkeley
Abigail Matela, University of Pittsburgh
Harshad Mayekar, Ahmedabad University
Manish Pathak, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata
Claire Williams, University of Texas - Austin

2021 

Haosu (Susu) Cong, Michigan State University
Lydia Greene, Duke University
Alexa Guerrara, Florida State University
Travis Hagey, Mississippi University for Women
Emily Lau, University of California – Santa Barbara
Sara Lipshutz, Indiana University - Bloomington
Pedro Taucce, Sao Paulo State University

2020 

Rebecca Brewer, Michigan State University
Travis Hagey, Mississippi University for Women
Angela Hung, Prairie State College
Javier Monzon, Pepperdine University
Barbora Trubenova, Institute of Science and Technology Austria
Matt Wilkins, Vanderbilt University
Kristin M. Winchell, Washington University
 

2019

Pauline Blaimont, Katherine Dale & Carla Sette - University of California, Santa Cruz
Grupo de Divulgación (Pía Pacheco, Dr. Eduardo Soto, Lic. Ángeles Arena, Lic. Valeria Arencibia, Lic. Martín Fasanelli, Lic. Lucas Kreiman, Lic. Fiona Puntieri, Martina Pernigotti, Alejandra Pérez, & Gonzalo Rodríguez Rizk) - Universidad de Buenos Aires
Abigail Hudak - Washington State University
Telma G. Laurentino et al. - Portuguese Association for the Teaching of the Blind
T. Mason Linscott & Christine E. Parent - University of Idaho
Jeanette Pirlo, Victor Perez, & Sean Moran - University of Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History
Stefanie Siller & Shailee S. Shah - Columbia University
Barbora Trubenova - Institute of Science and Technology Austria

2018

Claire Adrian-Tucci - NCSE 
Idalia C. Rojas Barrera - Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Mattheau Comerford - Rice University 
Reese Fulgenzi - University of Virginia 
Carlos Guarnizo - Ciencia Café Pa Sumerce 
Scott Hotaling; et al - Washington State University 
Stacy Krueger-Hadfield; Sarah Adkins - Univ of Alabama at Birmingham 
Andrew Larson - Columbus Signature Academy New Tech High School
Maria Pilar Herrera - Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos 
Molly Selba - Univ of Florida 
Rohini Singh; Erin Doody & Melina Gyaparki - Univ. of Pennsylvania 
Melanie Smee - Cornell Univ. 
Sheela Turbek - Univ. of Colorado, Boulder 
Ghada Yousif; Sara Mitri; Khaled Elsayed 

2017

Logan Cole - Indiana University
Nicole Freidenfields - Tolland Public Schools
Joseph Jalinsky - University of Iowa
Harald Parzer - Fairleigh Dickinson University
Jon Perry - Stated Clearly
Todd Pierson - University of Tennessee Knoxville
Matthew Rubin - Syracuse University
Molly Martell - University of Florida

2016

Henry Arenas-Castro & Wendy Valencia - Colombian Network for Evolutionary Biology
Larry Bowman & Daniel MacGuigan - Yale University
Cory Kohn & Mike Wiser - Michigan State University
Chris Torres - University of Texas - Austin
Marco Cocito-Monoc - LSU Museum of Natural Science
Riley Graham - University of Pennsylvania
Nicole Gunter - Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Liz Landis - Tufts University
Kathryn Massana - University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Robin Tinghitella - University of Denver
Eric Wice - Rice University
Su'ad Yoon - University of Nevada - Reno
Alex Berry - University of Pennsylvania Alex Hall - University of Texas - Arlington

2014-2015

Christopher Balakrishnan & Dustin Foote - East Carolina University
Emily Behrman - University of Pennsylvania
Kevin Burls & Cynthia Scholl - University of Nevada, Reno
Theodore Garland - University of California, Riverside
Jacqualine Grant - Southern Utah University
Eric Meikle - National Center for Science Education
John Niedzwiecki - Belmont University
EEB Program Graduate Students - Rice University
Beatriz Otero-Jimenez - University of Michigan
Catherine Peichel & Carole Tanner - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
William Ratcliff - Georgia Tech University
Stanley Rice - Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Stacey Smith - University of Colorado
Mehmet Somel - Middle East Technical University
Angela Stathos - University of Montana
Eric von Wettberg - Florida International University
Jennifer Weber - Fordham University
Emily Weigel - Michigan State University

2012-2013

2011

Dr. Paula Cushing - Denver Museum of Natural History, CO, USA
Kevin Deitz - Texas A&M University, TX, USA
Sarah Eddy - Oregon State University, OR, USA
Dr. Norman Johnson - University of Massachusets, MA, US
David Kikuchi - University of North Carolina, NC, USA
Dr. Barbara Lundrigan - Michigan State University, MI, USA
Dr. Emilie Snell-Rood - University of Minnesota, MN, USA
Dr. Philip Barnes - Connecticut College, CT, USA

2010

Note: SSE does not endorse nor investigate job ads submitted to this website.
 
 

Title: Postdoctoral Scholar
Position Type: Post-doctoral Research Fellow
Institution: University of California, Berkeley
Department: Plant & Microbial Biology
Field: Plant Ecological Genomics
City: Berkeley, CA, USA

General Information: The Plant & Microbial Biology Department at the University of California, Berkeley seeks applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Blackman Lab, in the area of plant ecological genomics, at 100% time, with an anticipated start in summer or fall 2024. 

Applying tools from evolutionary genomics, molecular genetics, and field ecology in sunflowers and monkeyflowers, our research addresses the following questions: How do plants cope with daily and seasonal environmental fluctuations? How and why do these responses evolve along environmental gradients? How are multi-trait adaptations assembled over evolutionary time?

The Position:

The postdoc will contribute to current NSF-funded work in the lab that seeks to understand the diversity of mechanisms by which natural populations of monkeyflowers have adapted to historic and contemporary drought stress using a combination of population genomics, transcriptomics, resurrection experiments, and genome editing. The aims of the position will be tailored to the expertise of the successful applicant and complement the Blackman Lab's broad interests in the genetic basis of adaptation and domestication, the ecology and evolution of plant development, and mechanisms of organism-environment interaction.

Job Location:
Berkeley, CA

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The excellence of the institution requires an environment in which the diverse community of faculty, students, and staff are welcome and included. Successful candidates will demonstrate knowledge and skill related to ensuring equity and inclusion in the activities of their academic position (e.g., teaching, research, and service, as applicable).

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Qualifications: Basic Qualifications

(By application date):
PhD (or equivalent international degree) or enrolled in a PhD (or equivalent international degree) program.

Additional Qualifications
(By start date):
PhD (or equivalent international degree) required by the appointment start date.
No more than 2 years of post-degree research experience by start date.

Preferred qualifications

-Demonstrated expertise in evolutionary and ecological genomics.
-Expertise in analysis of genomic or transcriptomic datasets.
-Programming for bioinformatics, biostatistics, image analysis, machine learning.
-Plant physiological ecology, GWAS, genome editing, or gene expression studies.
-Excellent writing and communication skills.

Responsibilities: The postdoc will work closely with the PI, collaborators, and lab personnel to design and lead research in the lab and field on the genetics and ecology of natural variation in drought resistance strategies in the common monkeyflower, Mimulus guttatus. The position also involves preparing grant proposals and manuscripts, data management and dissemination, organization and content development for workshops with land managers, and mentoring graduate and undergraduate students. The ideal candidate will demonstrate the ability to integrate across biological disciplines, identify and troubleshoot promising new methodologies independently, and use the appointment to develop and pursue novel, exciting questions.

Instructions: To Apply:
Visit: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF04404 

Specific questions regarding the recruitment can be directed to bkblackman@berkeley.edu

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Document requirements

Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter

Reference requirements
3 required (contact information only)

Compensation: Appointment: The initial appointment will be at 100% time for two years with the possibility of extension based on satisfactory performance and availability of funding.  Salary and Benefits:  Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and based on UC Berkeley Postdoctoral salary scale. Generous benefits are included https://vspa.berkeley.edu/postdocs
Contact: Benjamin Blackman, bkblackman@berkeley.edu
Web Link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF04404
Review Starts: 4/19/2024
Application Closes: 5/5/2024


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Title: Post-doctoral Scholar in Ecology
Position Type: Post-doctoral Research Fellow
Institution: University of California, Davis
Department: VM:PMI
Field: Ecology
City: Davis, CA, USA

General Information: The Vector Genetics Laboratory (VGL) at the University of California, Davis is seeking applications for a post-doctoral research scholar position in the area of MOSQUITO ECOLOGY. The VGL is dedicated to research and training in the areas of population & molecular genetics, genomics and bioinformatics of insect vectors of human and animal disease. The VGL research agenda is aimed at expanding knowledge that may be applied to improving control of disease vectors and at the same time addresses problems of interest in the field of evolutionary genetics. The VGL has links to multiple Graduate Groups and Centers on the UC Davis campus, including the Center for Population Biology, Department of Evolution and Ecology and the One Health Institute. Find out more about the VGL at: https://vectorgeneticslab.ucdavis.edu/ 

Background:

The VGL is a member of the University of California Malaria Initiative (UCMI) which is a collaborative group comprised of members from four UC campuses (UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, and UC San Diego) plus Johns Hopkins University. UCMI researchers have proposed and developed a cost-effective, sustainable, and environmentally responsible strategy for the eradication of human malaria from Africa. This strategy is based on genetically modifying populations of the mosquito that transmits malaria by introducing two genes that encode products that destroy the malaria parasite as it develops in the mosquito vector. These anti-parasite genes are coupled with a Cas9-based gene drive which facilitates their introduction and spread through natural populations. The objective is elimination of malaria transmission by elimination of the parasite within the mosquito but not the mosquito itself. Details about UCMI may be found on our website, https://stopmalaria.org/ 

The VGL’s role in UCMI is to conduct field trials of the modified mosquitoes. The island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe (STP) was ultimately identified as an ideal field site. These two oceanic islands are located in the Gulf of Guinea, roughly 300 kilometers off the coast of west Africa. The VGL project has a team of mosquito biologists and state-of-the-art laboratory and insectary facilities on-site in STP where field and laboratory research has been ongoing since 2019. In addition, we have a very large local team of community and stakeholder engagement workers.

Project Description:

The Mosquito Ecology post-doc will be part of a project that is focused on the ecology and genetics of populations of the primary malaria vector, Anopheles coluzzii and species with which this mosquito interacts on São Tomé and Príncipe islands. The goal of the ecology project is to assess the impact of introducing genetically engineered An. coluzzii both on natural populations of this species as well as potential impacts on non-target species with which An. coluzzii may interact. The Mosquito Ecologist will interact with our mathematical modeling and population genomics groups, and it is hoped that these interactions will synergize the individual work of each group.

Qualifications: Candidate qualifications include the following: (i) quantitative methods in ecology, (ii) experience in conducting field work, (iii) leading field collection teams, (iii) the application of genetic markers for species identification, insecticide resistance genes, blood-meal analysis, etc. The post-doc filling this position should be willing to work as part of an interdisciplinary team and should have experience or interest in one or more of the following: landscape ecology/genetics, island biogeography, population genomics, bioinformatics, and/or mathematical modeling.

Support is available for 2 years, starting not later than May 20, 2024.

Responsibilities: Job Description:

We are seeking a person with a strong background in quantitative ecology, an interest in island ecology and experience in conducting field work. The Mosquito Ecologist will be responsible for providing leadership in the conduct of all field work. He/she should be capable of dealing with the logistical challenges often faced while conducting field work in the tropics and be capable of managing field collection teams. The effort at each field site will include intensive collection of adult and larval An. coluzzii, sampling and identification of non-target macro- and microorganisms sharing the aquatic environment with An. coluzzii, identifying collection sites and scheduling field collection work. On return to the lab at Davis the mosquito ecologist will be responsible for DNA extraction and utilization of established molecular methods to: (i) identify Plasmodium infected individuals, (ii) identify insecticide resistance genotypes, and (iii) identify blood meal sources. We have developed multiplex molecular assays for this work.

