Awards
The Illinois State Academy of Science annually awards grants and makes presentation awards to our student members in support of developing science achievement. In addition, faculty and research members periodically receive special recognition awards.
- Annual competition for student research grants to support research efforts.
- Recognition of excellence for student presentations at the annual meeting.
Scientists have been periodically recognized as ISAS Fellows in recognition of their outstanding service to science and the Academy.
In honor of our 100th year, the Centennial Award was presented to Roger Anderson.
STUDENT RESEARCH GRANTS
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- Competitive grants are awarded annually to Illinois high school, undergraduate, and graduate students who are members of the Illinois State Academy of Science.
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- High school awards are up to $200 each, undergraduate awards are up to $500, each and graduate awards are up to $1,000 each.
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- Online proposals are generally accepted beginning in October each year via the online application portal
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- Awards are announced in December each year, with funding provided no later than January the following year.
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- Previous Student Research Award recipients.
The 2024 application period for 2025 Student Research Grants is October 1 through November 10. Awards will be announced in December 2024, with funding to follow.
Research Grant Recipients
2023 Recipients
Jessica Harris, Eastern Illinois University
The Relationship Between Triclosan Concentration and Antibiotic Resistance Gene Abundances in Central IL Wastewater Treatment
Merve Diler, Eastern Illinois University
The Role of Msx1 and PurA on Fibroblast Identity
Brianna Haase, Eastern Illinois University
Investigation of CH4 Activation on Modified Metalloporphyrin Graphene Sheets
Sahar Rashid, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Does Cigarette Smoke or E-Cigarette Vapors Affect Growth and Biofilm Formation of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans?
STUDENT PRESENTATION AWARDS
Best oral and poster presentations are awarded at each annual meeting.
Abstracts and more information about each presentation is available from our Annual Meetings tab.
Previous Student Presentation Award recipients.
Annual Meeting Presentation Award Recipients
2024 ISAS Recipients
Cellular, Molecular, & Developmental Biology
1st Oral-Grad, Maede Shahin, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville [SLC12 Family Transporters in Schmidtea mediterranea]
1st Oral-UG, Melina Hall, Millikin University [Characterizing the Influence of T3 and T4 on the Efficacy of Two Pro-Apoptotic Cytotoxins]
1st Poster-Grad, Mary Odubote, Eastern Illinois University [Can Liver-Specific Master Regulators Reprogram Fibroblast Cells?]
1st Poster-UG, Seth Stidham, Bradley University [Putative MUS81 Nuclease-Associated Importin Expression and Evaluation During DNA Repair and Conjugation in Tetrahymena thermophila]
2nd Poster-UG, Lauren Lucykow, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville [Investigating an Abnormal Mating Behavior in Schizophyllum commune]
3rd Poster-UG, Nathan Balvanz, University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy St. Louis [Cloning, Expression, and Biochemical Activity of a Small Library of Full-Length and Truncated Plant NADPH-Cytochrome P450 Reductases]
Chemistry & Biochemistry
1st Oral, Seth Eridanus, Millikin University [Quantitatively Determining Amoxicillin Content in Antibiotic Capsules from Limited Resource Countries Using HPLC]
1st Poster-Grad, Egzona Tahiri, Western Illinois University [Synthesis and Application of Macrocyclic Aromatic Tellurides]
2nd Poster-Grad, Ty Ojanovac, Western Illinois University [Development of an Organometallic Chemistry Reaction for Use in a Senior Level Inorganic Laboratory]
3rd Poster-Grad, Briar Hilsabeck, Western Illinois University [Ligand Development for F-Metal Separations]
1st Poster-UG, Shay Adio, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville [On How Nature and Position of Protecting Groups can Direct Sialylation Reactions]
2nd Poster-UG, Anthony Aya, Eastern Illinois University [Photocatalysis for C-N Coupling Reactions]
Computer Science
1st Poster, Amritha Praveen, Adlai Stevenson High School [Early Risk Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Novel Approach to Identifying Biomarkers Using 16S rRNA Gut Microbiome Data]
Engineering & Technology
1st Oral, Anne Claud, Oak Park and River Forest High School [Novel Thermopile System to Increase the Fuel Efficiency of Internal Combustion Engines to Help Mitigate Climate Crisis]
2nd Oral, Dolly Gupta, Illinois State University [Applied Machine Learning Skills for Autonomous Car]
3rd Oral, Sakila Akter Jahan, Illinois State University [Integrating Lean Six Sigma into Project Management for Operational Excellence]
Environmental Science
1st Oral-Grad, Tyler McMahon, Bradley University [Effects of Controlled Burning and Grazing on Macro-Moth Diversity in Illinois Tallgrass Prairie]
1st Oral-UG, Brianna Cook, Bradley University [Landscape of Fear in Mammals in Response to Anthropogenic Hunting Patterns]
1st Poster-Grad, Pragya Sharma, City of Webster Groves (SIUe) [Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories for City Climate Action]
1st Poster-UG, Emily Everett, Bradley University [Mosquito Responses to Fungal Entomopathogens Under Elevated Levels of Carbon Dioxide]
2nd Poster-UG, Harriet Barker, Bradley University [Effects of Urbanization on Macro-Moth Species Composition and Diversity within Urban Parks and Protected Areas in Central Illinois]
Health Sciences
1st Oral-Grad, Brailey Coulter, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville [Hyperthyroidism and Periodontal Disease – Insights from a Mouse Model Study]
1st Oral-UG, Abby Falkof, Oak Park and River Forest High School [The Use of Croton and White Oak Bark Extracts on a Bombyx mori Model as the Basis for Novel Pharmacological Agent to Treat Hyperglycemia]
1st Poster, Madison Webb, Illinois College [Sex-Related Difference of Cognitive Functions among College Soccer Players With and Without Concussion History During Season? Pre vs Post]
Microbiology
1st Oral, Noah Campbell, Oak Park and River Forest High School [Evaluating the Bioremediation Potential of B. licheniformis as a Novel Method for the Passive Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD)]
1st Poster-Grad, Chiemeka Emeribe, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria (WIU) [Biodegradation of Chlorpyrifos Insecticide by Bacillus cereus ST06 and Chryseobacterium sp 6024 Isolated from Agricultural Soil]
2nd Poster-Grad, Mainprice Essuaman, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville [Isolation and Characterization of Phages Specific to Model Amoeba and Insect Microbiome Systems]
1st Poster-UG, Mark Naom & Caden Matthews, Bradley University [Parasite and Diet Effects on American Bullfrog Tadpole Skin Microbiome]
2nd Poster-UG, Diana Guzman, Bradley University [Investigating Regulatory Factors Influencing bcp Gene Expression in Bacillus subtilis Using Transposon Mutagenesis]
Physics, Mathematics, & Astronomy
1st Oral-Grad, Md Mazmul Haque Nihad, Western Illinois University [Quantum Zeros and Ones: Leveraging Quantum Entanglement for Game Strategy Optimization]
1st Oral-UG, Kenneth Van Zuiden, Western