The Mosquito Ecologist will be working as part of an interdisciplinary team that includes expertise in population genetics, molecular genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, mathematical modeling and the acquisition and analysis of remotely sensed data. The team is located across the University of California system including UC Irvine, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego and of course UC Davis. The person filling this position will be based at the Vector Genetics Laboratory at UC Davis. The candidate should be available to spend periods of up to 3 months at a time in the field.

Instructions: How to apply:

Applicants should submit the following materials:

- A cover letter
- A curriculum vitae
- List of relevant publications
- Contact information for 3 referees

Send the above combined into a single PDF to lab admin at cmhandy@ucdavis.edu with the subject line “Ag02-Mosquito Ecology”

This position will remain open until filled, but candidates able to start on or before May 20, 2024 will be given preference. This is a 2 year position with the possibility of extension pending funding.

The University of California has implemented a SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination Policy (ucop.edu) covering all employees.  To be compliant with the policy, employees must submit proof of vaccination or a University-approved exception or deferral.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer advancing inclusive excellence.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy.

Compensation: $64,480 – $71,908 contingent on candidate experience
Contact: Christine, cmhandy@ucdavis.edu
Web Link: https://vectorgeneticslab.ucdavis.edu/news/
Review Starts: 4/10/2024
Application Closes: 5/20/2024


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Title: Postdoc position in Caribbean biogeography and phylogenetics
Position Type: Post-doctoral Research Fellow
Institution: Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada
Department: Biology
Field: Biogeography and Phylogenetics
City: St. John's, Canada

General Information: We are searching for a postdoc to be part of a new project entitled “Subduction Triggered Terrestrial Evolution in the Caribbean” (SUBUTTEC) funded by the French Agence National de la Recherche and the Canadian Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council. The project aims at combining biological and geological data to understand how changes in landmasses and seas induced the evolution of plants and animals using the Caribbean islands as a case study. We are particularly interested in understanding the evolution of life in archipelagoes located along subduction zones. This project brings together an international team of academics mostly from France but also from Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, and Mexico. The researchers are grouped into four working packages (WP) with the following objectives: WP1 will conduct phylogenetic and biogeographic analyses of Caribbean plants and animals. WP2 will conduct geological mapping, date emersion surfaces, quantify erosion rates and surface uplift to provide a chronology for land emergence and drowning during the last 30 million years. WP3 will conduct numerical modeling of the vertical motions that control the land-sea mask to unravel the triggers and amplitude of the emersion and drowning events. The biological and geological results will be merged in WP4 testing alternative hypotheses of organisms’ dispersal and evolution. The postdoc will be integrated into WP1 and WP4 and will work under the supervision of Dr. Julissa Roncal at Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada. 

• Start date and location: September 2024 in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
• Position duration: 2 years with a possibility of a 1-year extension

Qualifications: • Ph.D. degree completed

• Demonstrated knowledge on phylogenetics/genomics and/or biogeographic modeling
• Excellent writing skills. 
• Some experience programming in languages such as Perl, Python, or R
• Experience managing large datasets

Responsibilities: • Using published dated phylogenies, the postdoc will conduct a meta-analysis of plant colonization and speciation events in the Caribbean through time. Will work in close collaboration with a PhD student and another postdoc. We are interested in seeing patterns partitioned by dispersal mode, plant habit (trees versus shrubs), and inter-island migrations. 

• Lead a case study of the Antillean species in the genus Sloanea (Elaeocarpaceae). There are 9 native Sloanea species in the Greater and Lesser Antilles for which we would like to reconstruct their history of colonization, and linking with land emergence and drowning findings from WP2. Fieldwork in the Caribbean and/or continental America will be necessary. Other case studies of interest to the postdoc could be addressed as long as they are within Caribbean biogeography. 
• Assist with the development of GEN3SIS eco-evolutionary models within WP4, which will predict the evolution of the biosphere upon prescribed paleogeographic and paleoclimatic reconstructions.
• Co-supervision of PhD, MSc and undergraduate students.
• Write research reports for NSERC and peer-reviewed publications in collaboration with supervisor and other partners.
• Dissemination of research to scientists, the general public, government, land managers, etc through presentations or lay publications.

Instructions: Please send an academic CV, a statement of research interests and career goals, three references (contact information only) and a sample peer-reviewed publication into a single pdf to Dr. Julissa Roncal: jroncal@mun.ca. Only postdocs who are short listed will be contacted for a remote interview. Applications will be reviewed continuously until the position is filled.

The department of Biology at Memorial University has 29 faculty members and over 100 graduate students. Memorial University is Atlantic Canada’s largest university offering a multicultural environment. Individuals from traditionally underrepresented groups in science (e.g.women, people of colour, people with disabilities, 2SLGBTQ+) are encouraged to apply.

Compensation: 50,000-60,000 CAD/year plus 20% benefits
Contact: Julissa Roncal, jroncal@mun.ca
Web Link: https://julissaroncal.wordpress.com/2024/02/23/postdoc-position-in-caribbean-biogeography/
Review Starts: 3/1/2024
Application Closes: 5/30/2024


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Title: Visiting Instructor - Biological Sciences
Position Type: Post-doctoral Fellow
Institution: State University of New York at Old Westbury
Department: Biological Sciences
Field: Evolution
City: Old Westbury, NY, USA

General Information: The Biological Sciences Department at the State University of New York at Old Westbury is seeking applications for a PRODiG+ Fellow starting Fall 2024.  PRODIG+ Fellowships are two (2) year non-renewable contracts with competitive compensation that fund late-stage pre-doctoral (ABD), post-doctoral, and other terminal degree students.  This Fellowship will provide teaching experience at our campus, faculty mentorship, funding for professional development as well as a stipend for summer research, and support for networking and attending yearly PRODiG conferences.  For more information about this program please see https://www.suny.edu/prodig/fellowship/

Candidates must have or be near completion of a Ph.D. in Biology or a related field, with a specialization in Evolution.  We seek a candidate who is committed to liberal arts education and can demonstrate excellence in teaching and research while working with a culturally diverse student population.

Qualifications: Required Qualifications:

Have completed a Ph.D. degree or relevant terminal degree from an accredited institution completed prior to August 2024 in Biology or a related field, preferably in Evolution.
Be eligible to work in the United States without a visa sponsorship.
Demonstrate personal, academic, and/or work experience engaging with diversity, equity, and inclusion and/or a commitment to facilitating and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the campus community.

Preferred Qualifications:

Demonstrated knowledge of evidence-based teaching approaches.
Experience teaching undergraduate biology courses.
Experience teaching a culturally diverse undergraduate student population.
Experience mentoring undergraduate students in research.
Demonstrated plan to integrate your research into the curriculum.
Currently funded research and/or a record of successful grantsmanship.

Responsibilities: Responsibilities include teaching undergraduate and graduate (at the Masters level) courses in Evolution, Introductory Biology courses, and other upper-division courses. The candidate will be expected to pursue their scholarship and involve undergraduate students in research. Involvement in college service is also expected.

Instructions: Please submit the following online at https://oldwestbury.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=173389   

1. letter of application,
2. curriculum vitae,
3. Submit an essay, in 750 words or less, to the following essay prompt:

"Please describe how you've engaged, facilitated, and/or enhanced diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the campus community. Examples could include personal, academic, and/or work experience and may include, but is not limited to, an academic/scholarly track record focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion; work, volunteer/unpaid/ community service; or related experience/ expertise in serving underserved or vulnerable areas and/or populations."

Applications submitted without an essay will not be considered.

4. statement of teaching philosophy,
5. description of research interest,

6. contact information (name, email address and telephone number) for three references and,
7. a fully completed Old Westbury employment application (available during the online application process).

Only applications submitted online will be considered.

CLOSING DATE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS:  Open until filled.

VISA sponsorship is not available for this position.

We encourage protected veterans, individuals with disabilities, women and minorities to apply.

Employment in this position will be contingent on the College's verification of credentials and any other information required by federal or state law, and SUNY Old Westbury policies, including the completion of pre-employment screening.

Compensation: $65,000.00 (plus location pay $3,087.00) and comprehensive benefits package
Contact: Lillian Colella, HR@oldwestbury.edu
Web Link: https://oldwestbury.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=173389
Review Starts: 3/18/2024
Application Closes: 6/14/2024


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Title: Postdoctoral Scientist - "Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology in a Primate Model"
Position Type: Post-doctoral Research Fellow
Institution: The George Washington University
Department: Department of Anthropology and the Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology
Field: Evolutionary Neuroscience
City: Washington, DC, USA

General Information: We are seeking a Postdoctoral Scientist to join The George Washington University's Laboratory for Evolutionary Neuroscience for an NIH-funded project on "Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology in a Primate Model.” Learn more about us: https://cashp.columbian.gwu.edu/evolutionary-neuroscience

Qualifications: Qualified candidates will hold a Doctoral degree or comparable doctoral degree in a related discipline. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position.

Responsibilities: Conduct interdisciplinary comparative research on great ape and human brains to investigate aging and pathology of synapses and mitochondria using electron microscopy and other methods.

Instructions: Apply Now: https://www.gwu.jobs/postings/109110 

Contact: Chet Sherwood, sherwood@gwu.edu
Web Link: https://www.gwu.jobs/postings/109110
Review Starts: 3/21/2024
Application Closes: 5/1/2024


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Title: PhD Graduate Student
Position Type: Research Assistant
Institution: Michigan Technological University
Department: Biological Sciences
Field: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
City: Houghton, MI, USA

General Information: PhD Student Opportunity to Join Dr. Erika Hersch-Green’s Research Group in Plant Evolutionary Ecology at Michigan Technological University

I am looking for a graduate student that would like to contribute to research that is examining how plant genome size variation influences the structuring of biodiversity patterning from molecular levels to multispecies communities. Specifically, research will examine how genome size affects plant functional attributes, plant species interactions (with antagonists and mutualists) and responses to global change factors.

Qualifications: Qualifications:

• Required: (1) A MS in the fields of ecology or evolutionary biology or a closely related discipline. (2) Prior work experience in a field setting OR with molecular/transcriptome work. (3) Good (demonstrable) English scientific writing skills. (4) Ability to work well independently and as part of a team. (5) Commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Desired: (1) Good quantitative/statistics background. (2) Interest in community outreach. (3) A US driver’s license upon starting.

Responsibilities: Position Details:

• With guidance from Dr. Hersch-Green, student will lead the development of their specific research questions and projects based upon their specific interests.
• Student will have opportunities to:

1. conduct experiments in lab, greenhouse, and/or field settings (https://youtu.be/H6MtEnAIyi0),
2. collaborate with national and international scientists (see: https://nutnet.org/home, https://dragnetglobal.weebly.com/),
3. participate in outreach and scientific communication activities,
4. work with a fun, supportive lab group to foster an equitable learning environment for everyone. 

• The anticipated start date Summer or Fall 2024.
• Funding (including tuition) in the form of graduate research and teaching assistantships is included.

Instructions: Qualified and interested candidates should email Dr. Erika Hersch-Green (eherschg@mtu.edu) to express interest. In this email please include an updated CV and a statement of interest addressing required and desired qualifications and describing what area of research you are most interested in exploring and any previous experience in this area.  

Review of applications will begin April 1, 2024, at which time I will contact the most qualified candidates for virtual interviews. Individuals from traditionally excluded groups in science and higher education are encouraged to apply.

Compensation: Tuition and Stipend
Contact: Erika Hersch-Green, eherschg@mtu.edu
Review Starts: 2/29/2024
Application Closes: 5/1/2024


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Title: Postdoctoral Researcher Opportunity in Plant Evolutionary Ecology at Michigan Technological University
Position Type: Post-doctoral Research Fellow
Institution: Michigan Technological University
Department: Biological Sciences
Field: Evolutionary Ecology and/or Evolutionary Genetics
City: Houghton, MI, USA

General Information: I have funding for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join my lab group (Erika Hersch-Green) in the department of Biological Sciences at Michigan Tech University. The successful candidate will contribute to research in alignment with an NSF-funded project (link to full abstract), which aims to understand whether and how nutrient availabilities affect plants differently based upon their genome sizes and whether this contributes to the structuring of biodiversity patterns from the molecular and functional attributes of organisms to multispecies assemblages. Our field work is done locally (https://youtu.be/H6MtEnAIyi0) and in collaborations with national and international scientists (see: https://nutnet.org/home, https://dragnetglobal.weebly.com/).

Qualifications:

• Required: (1) A Ph.D. in ecology, evolution, environmental science, molecular genetics, or a closely related field (completed before start date). (2) Experience in field biology and/or genomics research including bioinformatic skills. (3) Excellent writing, presentation, and statistical analysis skills and a publication record commensurate with time since degree completion.
• Desired: (1) Experience mentoring students, managing dynamic projects and maintaining successful collaborations. (2) Clear communication skills, evidence of outreach and collaboration, and dedication to making science welcoming to everyone.

Responsibilities: Position Details

• The postdoctoral researcher will be integrally involved in the design and implementation of transcriptome/greenhouse experiments and/or field experiments, data analysis and manuscript preparation of newly collected and back-logged data, presentations at conferences, collaborative workshops and discussions, mentoring of students, and outreach activities.
• Our research group values diverse perspectives and a healthy work-life balance, and I am specifically looking for a postdoctoral researcher that will take work seriously and support and maintain a respectful, enjoyable environment for everyone. 
• The anticipated start date is Summer or Fall 2024, but this is negotiable. 
• The position is for 1 year with a potential extension up to 18 months and includes a minimum salary of $55,000 plus benefits.

Instructions: Application Procedures:  If you are qualified and interested in this opportunity, please contact Dr. Erika Hersch-Green via email (eherschg@mtu.edu) and include in a single PDF the following: (1) a cover letter summarizing research interests, professional experience, and career goals, (2) a CV including a complete list of publications, and (3) contact information for three professional references. Review of applications will begin March 15, 2024, and the position will remain open until filled. Individuals from traditionally excluded groups in science and higher education are encouraged to apply.

Compensation: Minimum salary of $55,000 plus benefits.
Contact: Erika Hersch-Green, eherschg@mtu.edu
Review Starts: 2/29/2024
Application Closes: 5/30/2024


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Title: Postdoc/Staff Scientist in Fish Biodiversity
Position Type: Post-doctoral Research Fellow
Institution: Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology
Department: Macroevolution Unit
Field: Ichthyology (Evolution or Ecology)
City: Onna, Okinawa, Japan

General Information: A postdoctoral scholar (PhD <5 years) or staff scientist position (PhD >5 years) is available in the Macroevolution Unit at OIST. We seek a highly motivated, expert researcher with a deep knowledge of fish biodiversity, including but not limited to systematics, taxonomy, ecology., and the fossil record. The researcher will pursue groundbreaking projects on ichthyological topics, such as the origins of the Indo-Pacific biodiversity hotspot, the origins and diversification of fish groups, description and characterization of species and communities, and/or the influence of environmental and ecological factors on fish biodiversity. Exact projects will be developed through discussions with PI Sallan based on the skills, interests, and ideas of the selected researcher.

Qualifications: 1. PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Marine Biology, Paleontology, Organismal Biology or related field with dissertation focused on fishes.

2. Experience and interest in fish biodiversity.
3. Willingness to develop knowledge about areas and clades of interest to the unit if outside of past experience (e.g. fishes).
4. Willingness to learn new methods as needed.
5. Willingness to travel to museum collections or collect specimens as needed.
6. Willingness to collaborate with other relevant labs at OIST and outside.
7. Good spoken and written English skills, including for scientific terms and concepts.

Responsibilities: 1. Develop and lead innovative projects related to the ichthyological interests of the Macroevolution Unit.

2. Publish results in high-quality journals.
3. Present at national and international conferences.

Instructions: Application instructions at: https://www.oist.jp/careers/postdoctoral-scholar-or-staff-scientist-ichthyology-macroevolution-unit 

Contact: Lauren Sallan, lauren.sallan@oist.jp
Web Link: https://www.oist.jp/careers/postdoctoral-scholar-or-staff-scientist-ichthyology-macroevolution-unit
Review Starts: 3/15/2024
Application Closes: 9/15/2024


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Title: PhD position on parental effects and transgenerational plasticity of fat metabolism
Position Type: PhD position
Institution: University of Liège
Department: Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech - EvoEcoPhysio group
Field: Evolution and Ecophysiology
City: Gembloux, Belgium

General Information: We are looking for a highly motivated candidate to apply for a PhD position to be performed in the laboratory of Dr. Bertanne Visser (Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Belgium) in collaboration with Dr. Cécile Le Lann and Prof. Joan van Baaren (University of Rennes, ECOBIO, France). Funding is available to pay a salary for 1 year, during which the candidate is expected to apply for grants to fund a 4-year PhD project (e.g., Fonds National de Recherche FRIA and ASP calls). 

The Visser laboratory works on eco-evolutionary aspects of fat metabolism in parasitoids, particularly in the amber wasp Leptopilina heterotoma (see https://visserlab.be/). Recent findings on amber wasps revealed that fat synthesis can be switched on or completely off depending on the developmental environment. When sufficient fat can be carried over from the host, most wasps will stop synthesizing fat, but when only low quantities of fat can be obtained from the host, wasps will start synthesizing fat. During the first year of the project, the PhD student will be integrated in the laboratory to train and get experience with the model system and be part of ongoing research and experiments. 

Parasitoids are cornerstone species in ecological communities by regulating other insect populations. We are continuing to learn more about the intriguing fat physiology of parasitoids, but we have only little information as to how environmental changes in one generation impact future generations. Prof. van Baaren and Dr. Le Lann work on the effect of climate change on host-parasitoid interactions and particularly on plasticity and adaptation to temperatures. More erratic climatic conditions are becoming more prevalent and are expected to lead to indirect effects on host fat content, as well as direct effects on wasp fat metabolism (Le Lann et al., 2021). The candidate is expected to develop a research project on parental effects and transgenerational plasticity in response to reliable and unreliable variation in host fat content and temperature.

The ideal candidate for this position will have a strong background in ecology and evolution, as well as an interest in physiology. The candidate will be able to obtain skills in rearing and manipulating wasps and Drosophila hosts, physiological measurements (determining fat content, stable isotope tracing and analyzing fatty acid profiles obtained with mass spectrometry), planning and designing experiments, as well as writing and presenting research findings.

Qualifications: MSc degree

Responsibilities: Perform research and apply for national funding to complete a 4-year PhD program.

Instructions: Applications should be sent to Bertanne Visser (bertanne.visser@uliege.be) and must include 1) a statement of interest detailing why you are interested in the topic and working in the host laboratory; 2) a full CV; 3) a list of grades obtained during the master’s degree, and; 4) Contact details of at least 2 referees.

Contact: Bertanne Visser, bertanne.visser@uliege.be
Web Link: https://visserlab.be/join-my-lab/
Review Starts: 2/24/2024
Application Closes: 7/1/2024


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Title: Teaching Assistant Professor or Instructor
Position Type: Non-Tenure-Track Teaching Assistant Professor or Instructor
Institution: Kansas State University
Department: Division of Biology
Field: Evolution and Organismal Biology
City: Manhattan, KS, USA

General Information: The Division of Biology at Kansas State University is currently seeking a full-time Instructor (title may vary based on degree and credentials) to teach undergraduate classes beginning August 2024.

Qualifications: Minimum Qualifications:

• M.S. in biological sciences
• Experience in biological science instruction at the community college, college, or university level.
• Demonstrated commitment to mentoring students and to serving a diverse population.
• Must be motivated and ambitious and possess excellent communication skills and a foundational understanding of the principles of active learning.
• Must be able to work in a collegial manner with students and colleagues in a large, modern, and diverse university setting.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D. or equivalent in biological sciences

Other Requirements:

• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States at the time of employment.

Responsibilities: The successful applicant will be responsible for solo or co-delivery of 5-6 classes per academic year in the areas of, but not limited to, evolutionary biology, organismal biology, and introductory biology using state-of-the-art technology and active learning principles. Organismal biology courses taught by the Instructor may focus on taxon-specific disciplines (e.g. ichthyology, mammalogy). This position is for the nine-month academic year; opportunities exist for additional course delivery in the summer semester. Instructional responsibilities include classroom, laboratory, and online instruction, laboratory setup, preparation and maintenance of syllabi and other class materials, evaluation of student competence, assessment of student mastery of Division of Biology and university learning objectives, and preparation of student progress and grade reports. Other responsibilities will include academic advising, participation in campus events such as open houses, student award ceremonies, and graduation ceremonies. Opportunities for mentoring undergraduate research projects may also be available.

Instructions: For more information on the position and to apply please visit the site below.  

https://careers.k-state.edu/en-us/job/516769/instructor     

The following documents are required to apply:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Brief description of instructional interests
• Statement of teaching experience and philosophy
• Teaching evaluations or other evidence demonstrating excellence in undergraduate instruction
• Representative professional products (e.g. publication reprints, pedagogical artifacts)
• Contact information for three references

Compensation: $50,000-$55,000
Contact: Tom Platt, tgplatt@ksu.edu
Web Link: https://careers.k-state.edu/en-us/job/516769/instructor
Review Starts: 3/18/2024
Application Closes: 6/1/2024


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Title: Postdoctoral fellow in Evolutionary Genomics
Position Type: Post-doctoral Research Fellow
Institution: University of Houston
Department: Biology and Biochemistry
Field: Evolutionary Genomics
City: Houston, TX, USA

General Information: A postdoctoral position is available in Dr. Richard Meisel's laboratory in the Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, TX, USA. Applicants with research interests in evolutionary genetics and genomics are encouraged to apply. The Meisel lab uses genetic and genomic approaches to study evolutionary processes in a diversity of fly models. Ongoing research projects include understanding how and why sex determination systems and sex chromosomes diverge across species; characterizing the genetic basis of intersexual phenotypic variation; and determining the causes of evolutionary divergence in immune systems. To address these questions, the lab combines organismal experimentation, genomic data analysis, genetic manipulation, bioinformatics, and computational modeling.

Qualifications: This postdoctoral position requires a Ph.D. and relevant academic experience. The successful applicant will have a background in population genetics, molecular ecology, molecular genetics, evolutionary genomics, bioinformatics, and/or entomology.

Responsibilities: Responsibilities will include contributing to ongoing research in the Meisel lab, developing independent research projects, and mentoring graduate/undergraduate students.

Instructions: Interested applicants should apply by emailing Richard Meisel (rpmeisel@uh.edu) a curriculum vitae; cover letter describing research interests and experience; and names and contact information for two references. Applications will be reviewed as they are received and continue until the position is filled.

Compensation: Competitive pay based on NSF and NIH rates
Contact: Rich Meisel, rpmeisel@uh.edu
Web Link: https://evol.mcmaster.ca/brian/evoldir/PostDocs//Houston.EvolutionaryGenomics
Review Starts: 2/1/2024
Application Closes: 6/30/2024


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Title: Postdoc or Staff Scientist in Macroevolution
Position Type: Post-doctoral Research Fellow
Institution: Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST)
Department: Macroevolution Unit
Field: Macroevolution
City: Onnason, Okinawa, Japan

General Information: A postdoctoral scholar (PhD <5 years) or staff scientist position (PhD >5 years) is available in the Macroevolution Unit at OIST. We seek a highly motivated and creative researcher with a background in macroevolution (e.g. phylogenetics, evolutionary processes, organismal biology, and/or paleontology) and a deep interest in reconstructing the evolution of vertebrate life and biodiversity dynamics (extinction, diversification, innovation), and a desire to develop their own projects. The researcher will pursue novel work involving data and methods such as phylogenetic comparative methods, trait analysis, and/or fossil record occurrences. 

This position is open to both paleontologists and researchers working on living groups, models, and molecular data, with a preference for those interested in fishes or other aquatic life. Exact projects will be developed through discussions with PI Sallan based on the skills, interests, and ideas of the selected researcher.

Qualifications: 1. PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Paleontology, Organismal Biology or related field with dissertation focused on macroevolutionary or biodiversity questions.

2. Experience and interest in macroevolutionary phenomena (e.g. diversification dynamics, evolutionary rates, trait origins, global events).
3. Willingness to develop knowledge about areas and clades of interest to the unit if outside of past experience (e.g. fishes).
4. Willingness to learn new methods as needed.
5. Willingness to travel to museum collections as needed.
6. Willingness to collaborate with other relevant labs at OIST and outside.
7. Good spoken and written English skills, including for scientific terms and concepts. Japanese is not required but classes are provided to OIST employees and their families.

Responsibilities: 1. Develop and lead innovative projects related to the interests of the Macroevolution Unit.

2. Publish results in high-quality journals.
3. Present at national and international conferences.

Instructions: Apply at: https://www.oist.jp/careers/postdoctoral-scholar-or-staff-scientist-macroevolution-unit 

Compensation: Negotiable
Contact: Lauren Sallan, lauren.sallan@oist.jp
Web Link: https://www.oist.jp/careers/postdoctoral-scholar-or-staff-scientist-macroevolution-unit
Review Starts: 2/1/2024
Application Closes: 4/30/2024


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Title: Assistant Professor of Practice
Position Type: Non-Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
Institution: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Department: School of Biological Sciences
Field: Biology
City: Lincoln, NE, USA

General Information: The School of Biological Sciences (SBS) in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) invites applications for an Assistant Professor of Practice in Biology. This position is associated with a vibrant cross-campus community dedicated to promoting life sciences education through a systems-based approach to the study of life featuring a shared core sequence, interactive instruction, education research, and experiential learning.

The successful candidate will provide critical instruction and leadership for the LIFE introductory course sequence taken by life sciences majors across the university. They will teach high-enrollment introductory biology courses, coordinate one introductory biology lab course, and teach an additional biology course within their disciplinary area. They can have instructional expertise in any biology subdiscipline (e.g., molecular biology, cellular biology, developmental biology, genetics, microbiology, anatomy, physiology, ecology, or evolution). They will contribute to the university’s mission to promote inclusive excellence through dedicated teaching, ongoing scholarly development, and professional service. This is a teaching-focused, promotable, non-tenure track position with a multi-year renewable contract.

Qualifications: The successful candidate will demonstrate strong potential to deliver and coordinate effective and inclusive life sciences courses and to work collaboratively with other instructors, lab managers, department staff, teaching assistants, and undergraduate students.

A doctoral degree in biology, biology education, or a related discipline is required. Preference will be given to applicants with a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (assessed with rubric based on https://ofew.berkeley.edu/recruitment/contributions-diversity/rubric-assessing-candidate-contributions-diversity-equity); teaching interests that complement the needs of the LIFE program and the School of Biological Sciences; and prior experience teaching relevant lecture and/or lab courses.

Responsibilities: SBS offers a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and welcoming place to work (learn more at https://biosci.unl.edu), and UNL maintains an active community of discipline-based educational researchers across STEM disciplines. The city of Lincoln, Nebraska provides an outstanding quality of life that includes a vibrant downtown, a lively music and art scene, over 120 parks, 130 miles of trails, and a low cost of living (learn more at https://www.unl.edu/lincoln/about-lincoln and https://diversity.unl.edu/creating-connections-on-and-off-campus).

Instructions: Review of applications will begin on February 26, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled or the search is closed. To apply, go to https://employment.unl.edu, requisition F_240009. Complete the Faculty Academic/Administrative Information form and upload the following documents: (1) a cover letter highlighting the candidate’s interests and qualifications; (2) a Curriculum Vitae; (3) a document containing teaching and diversity statements; and (4) the names and contact information for three references. The two-page teaching statement should summarize instructional experiences, strategies, and interests. The teaching statement should include one paragraph about how your research background and plans complement your teaching interests. The one-page diversity statement should describe past experiences that advance diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as future plans. Combine the two statements into a single document for upload. Questions regarding the application process may be sent to biologysearch@unl.edu. 

Compensation: TBD
Contact: School of Biological Sciences, biologysearch@unl.edu
Web Link: https://employment.unl.edu/postings/89605
Review Starts: 2/26/2024
Application Closes: 5/26/2024


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Title: Assistant Professor
Position Type: Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
Institution: Marshall University
Department: Biological Sciences
Field: Vertebrate Anatomy
City: Huntington, WV, USA

General Information: Classification Title Assistant Professor

Department Biological Science - MU2510

Job Description
Assistant Professor in Vertebrate Anatomy. The Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Science at Marshall University is seeking candidates for a full-time tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor. Applicants must have a PhD in the life sciences, at least two years of relevant postdoctoral experience, and a research program in comparative, gross, and/or micro- vertebrate anatomy.

The new hire is expected to bring to the position a competitive research program in the broad area of vertebrate functional anatomy, and introduce new model organisms and novel approaches to the department. This research program should expand on and form collaborations within existing strengths in the department, such as evolution, organismal biology, ecology, physiology, and molecular biology. We will consider applicants with research programs in any vertebrate taxon but are especially interested in candidates with an interest in mammalian systems and questions that integrate vertebrate anatomy and morphology with functional questions in extant organisms. A research program that makes use of vertebrate collections will be considered a plus.

Teaching responsibilities will predominantly be in the department’s general education and core courses for biology majors including courses in both human anatomy and vertebrate comparative anatomy. Prior experience in teaching undergraduate courses in vertebrate anatomy, mammalogy, and/or microanatomy/histology is preferred. The hire will also be expected to develop new graduate and upper-level undergraduate courses in their specific area of interest.

Our Department and College value exemplary teaching and research. The successful candidate will possess an independent, collaborative, and competitive research program that involves undergraduate and graduate students. In addition, the candidate will demonstrate a commitment to enthusiastic, innovative, and inclusive teaching.

Location MU - Marshall University

APPLICATION IS OPEN UNTIL FILLED

Qualifications: Qualifications

Must be able to perform all essential job duties as outlined in the job description.

Required Qualifications

Education
The successful candidate must have a PhD in the life sciences.

Experience
The successful candidate must have developed excellent teaching and communication skills. A record of research publications in refereed journals and evidence of active pursuit of external funding is also required. At least two years of relevant postdoctoral experience is required.

Preferred Qualifications
Experience
Experience teaching anatomy or related courses is preferred.

Responsibilities: The new hire is expected to bring to the position a competitive research program in the broad area of vertebrate functional anatomy, and introduce new model organisms and novel approaches to the department. 

Teaching responsibilities will predominantly be in the department’s general education and core courses for biology majors including courses in both human anatomy and vertebrate comparative anatomy. 

See job description for additional details.

Instructions: Begin the application process online at the link provided.

Compensation: Salary is commensurate with experience and internal equity
Contact: Herman L Mays Jr, maysh@marshall.edu
Web Link: https://marshall.peopleadmin.com/postings/24726
Review Starts: 12/21/2023
Application Closes: 5/1/2024


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Title: Post-doctoral Research and Teaching Fellow
Position Type: Post-doctoral Research Fellow
Institution: Augustana University, South Dakota
Department: Biology
Field: Evolutionary Genetics
City: Sioux Falls, SD, USA

General Information: A postdoctoral scholar and teacher position is available in 2024 in the Olson-Manning Lab to work on NSF CAREER funded work related to the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms shaping hybridization in the common and showy milkweeds (Asclepias syriaca and A. speciosa). The applicant will also have the opportunity to teach as the instructor of record in team and independent settings in a department that values evidence-based pedagogy and undergraduate-driven research.

The Olson-Manning Lab, located in the Department of Biology at Augustana University, values diversity in all forms and is committed to fostering a supportive, inclusive, and welcoming work environment. Applications from candidates passionate about increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM through teaching and outreach and educational activities are encouraged to apply. 

Research projects (75% time and effort) involve reciprocal transplant garden planting and monitoring in eastern and western South Dakota, greenhouse studies, and comparison of gene and metabolite co-expression networks architecture between the species and among species and hybrids. In addition to collaborating on the NSF CAREER-funded aims, the scholar will have the opportunity to develop an independent research program suited for undergraduate-driven research at a teaching-focused university. Applicants with a background in some of the following are especially encouraged to apply: evolutionary biology, genomics, gene expression or metabolomics, and ecological field research. 

Teaching and pedagogical development will be approximately 25% time and effort of this position. This will include independent laboratory development and instruction in year 1, team teaching in General Biology courses in year 2, and development of an upper-level course in the applicant's expertise in year 2 or 3. Class sizes will be between 15 and 50 students. The faculty in the Biology Department at Augustana are committed to effective and innovative teaching and the scholar will receive mentoring from a diverse faculty. 

The position would be for three years (contingent upon annual review at year 1).

Qualifications: Required: PhD in one of these fields: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Plant Biology, or Genetics/Genomics. 

Preferred: Experience working with genomic data, a strong conceptual background in evolutionary biology.

Responsibilities: Collaborating on research on milkweed hybridization. Interacting with students, faculty and leadership with different backgrounds and points of view and a deep appreciation of and respect for academic values and culture must be a top value of the candidate.

Instructions: Applications will be considered until the position is filled. Please send: (1) a one-page cover letter, (2) a statement on your commitment to diversity (how you worked to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in your previous position and how you plan to continue to do so at Augustana), (3) a relevant publication or manuscript in preparation, (4) a curriculum vita, (5) a completed Augustana University employment application, (6) and  names and contact info of three professional references electronically to humanresources@augie.edu.

Compensation: The starting salary is $55,000/year + full benefits.
Contact: Carrie Olson-Manning, colsonmanning@augie.edu
Web Link: https://www.augie.edu/faculty-positions#Postdoctoral%20Scholar%20and%20Teacher,%20Evolutionary%20Biology
Review Starts: 2/1/2024
Application Closes: 4/30/2024


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Title: Assistant Professor of Evolutionary Biology
Position Type: Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
Institution: University of California, Santa Barbara
Department: Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology
Field: Evolutionary Biology
City: Santa Barbara, CA, USA

General Information: The Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology of the University of California Santa Barbara invites applications for a tenure-track position as Assistant Professor of Evolutionary Biology with an anticipated start date of 1 July 2024. The department is looking for exceptional individuals with expertise in evolutionary biology. We are especially interested in candidates whose research investigates the connections between genetics and phenotype, and whose research and teaching would complement existing campus strength in global change biology and quantitative biology.

Responsibilities of faculty members include teaching at undergraduate and/or graduate levels, recruitment, supervision, and mentorship of graduate students, participation in university service and professional activities, and the development of an externally funded and broadly recognized research program. Successful candidates will have a record of collaborative research, and will be able to leverage synergies within EEMB and the UCSB campus.

Our department and the University of California seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitment to serve the people of California. UC Santa Barbara is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI), and 40% of UCSB’s undergraduate student body are first-generation college students. We invite candidates who understand the systemic barriers facing individuals from underrepresented groups in STEM and who will leverage evidence-based teaching strategies and enable diverse research opportunities to provide equitable opportunities and promote diversity and inclusion across educational environments.

The University is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through teaching, research, and service as appropriate to the position.

Qualifications:

Basic Qualifications:
Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology or similar discipline is required at the time of application.
1+ year of postdoctoral experience

Preferred Qualifications:
Able and willing to teach evolutionary biology with approaches that will enable access to a wide diversity of students.
Successful grantsmanship commensurate with career stage.
Expertise in field of study as indicated by publications in highly ranked journals in the field.
Broadly trained with interdisciplinary experience as appropriate for evolutionary biologists.
Evidence of a track record of mentoring and fostering the success of historically under-represented students and/or the ability to interface with and contribute to departmental, institutional, and national initiatives in these areas.

Contact: Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, bdinelli@ucsb.edu
Web Link: https://recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF02635
Review Starts: 1/15/2024
Application Closes: 6/30/2024


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Title: Assistant Professor, Evolutionary ecology
Position Type: Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
Institution: University of Ottawa
Department: Biology
Field: evolution and ecology
City: Ottawa, Canada

General Information: The Department of Biology at University of Ottawa invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor. For this position, the successful candidate will demonstrate potential to build an internationally-recognized and externally funded research program that fully engages trainees at all levels, building collaborations within and beyond our collegial, research-intensive department. Candidates must be able to teach in both French and English at the time of hiring at undergraduate and graduate levels. Exceptional candidates at Associate Professor level may also be considered. The starting date is July 1, 2024.

We seek to build on the Department’s strengths in evolutionary ecology. Successful applicants to this position will be active on theoretical and/or empirical research at the broad interface of ecology and evolution, working at any level of biological organization, from molecules to biological communities or at biogeographical extents, including (but not limited to) specializations like behavioural ecology, molecular ecology, and ecological genetics.

The successful candidate will join a research-intensive, growing department of 40 researchers working in a wide range of fields, including cell and molecular biology, physiology, ecotoxicology, neuroscience, developmental biology, ecology and conservation, evolutionary biology, and bioinformatics. The Department maintains close collaborations with researchers at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Institute, Ottawa Heart Institute, Carleton University, federal science departments and agencies, and the Canadian Museum of Nature. The Faculty of Science provides access to core facilities for molecular biology, genomics, chemistry, microscopy and aquatic animal care to all of its members.

Qualifications: PhD in Biology or a related discipline. Postdoctoral experience is expected. A demonstrated track record of research excellence must be clearly presented, along with commitment and strategies for teaching and graduate training. The candidate must be able to teach in both French and English, the two official languages of the University, at the time of hiring.

Responsibilities: The responsibilities include: 1) maintaining a robust, externally funded research program; 2) supervision of graduate and undergraduate student thesis projects in the department; 3) teaching undergraduate and graduate courses that contribute to the bilingual (English-French) Biology or Biomedical Sciences curriculum; and 4) performing an active role within the department by contributing to administrative and academic activities of the Department, and Faculty of Science.

Instructions: More information regarding Academic Careers can be found online. Applications must be submitted electronically through the University of Ottawa Careers portal. Candidates should include the following in their application:

- A one-page cover letter formally expressing interest in the position and including a statement regarding their ability to teach in French and English
- A full curriculum vitae (please include career interruptions such as parental or sick leaves that may have impacted your record of research. These will be taken into consideration in the selection process)
- A detailed research plan (3 pages maximum)
- A statement of teaching interests and how principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion will be included in training of research group members (1 page)
- Contact information of three references
- Three peer-reviewed publications
- Self-Identification Form: The University of Ottawa is committed to ensuring equity, diversity and inclusion in the scholarly and leadership environments of our students, staff, and faculty

Compensation: Regular tenure-track academic appointment in the Faculty of Science, with a salary consistent with the collective agreement of the Association of Professors of the University of Ottawa. The salary scale for assistant professors starts at $89,622 (based on the scale in effect on May 1, 2023).
Contact: Chair, Department of Biology,, biochair.assistant@uottawa.ca
Web Link: https://uottawa.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/uOttawa_External_Career_Site/job/Tenure-track-positions-in-evolutionary-ecology---BIO_JR7952
Review Starts: 12/1/2024
Application Closes: 12/1/2024


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Title: Assistant Professor in Genes, Genomes, and Evolution
Position Type: Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
Institution: University of Nebraska Lincoln
Department: School of Biological Sciences
Field: Genes, Genomes, and Evolution
City: Lincoln, NE, USA

General Information: The School of Biological Sciences (SBS), in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) invites applications for an academic-year, tenure-track, assistant professor position in Genes, Genomes, and Evolution. The successful candidate will work broadly to elucidate molecular or cellular mechanisms that link genes and traits using an integrative approach in any plant, animal, or microbial system in an evolutionary context. This position will play a key role in furthering SBS goals to integrate across biological levels to understand how organisms develop, function, interact with, and adapt to their environment. This is the second of what is expected to be a cluster of at least two faculty in this area. 

The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong record of original research as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications. They will be expected to contribute to the university’s mission to promote diversity and inclusive excellence, establish a nationally recognized and extramurally funded research program, be dedicated to education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and be committed to inclusive teaching.

Qualifications: A Ph.D. in biology or a related discipline; research experience in genes, genomes, and evolution, as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications; and postdoctoral or equivalent training are required. Preference will be given to candidates with a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (assessed with rubric based on https://ofew.berkeley.edu/recruitment/contributions-diversity/rubric-assessing-candidate-contributions-diversity-equity); the ability to build upon and expand existing research in SBS (https://biosci.unl.edu); a commitment to teaching at the undergrad and graduate levels; and the likelihood of success at obtaining intramural grants, judged by the research statement.

Responsibilities: The successful candidate will receive dedicated lab and office space and a competitive start-up package and will have the opportunity to collaborate with an accomplished group of biologists in SBS, the Nebraska Center for Virology, and other units across the UNL campus and the University of Nebraska system. SBS offers a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and welcoming place to work. As articulated in our strategic plans, SBS (https://biosci.unl.edu/diversity), CAS (https://cas.unl.edu/strategic-plan), and UNL (https://diversity.unl.edu/) are committed to enhancing diversity, inclusion, and equity in all aspects of our mission from undergraduate and graduate students to faculty and staff. 

The city of Lincoln, Nebraska provides an outstanding quality of life that includes a vibrant downtown with a lively music and art scene, a collection of over 120 parks, and 130 miles of bike trails, plus a low cost of living. Learn more about the city of Lincoln at https://www.unl.edu/lincoln/about-lincoln and https://diversity.unl.edu/creating-connections-on-and-off-campus. 

Instructions: Review of applications will begin on October 20, 2023, and will continue until the position is filled or the search is closed. Applicants should go to https://employment.unl.edu, requisition F_230143. Complete the Faculty Academic/Administrative Information form, and upload the following documents: (1) a cover letter highlighting the candidate’s interest in the position and their qualifications; (2) a Curriculum Vitae; (3) a document with research, teaching, and diversity statements; and (4) the names and contact information for three references. The two-page research statement should describe research interests and future plans. The one-page teaching statement should summarize instructional strategies, experience, and interests. The one-page diversity statement should describe past experiences that advance diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as future plans. Combine the three statements into a single document for upload. Questions regarding the application process may be sent to biologysearch@unl.edu.  

UNL seeks to achieve a working and learning environment that is open to all people. Dignity and respect for all in the UNL community are the responsibility of each individual member of the community. The realization of that responsibility across the campus is critical to UNL’s success.  

As an EO/AA employer, the University of Nebraska considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation. See https://www.unl.edu/equity/notice-nondiscrimination. 

Contact: Kristi Montooth, biologysearch@unl.edu
Web Link: https://employment.unl.edu/postings/88052
Review Starts: 10/20/2023
Application Closes: 5/31/2024


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Title: Faculty Position in Evolutionary Biology
Position Type: Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
Institution: University of Rochester
Department: Department of Biology
Field: Evolutionary Biology
City: Rochester, NY, USA

General Information: The Department of Biology at the University of Rochester invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in evolutionary genetics and genomics. We are searching for applicants whose research program uses computational approaches to answer important theoretical or applied questions in evolutionary biology and who would complement our existing strengths in genetics and genomics. We are especially interested in those who envision making advances in phylogenetics, population genetics, molecular evolution, comparative genomics or population biology.

The successful candidate is expected to establish an externally funded research program and contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching and research mentoring. Applicants should have a PhD awarded no later than January 2024 and academic credentials commensurate with a candidate’s current position. The University of Rochester offers strong institutional support, including state of the art computing infrastructure, and a rich environment for interactions beyond our department, including the Goergen Institute for Data Science and the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Complete applications include: a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a statement of research interests and plans, a statement of teaching qualifications and interests, three letters of reference, pdfs of three publications, and a statement on advancing equity and fostering an inclusive and diverse community in academia. The diversity and inclusion statement may include your values, past experience, future plans, and/or leadership in relationship to teaching, research, or service. Instructions for supplying the reference letters are provided on the application website. Applicant screening will start November 1 and will continue until candidates for interviews have been chosen. The anticipated start date of the position is July 2024.

Salary: $100,000 – $115,000
The referenced pay range represents the full base range of pay for this job. Individual salaries will be determined within the job’s salary range and established based on market data, experience and expertise of the individual, and internal equity considerations.

The University of Rochester has a strong commitment to diversity and to groups underrepresented in higher education. The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

EOE / Minorities / Females / Protected Veterans / Disabled

Qualifications: PhD

Responsibilities: Research, teaching

Instructions: Complete applications include: a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a statement of research interests and plans, a statement of teaching qualifications and interests, three letters of reference, pdfs of three publications, and a statement on advancing equity and fostering an inclusive and diverse community in academia. The diversity and inclusion statement may include your values, past experience, future plans, and/or leadership in relationship to teaching, research, or service. Instructions for supplying the reference letters are provided on the application website.

Compensation: $100,000 - $115,000 annually
Contact: Brenna Rybak, brenna.rybak@rochester.edu
Web Link: https://www.rochester.edu/faculty-recruiting/positions/show/16322
Review Starts: 11/1/2023
Application Closes: 5/1/2024


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Title: Chairperson
Position Type: Full-time
Institution: Michigan State University
Department: Integrative Biology
Field: Integrative Biology
City: East Lansing, MI, USA

General Information: The Michigan State University Department of Integrative Biology invites applicants and nominations for the position of Chairperson.  The Chair will lead an internationally recognized department with a long history of innovation and excellence (https://integrativebiology.msu.edu)  The department’s core mission is to advance understanding of the function, stability, resilience, and adaptation of complex biological systems via research, teaching, and outreach while striving to recruit, retain, and develop a diverse vibrant and inclusive community of scholars. We use cutting-edge tools to address important questions about genetics, genomics, development, physiology, behavior, ecology, and evolution in a wide array of organisms, over multiple temporal and spatial scales.  The department includes more than 30 faculty members, strong graduate and undergraduate programs, and a supportive administrative and technical staff.  Many faculty members are also affiliated with the MSU Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Program (https://eeb.msu.edu/) and Kellogg Biological Station (https://www.kbs.msu.edu), and numerous cross-college interdisciplinary graduate programs.

Qualifications: Candidates must be qualified to hold the rank of tenured Full Professor and possess an established record of scholarship in a relevant field. Additionally, candidates must demonstrate leadership and administrative effectiveness, strong interpersonal skills, and a meaningful commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), evaluated using the Berkeley rubric. Continuation of an active research program is encouraged and will be supported.

Responsibilities: The Chair is expected to cultivate a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment that fosters collaboration, innovation and excellence in research and teaching while working with college and university administration to facilitate departmental governance, resource management and research support.

Instructions: Applicants should submit:  

1. A cover letter addressing their interest in the position
2. A curriculum vitae 
3. A 5-page statement highlighting experience, accomplishments, vision, and implementation strategies in the following areas:
4. Research, describing publications and grants, evidence of research leadership, and vision for promoting DEI and excellence in research.
5. Education, describing teaching and outreach experience, mentoring experience and philosophy, and strategies for promoting DEI in graduate and undergraduate curricula.
6. Leadership, including leadership roles and accomplishments, and budgetary and administrative experience, and strategies for aligning Integrative Biology with the newly-implemented Natural Sciences Strategic Plan that integrates DEI into all aspects of the college mission.
7. The names of three references (who will be contacted only with your permission). 

Every effort will be made to maintain confidentiality until a list of interview candidates is determined. All materials should be assembled into one PDF and uploaded to: careers.msu.edu position # 804063. Review of applicants will begin 30 September 2022 and will continue until the position is filled. Questions regarding the position may be sent to the Chairs of the search committee, Amy Ralston (aralston@msu.edu) and Jeff Conner (connerj@msu.edu).

Compensation:
Contact: Amy Ralston, aralston@msu.edu
Web Link: https://careers.msu.edu/en-us/job/511934/chairpersonmanagement
Review Starts: 9/30/2022
Application Closes: 8/18/2024


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EVOLUTION 2018

Symposium proposal submissions for Evolution 2018 in Montpellier, France are now open! Symposia proposals will be accepted until June 26. Note that this is during the Evolution 2017 meeting, so be sure to submit your proposal before you leave! Information about the format of the meeting, the symposia and what we expect for symposia organizers can be found at http://evolutionmontpellier2018.org/call-symposia.

MARCH FOR SCIENCE

Thank you to all who participated in a March for Science, either in DC or at one of the 600+ satellite marches around the world! More than 1 million people marched on April 22. (Read more about the number crunching on the March for Science blog.) Here is Sally Otto, SSE President, at the Vancouver march. To stay involved in advocating for science, check out the AAAS Force for Science page and the new March for Science website.

EVOLUTION LETTERS

The first issue of the open access journal Evolution Letters is now live! This journal is co-owned by SSE and the Society of Systematic Biologists, and members receive reduced publication fees. Read the first issue here. Submit your manuscript here.

EVOLUTION 2017 INFORMATION

Register today and join us for EVOLUTION 2017: June 23-27, 2017 in Oregon Convention Center Portland, Oregon. Information about the  SYMPOSIA and meeting schedule, as well and past and future meetings, can be found on our meeting web page. 

Diversity in Science Luncheon

Please come join the Diversity in Science luncheon at Evolution 2017! This event will be a discussion on identifying bias and increasing diversity across all dimensions. Cost is $15, and lunch is included. Add it to your registration by logging in here.

AIBS Policy Communication Workshop

A few seats are still open for the AIBS Workshop following the meeting! The workshop is titled "Informing and Engaging Decision-makers" and will take place June 28. Learn more here and add it to your registration by logging in here.

Meet the NSF DEB Program Officers at Evolution 2017

A number of program officers from the NSF's Division of Environmental Biology will be at Evolution this year. For a full list see the DEB Blog. There will also be an NSF Information Session during the meeting.

Regular Talks Full

Regular talks are now full, but you can still submit a poster until May 20. To submit a poster, follow this link, click on "Registration", sign in with the email and password you used to register, click "Author Center" in the top menu, and then click "Author/Attendee Login." The option to submit a poster will be on that page.

SSE Graduate Student and Postdoc travel supplements

Travel Award recipients for the Evolution 2017 meeting in Portland have been selected! Applicants should check their emails for award notifications. These awards total $43,500 in funding support to our student and postdoc members to attend and present at this year's meeting. Travel Award recipients are not eligible for the registration rebate offered in return for volunteering at the conference.

SPENDING BILLS

We were pleased to see that the NSF, NIH and others were largely spared in the recent federal fiscal decisions. Learn more from the AIBS Policy Report.

STEPHEN JAY GOULD PRIZE 

The SSE Education Committee is pleased to announce the winner of the 2017 Stephen Jay Gould Prize: Dr. Timothy R. Birkhead. Dr. Birkhead is Professor of Behavior and Evolution at the University of Sheffield and has made major contributions to understanding how animal behavior evolves under environmental pressures and in response to competition. Dr. Birkhead has had a distinguished career both advancing the science of evolution and in conveying that knowledge to the general public. Dr. Birkhead has promoted evolution through his extremely successful popular science books that include Promiscuity: An Evolutionary History of Sperm Competition (2000), The Red Canary(2003), The Wisdom of Birds (2008), Bird Sense (2012), Ten Thousand Birds: Ornithology Since Darwin (2014), and The Most Perfect Think: The inside (and Outside) of a Birds Egg (2016), as well as through many popular science articles.  Congratulations!

ROSEMARY GRANT WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Congratulations to the 27 graduate students who were selected to receive a Rosemary Grant Research Award from the SSE.  The goal of these grants is to identify and support innovative and potentially high impact research by beginning graduate students. These awards represent over $60,000 per year of investment into research by our doctoral student members.

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2016 SSE Grants for Local and Regional Outreach Promoting the Understanding of Evolutionary Biology

This note is a call for proposals for support for local and regional educational outreach activities to take place during 2016. It is our hope that these projects will lead to ongoing outreach collaboration in future years.  Preference will be given to new collaborations, but extensions of previously projects that have evidence of success are allowed. Guidelines for applying for funds to support SSE 2016 outreach projects are as follows:

1. Proposal: Clearly but briefly state your plans in NO MORE THAN one single-spaced page.
2. Amounts requested may be up to $1000.  Include a short justification for the use of the funds.  Indicate any additional matching funds and include letters of commitment from collaborative partners.  NOTE: Projects under $500 will receive funds upon award.  Projects from $500 - $1000 will receive funds upon completion of the project and submission of receipts.
3. Send your request by email attachment (subject heading 'SSE Outreach 2016') to Robert Pennock [pennock5@msu.edu] no later than 25 January 2016.

Applications will be ranked by an SSE Education Committee working group according to the following criteria:

1. Clarity and quality of the proposed activity;
2. Expected impact in terms of reaching a critical or broad audience;
3. Evidence, in the form of matching funds, of partnership outside of your immediate academic department;
4. Indication as to how the project might lead to new or ongoing successful outreach collaborations.

We expect to fund in the range of 10-20 applications, with announcement of awards to take place by February 8, 2016. 

Examples of past outreach activities have included public lectures, exhibits, student competitions, and professional development events for teachers.  We especially encourage proposals that focus on discussing and implementing evolution education reforms recommended in the Vision & Change in Undergraduate Biology Education: Chronicling Change, Inspiring the Future (2013) report < http://visionandchange.org/files/2015/07/VISchange2015_webFin.pdf > or on dialogues between undergraduate instructors and K-12 teachers around the new emphasis on evolution in the AP Biology Curriculum Framework (2015) <https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/ap/ap-biology-course-and-exam-description.pdf> and the Next Generation Science Standards <http://www.nextgenscience.org/next-generation-science-standards>. We look forward to your applications!

Even if you are not interested in applying for funding from the SSE, we encourage you to engage through whatever means are at your disposal in opportunities to promote public understanding of evolutionary biology.
Sincerely,

Robert T. Pennock
Chair, SSE Education Committee Outreach Grants Program

Evol2014 About Women in Science events on the topic of Implicit Bias

Dear Colleagues,

Below are the links from the Evol2014 About Women in Science events on the topic of Implicit Bias. For each session, we have provided Joan’s presentation and the workshop responses from the attendees. We hope that you find the information useful.

We would like to thank the organizers of Evol2014, the three societies who sponsored these events, our guest speaker, Joan Herbers, and our attendees.

Post-tenure PowerPoint Presentation
http://www.clfs.umd.edu/biology/dudashlab/Evol2014%20Post-Tenure%20Workshop%20ImplicitBias%20Final.pdf

Post-tenure Take Home messages
http://www.clfs.umd.edu/biology/dudashlab/Post-Tenure%20Workshop%20Summary%20Evol2014%20Final%202July2014.pdf

Lunchtime PowerPoint Presentation
http://www.clfs.umd.edu/biology/dudashlab/Lunchtime%20NetworkingWorkshop%20Evol2014%20Final%202July2014.pdf

Lunchtime Take Home messages
http://www.clfs.umd.edu/biology/dudashlab/LunchtimeWorkshop%20Summary%20Evol2014%20Final%202July2014.pdf


Sincerely,
Michele Dudash and Jenny Boughman

Call for Symposia for 2015 Annual Meeting

The 2015 annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Evolution is planned for June 26-30, 2015 in Guaruja, Brazil. The SSE Council invites proposals for the two Society-sponsored symposia to be held in conjunction with the meeting. Symposium proposals should include: (1) a synopsis of the symposium theme (about one page); (2) a tentative list of speakers, including institutional affiliations, and topics; (3) a rationale for the symposium explaining why this topic and this group of speakers are particularly appropriate for a Society-sponsored symposium; and (4) a statement that all potential speakers have been contacted and agree to participate in the symposium.

In evaluating proposals, SSE Council seriously considers the diversity of participants as a major qualification. Symposium organizers are expected to take into account gender, seniority, nationality, and other aspects traditionally underrepresented in Society symposia when preparing proposals. In addition, Council will favor those proposals whose topics concern newly emerging fields, fields ripe for syntheses, and fields different from those that have been included in recent Society symposia.

The Council will select two proposals for half-day symposia at the annual meeting in June 2014. All applicants will be notified of the Council's decision in August. The Society provides travel support for organizers and participants in sponsored symposia. Details are available on request. To be assured of full consideration, proposals must be received by midnight Eastern Standard Time on June 6, 2014:

Butch Brodie
Executive Vice President, SSE
Department of Biology
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400328
Charlottesville, VA 22904-4328
bbrodie@virginia.edu

Proposals should be sent by email (bbrodie@virginia.edu) as a single attachment in PDF format (under subject heading: SSE Symposia Proposal). Please expect and request confirmation of receipt of the proposal.

Local and Regional Outreach Promoting the Understanding of Evolutionary Biology

This note is a call for proposals for support for such activities to take place during 2014. It is our hope that these projects will lead to ongoing outreach collaboration in future years.

Guidelines for applying for funds to support SSE 2014 outreach projects are as follows:

1. Clearly but briefly state your plans in NO MORE THAN a single page.
2. Amounts requested may be up to $1,000, with additional matching funds clearly indicated. Include letters of commitment from collaborative partners or indicate whom you have approached in this regard.
3. Send your request by email attachment (subject heading 'SSE Outreach 2014') to Robert Pennock [pennock5@msu.edu] no later than 25 January 2014.

Applications will be ranked by an SSE Education Committee working group according to the following criteria:

1. Clarity and quality of the proposed activity;
2. Expected impact in terms of reaching a critical or broad audience;
3. Evidence, in the form of matching funds, of partnership outside of your immediate academic department;
4. Indication as to how the project might lead to ongoing outreach collaboration.

We expect to fund in the range of 10-20 applications, with announcement of awards to take place by February 15, 2014. 

Examples of past outreach activities have included public lectures, exhibits, student competitions, and professional development events for teachers.  This year we would especially encourage proposals that focus on discussing and implementing evolution education reforms recommended in the Vision & Change in Undergraduate Biology Education (2011) report <http://visionandchange.org/finalreport/> or on dialogues between undergraduate instructors and K-12 teachers around the new emphasis on evolution in the AP Biology Curriculum Framework (2012-13) < http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/ap/10b_2727_AP_Biology_CF_WEB_110128.pdf> and the Next Generation Science Standards <http://www.nextgenscience.org/next-generation-science-standards>.

We look forward to your applications!

Even if you are not interested in applying for funding from the SSE, we encourage you to engage through whatever means are at your disposal in opportunities to promote public understanding of evolutionary biology.

Sincerely,

Robert T. Pennock, On behalf of the SSE Education Committee

Local and Regional Outreach Promoting the Understanding of Evolutionary Biology

This note is a call for proposals for support for such activities to take place during 2013.  It is our hope that these projects will lead to ongoing outreach collaboration in future years.

Guidelines for applying for funds to support SSE 2013 outreach projects are as follows:

1. Clearly but briefly state your plans in NO MORE THAN a single page.
2. Amounts requested may be up to $800, with additional matching funds clearly indicated.  Include letters of commitment from collaborative partners or indicate whom you have approached in this regard.
3. Send your request by email attachment (subject heading 'SSE Outreachm2013') to Robert Pennock pennock5@msu.edu no later than 10 March 2013.

1. Clarity and quality of the proposed activity;
2. Expected impact in terms of reaching a broad audience;
3. Evidence, in the form of matching funds, of partnership outside of your immediate academic department;
4. Indication as to how the project might lead to ongoing outreach collaboration.

Examples of outreach activities might include public lectures, exhibits, student competitions, etc; but we do not want to be overly prescriptive. Indeed, we look forward to seeing how imaginative the SSE might be collectively. We look forward to your applications!

Even if you are not interested in applying for funding from the SSE, we encourage you to engage through whatever means are at your disposal in opportunities to promote public understanding of evolutionary biology.

Sincerely,

Robert T. Pennock, On behalf of the SSE Education Committee

SSE International Committee (SSE-IC)

The SSE-IC mission is to foster international relationships between evolution societies and its members with particular focus on students and early-career scientists. The committee sponsors annually a series of activities/awards to reach this goal:
1. International Travel Stipends (IT- Awards)
2. Co-sponsorship of symposia organized by non-US based evolution societies
3. Evolution International Events (EIE) awards
The International Travel Stipend is managed directly by the SSE-IC committee. For the other two award types, the SSE-IC committee will present the best proposals to the SSE council, which will decide on the winner for that year. The equivalent of 10,000 euros will be devoted to the International Travel stipends. The rest of the available funding will be either given to either a single proposal from one category or divided amongst the best proposals in either of the two categories.

SSE Travel Stipends

These stipends are for students and young scientists to attend the SSE meeting in Snow Bird, Utah in June (http://www.evolutionmeeting.org/) and the ESEB Congress in Lisbon in August 2013 (http://www.eseb2013.com/). The stipend will contribute to covering travel, living expenses and congress registration fees. The stipend will be paid out as a reimbursement after the congress, based on specification of the expenses.

Eligibility:
Applicants must be SSE members (for becoming a member of SSE, see http://cms.gogrid.evolutionsociety.org/)

Applications can be submitted by scientists at various stages of their professional career (e.g., Masters and PhD students, postdocs, and lecturers).

Scientists working in a country with high GDP are not eligible (for the list of excluded countries see below).

People who received an SSE travel stipend in the last five years are not eligible.

Applicants must submit to present either an oral communication or a poster to be eligible for the stipend. This will be verified before the reimbursement, but no proof that a poster or talk is accepted is necessary at the application stage.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE STIPENDS ARE GIVEN IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANALOGOUS STIPENDS TO ATTEND THE LISBON MEETING OFFERED BY ESEB (separate call), SO THERE IS NO NEED TO APPLY TO BOTH

How to apply: send your application by email to the SSE International Committee, c/o Prof. N Wedell <N.Wedell@exeter.ac.uk>. The application should be no more than 2 pages long and include:

• Name of the applicant;
• Budget, including sources of additional support;
• An explanation of how attendance to the meeting will further the attendant’s professional goals;
• and a CV

Please submit the application as a single PDF-file.
A support letter from the applicant advisor/mentor/senior colleague is also required. Support letters should be sent to the same email address (N.Wedell@exeter.ac.uk) by the applicant’s mentor.

Deadline: March 31, 2013, 24:00 GMT.

Members professionally based in the following countries are not eligible for the travel stipend: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland , United Kingdom, United States of America.

Co-sponsorship of symposia organized by non-US based evolution societies

The goal of this award is to foster communication between scientists from different countries by stimulating scientific dialogue through co-sponsored symposia. Evolution societies with limited financial resources will have the opportunity to invite speakers (SSE members) to their meeting. This will provide growth opportunities for both societies, since it will not only benefit the hosting society but also create the opportunities for new collaborations for the invited speakers.
Eligibility: Organizers of approved symposia may apply to seek partial support for symposia that include SSE members as invited speakers.
Application: An application should not be more than 3 pages long and include:
   1. Name(s) and affiliations of the symposia organizer, including CV (not included in the page limit).
   2. The meeting and its dates.
   3. The symposia title.
   4. A list of the committed symposia speakers.
   5. Name(s), affiliations of the symposia speakers to be supported through this award, including CV (not included in the page limit).
   6. The institution/organization responsible for administering the funds.
   7. A rationale of the event explaining how the presence of the invited speaker(s) will foster international cooperation and mutually benefit SSE and the meeting sponsors.
    8. A budget showing (1) how funds from SSE, (2) the meeting sponsors, (3) and other sources will be used to cover the symposium.
Applications should be sent as a single pdf document to Prof. Nina Wedell (SSE-IC Chair; N.Wedell@Exeter.ac.uk).
Deadline for application is March 31, 2013; applications received after that date will be considered as funds allow.

Evolution International Events Awards (EIE Awards)

These events are aimed at furthering the purpose of the Evolution Society by fostering international collaborations amongst evolution oriented societies and scientists. Eligible events would include specialized symposia, workshops and short courses in any aspect of evolutionary biology. The events could be hosted either in the US or abroad and preference should be given to events that specifically include participants from countries other than the USA.
Eligibility:  If held in the US, the event should have a clear training component targeting students and young scientists from countries other than the US. If held abroad, this event should be co-sponsored by SSE members and by scientists from the hosting country.  Co-sponsorship by the Evolution society from the hosting country, when possible, will be encouraged.  SEE membership for one year is a mandatory requirement to be included in the registration fee (not for participants that are already SSE members).

An application should not be more than 3 pages long and include:
1. Names and titles of the organizers.
2. The institution that will be responsible for administering the funds.
3. The title event.
4. A rationale of the event explaining why the event is needed, how does it fit with the purpose of the SSE and the goals of this specific award, how SSE support will improve the event, how participation of young scientists from the geographic region where the event will be promoted.
5. A description of the event.
6. A list of the primary participants who have been contacted and have expressed interest in being part of the event, if funded.
7. Dates and location of the event.
8. How the participants will be selected.
9. A budget showing (1) how funds from SSE will be used, (2) how funds from other sources will be used, (3) the fee structure to attend the event, if funding will not allow to cover all the costs.
10. A CV of the proposal PI’s (SSE member and co-sponsor from the hosting country). The CV’s are not included in the 3 pages limits for the proposal.

Applications should be sent as a single pdf document to Prof. Nina Wedell (SSE-IC Chair; N.Wedell@Exeter.ac.uk).

Deadline for application is March 31, 2013; applications received after that date will be considered as funds allow.

Ninth Annual University of Michigan "Early Career Scientists Symposium"
March 16, 2013

MACROEVOLUTION: FOSSILS, FRAMEWORKS, AND PHYLOGENIES

Call for nominations

The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Michigan invites nominations of outstanding scientists early in their careers to take part in an exciting international symposium on the conceptual and methodological integration of paleontological and phylogenetic approaches to the study of macroevolution. The symposium events will take place from 15-17 March 2013, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Nine early-career scientists will be selected to present their work alongside two plenary speakers and participate in panel discussions. We welcome nominations of scientists who are studying any aspect of macroevolution using paleontological, molecular phylogenetic, or theoretical approaches. We are especially interested in scientists whose work recognizes the promises and/or challenges of developing a unified neontological and paleontological framework for understanding macroevolutionary patterns.

Early career scientists are defined as senior graduate students (who stand to receive their Ph.D. within one year), postdoctoral researchers, and first- or second-year faculty.  A colleague or advisor must provide the nomination.

A nomination consists of a brief letter of recommendation addressing the nominee’s scientific promise and ability to give a good talk, the nominee's curriculum vitae, and a brief abstract of the proposed presentation (< 200 words, written by the nominee).  Nominations may be sent electronically (in one file if possible) to eeb-ecss-nomination@umich.edu using the nominee's name as the subject line (last name first, please).  More information is available at http://sitemaker.umich.edu/ecss2013.

All nominations must be received by January 15, 2013.

Selected participants will be contacted by February 1, 2013 and will have all expenses covered (registration, travel and accommodation). An official announcement of the slate of speakers will be issued soon thereafter.

For more information, contact Cindy Carl at cacarl@umich.edu and/or go to our website at http://sitemaker.umich.edu/ecss2013.

National Science Foundation’s Division of Integrative Organismal Systems UPDATE

Dear SSE Members,

The National Science Foundation’s Division of Integrative Organismal Systems has issued an updated solicitation for the core programs (NSF 13-506) along with a revised set of IOS Frequently Asked Questions (NSF 13-09) which are now available on the IOS home page at: http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=IOS

The core programs covered under this solicitation in the Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS) support research aimed at understanding why organisms are structured the way they are and function as they do.  Areas of inquiry include, but are not limited to, developmental biology and the evolution of developmental processes, nervous system development, structure, and function, physiological processes, functional morphology, symbioses, interactions of organisms with biotic and abiotic environments, and animal behavior.

The Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS) will also host a Webinar to discuss the outcomes of the new preliminary proposal system thus far and answer questions about the updated solicitation on Monday, December 10th. Information about how to sign up for the webinar will follow shortly and be posted to the IOS home page.

Please feel free to post these links and information for your membership and include them in your newsletters.

Michelle Elekonich

Michelle M. Elekonich, PhD
IOS Science Advisor
   ICOB Program Director
   Behavioral Systems Cluster Leader
Division of Integrative Organismal Systems
Directorate for Biological Sciences
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22230
tel : 703.292.7202
fax : 703.292.9153
email: melekoni@nsf.gov

The next preliminary proposal deadline for IOS is January 18, 2013. The current IOS core program solicitation NSF 13-506 can be found here:    nsf.gov - Publications - nsf13506 Division of Integrative Organismal Systems - Core Programs - US National Science Foundation (NSF)

FAQs for the core solicitation can be found here:   http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13009/nsf13009.jsp?

 The Education & Outreach Committee was established in 1997.  The Committee sponsors outreach to educators and the general public through annual presentations at the NABT, SACNAS, and symposia and workshops at the annual meetings of the SSE.  The Committee also supports SSE members for outreach activities (see Awards and Funding opportunities below).

Committee Membership

Statement on Evolution

Resources for Teachers and Students

evoED Digital Library

Awards and Funding Opportunities

Statement on evolution by the Society for the Study of Evolution   
"Evolution" refers both to a set of scientific facts and to a theory explaining such facts. "Evolution" refers to the scientific fact that biological organisms have changed through time, and that all life, including humanity, has descended with modification from common ancestors. Evolution is as well documented as are other currently accepted scientific facts. The theory of evolution is a comprehensive and well-established scientific explanation, based on natural processes, of the fact of biological evolution.

Statement on the teaching of evolution by the Society for the Study of Evolution
Evolutionary theory should be taught in public schools because it is one of the most important scientific theories ever generated, and because it is the accepted scientific explanation for the diversity of life. As a scientific theory, it is testable and has been extensively tested. As stated by the great geneticist and evolutionist Theodosius Dobzhansky, "Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution." The theory of evolution is subject to refinements and revisions, but this is no different from any other major scientific theory, such as those providing the explanatory frameworks of geology, physics, or chemistry. There is no pedagogical or scientific reason to treat evolutionary theory any differently than any other well-accepted scientific theory, and it should be taught in public schools as the firmly established, accepted unifying scientific principle that it is.

To learn more about the evidence for and importance of evolution to a variety of scientific questions see the white paper "Evolution, Science, and Society."

The National Academy of Sciences Report on "Science and Creationism” states unequivocally that "creationism has no place in any science curriculum at any level...This booklet explores the nature of science, reviews the evidence for the origin of the universe and earth, and explains the current scientific understanding of biological evolution."

Statements by other scientific societies

Other scientific societies

Evolution Societies

American Society of Naturalists
Association pour l'Etude de l'Evolution Biologique
Australasian Evolution Society
Biologia Evolutiva em Portugal
Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution
Ecological Genetics Group
European Society for Evolutionary Biology
European Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology
Fachgruppe Evolutionsbiologie der Deutschen Zoologischen Gesellschaft
Human Behavior and Evolution Society
International Organization of Systematic and Evolutionary Biology
International Society for Behavioral Ecology
International Society for Evolutionary Protistology
Linnean Society
Sociedad Española de Biología Evolutiva
Societa' Italiana di Biologia Evoluzionistica
Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution
Verband deutscher Biologen

Genetics Societies

American Genetic Association
Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences
Genetics Society
Genetics Society of America
Genetics Society of Australia
Sociedade Brasileira de Genética

Paleontology and Geology Societies

Geological Society of America
Paläontologische Gesellschaft
Paleontological Society
Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Systematics Societies

Bay Area Biosystematists
Gesellschaft für Biologische Systematik
Polish Taxonomical Society
Société Française de Systématique
Society of Australian Systematic Botanists
Society of Systematic Biologists
Swiss Systematics Society
Systematics Association
Systematics Association of New Zealand
Willi Hennig Society

Resources for Teaching Evolution

Programs, Courses and Workshops for Teachers

Additional Resources

Other Organizations

International Evolution Education

Resources for Teaching Evolution

There are a number of excellent websites and organizations that provide extensive resources for teaching evolutionary biology:

• Course Source: http://www.coursesource.org/
  An open-access journal of peer-reviewed teaching resources for undergraduate biological sciences.

• Evo-Ed Cases: http://www.evo-ed.org/
  A set of online case studies that “track the evolution of traits from their origination in DNA mutation, to the production of different proteins, to the fixation of alternate macroscopic phenotypes in reproductively isolated populations.”

• Evolution: Education and Outreach: https://evolution-outreach.springeropen.com/
  An open access journal that “promotes accurate understanding and comprehensive teaching of evolutionary theory for a wide audience.”

• HHMI Biointeractive: https://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/evolution-collection
  A collection of short films, online activities, lecture series, and classroom activities for learning evolution.

• National Center for Science Education  https://ncse.com/
  NCSE is a nonprofit that “defends the integrity of science education against ideological interference. We work with teachers, parents, scientists, and concerned citizens at the local, state, and national levels to ensure that topics including evolution and climate change are taught accurately, honestly, and confidently.”

• NCSEteach: Program in which participants receive strategies for teaching evolution, classroom materials, professional development resources, and priority access to NCSE programs and sponsored activities. https://ncse.com/signup-ncseteach

• Scientist in the Classroom: A program that allows “teachers and scientists to collaborate as colleagues, peers and partners in the scientific enterprise to further science education.” https://ncse.com/scientistinclassroom

• Dealing with Denial: Specific strategies for addressing the challenges that can come with teaching climate change and evolution in the classroom. https://ncse.com/dealingwithdenial

• Classroom Resources: An extensive list of resources for both teaching and learning more about science, evolution, climate change, and more. https://ncse.com/classroom-resources

• PBS Evolution Series: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/educators/course/index.html 
  A set of videos and online activities lessons and activities for learning and teaching evolution.

• Sensory Ecology & Evolution Games: http://www.sensoryecology.com/games/
  A variety of citizen science games, where you help researchers better understand vision and camouflage, while learning about evolution along the way.

• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: http://humanorigins.si.edu/education/teaching-evolution-through-human-examples
  A set of four curriculum units for Advanced Placement (AP) Biology classes, aligned to the learning objectives, using human case studies to teach core evolutionary principles.

• Understanding Evolution:  http://evolution.berkeley.edu/
  An extensive set of materials and resources for teaching K-12 and undergraduate students about evolution.

• Understanding Science:  http://undsci.berkeley.edu/
  An extensive set of materials and resources for teaching K-12 and undergraduate students about science.

Programs, Courses and Workshops for Teachers

• American Museum of Natural History Seminars on Science: http://www.amnh.org/learn-teach/seminars-on-science/courses/evolution
  Seminars on Science is the American Museum of Natural History’s online professional learning program for educators. The program offers six-week online graduate courses in the life, Earth, and physical sciences.

• Evolution Education: http://www.evolutioned.org/
  Building a new model for K-12 science education based on teacher participation in scientific discovery.  Teachers can apply to be fellows and receive training and opportunities to participate in field work.

• Think Evolution: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/about/institute16.php
  Summer Institute for Science Educators by the University of California Museum of Paleontology

Additional Resources

• AAAS Project 2061: Benchmarks for Scientific Literacy: http://www.project2061.org/publications/bsl/online/index.php?home=true
  “Benchmarks specifies how students should progress toward science literacy, recommending what they should know and be able to do by the time they reach certain grade levels."
  
  

• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Biointeractive: http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive
  Multimedia resources that are designed to bring the excitement of scientific discovery to K16 classrooms.

• Scientists Promoting Evolution Education in Cincinnati (SPEEC): http://www.artsci.uc.edu/departments/biology/education_resources/speec/default.html
  A group of researchers who visit K-12 classes, provide assistance and workshops for teachers, and serve as spokespeople to the local media.

Other Organizations

• BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action: https://www.beacon-center.org/ 
  The BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action is an NSF Science and Technology Center founded with the mission of illuminating and harnessing the power of evolution in action to advance science and technology and benefit society.

• National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT): https://www.nabt.org/
  The National Association of Biology Teachers empowers educators to provide the best possible biology and life science education for all students.

• National Center for Science Education (NCSE): https://ncse.com/
  NCSE is a nonprofit that “defends the integrity of science education against ideological interference. We work with teachers, parents, scientists, and concerned citizens at the local, state, and national levels to ensure that topics including evolution and climate change are taught accurately, honestly, and confidently.”

• Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS): http://sacnas.org/
  SACNAS is “an inclusive organization dedicated to fostering the success of Chicano/Hispanic and Native American scientists, from college students to professionals, in attaining advanced degrees, careers, and positions of leadership in STEM.”

International Evolution Education Organisations

EvoKE: EvoKE aims to assess Europe's understanding of evolution and form a collaborative platform for new projects.

Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE): The Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) is the UK’s leading independent advocate for science and engineering. Our mission is to ensure that the UK has the skills, funding and policies to enable science and engineering to thrive.

Humanists UK lead a campaign to get teaching of ‘evolution not creationism’ into the National Curriculum and the teaching of this subject to primary as well as high school children. Their campaign succeeded and was adopted into the National Curriculum in 2015.

The Evolution annual meetings are held jointly by the Society for the Study of Evolution, the American Society of Naturalists and the Society of Systematic Biologists. 

Next Meeting:
Evolution 2013
Meeting and Conference Center
Snowbird, Utah, USA
June 21-25, 2013 Add text here ...

Past Meetings
2003 - Chico, CA
2004 - Fort Collins, CO
2005 - Fairbanks, AK
2006 - Stony Brook, NY
2007 - Christchurch, NZ
2008 - Minneapolis, Minnesota
2009 - Moscow, Idaho
2010 - Portland, OR
2011 - Norman, OK
2012 - Ottawa

Scott Edwards

Editor’s Reports

Evolution, Volume 65, 2011

Dear SSE Membership,

I hope you’ve recovered sufficiently from what can only be described as a fabulous annual meeting in Ottawa.  I write to update you on a few issues of relevance to the SSE membership and, as always, to ask you informally to let us know if you have thoughts as to how the Society could improve its service to its members.  I also wanted to let you know that the trouble we were experiencing with online access to Evolution has been resolved. 

Most importantly, here’s an update on our upcoming annual meetings. Save the date!! Next year we will meet in Snowbird, Utah from June 21-25.  The meeting organization is in the capable hands of past SSE Executive Vice President Charlie Fenster and details will be posted on the SSE web site soon.

In 2014, we will meet in Raleigh, North Carolina from 20 – 25 June for a meeting co-organized by the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent).  This will be NESCent’s last year of funding from NSF and we look forward to celebrating its remarkable contributions to the evolutionary community and beyond, and to helping it navigate its future.

Beyond 2014 we have no firm commitments for our annual meetings, so please step up if you are at all interested! There is a possibility under consideration that the 2015 meetings will be held in Brazil, but it is not confirmed yet. One of my goals as SSE President was to increase the international impact of the Society and help build bridges with nations where evolutionary studies are growing.  SSE has an important role to play in the advancement of evolutionary biology globally, and indeed we already support many overseas activities of nascent evolution societies and workshops through our international program.  Our last truly ‘overseas’ meeting was in New Zealand in 2007 and we expect to have in place some funding for US and other graduate students to attend any overseas meeting we organize, because we recognize that such meetings can be costly to one of our key constituents, graduate students. So stay tuned.

The results of several awards given out at the annual meeting in Ottawa are now posted on the SSE web site http://www.evolutionsociety.org/awards.asp.  Congratulations again to our award winners!  Also, the a complete video of the 2012 address by David Quammen, the 2012 Stephen Jay Gould Award winner, is available on the web site.  Take a moment to listen and watch again the many inspiring messages from this address.  The SSE council is currently discussing and exploring possible ways to involve graduate students in the council's activities and deliberations.  The Council envisions graduate students as an excellent and long-overdue conduit to the opinions and perspectives of our student members, which form the bulk of SSE membership. 

In other news, Evolution Editor-in-Chief Daphne Fairbairn has summarized the activities of the journal for 2011 and this REPORT has been placed on www.evolutionsociety.org behind the member log in.  There are some really interesting trends and perspectives in this Editor’s report, so I encourage you to take a look.  One of our two handling editors, Lynda Delph, will be stepping down at the end of 2012, and Jeff Conner from Michigan State University has accepted our invitation to fill this position for the coming three years.  Jeff studies plant evolutionary genetics and genomics, and the journal will benefit from his expertise.  We thank Jeff for his willingness to serve in this important capacity.

As always the Society is challenged by membership issues and competes with the many other ways in which members can spend their funds and time.  The current membership is 2590 and, while stable over the last few years, this number waxes and wanes with the location of the annual meeting.  For example, our membership numbers are up over 100 members from last year at this time, perhaps in part due to the exciting draw of the Ottawa meeting.  The SSE Council is keenly aware that the Society needs to deliver attractive products and services for its membership if we are to retain members and remain viable, and in addition to publishing Evolution and organizing the annual meeting we are constantly searching for ways to serve the membership better (for example, through research awards for graduate students).  We welcome your suggestions and look forward to another year of growth and exciting scholarly exchange for SSE!

Best wishes,
Scott

Scott Edwards  |  President
Society for the Study of Evolution
SSE Business Office 4475 Castleman Avenue
www.evolutionsociety.org

Dear SSE Colleagues:

We have checked our records and found that you HAVE NOT RENEWED your membership in the Society for the Study of Evolution for 2012.  I encourage you to renew today to continue to receive SSE member benefits such as our e-newsletters, updates, discounted meeting registration, access to Evolution, and SSE awards.  Take a few moments and renew online right now: https://payments.evolutionsociety.org/joinsse/

To view a brief program to help with your travel planning, visit: http://www.confersense.ca/Evolution2012/program.htm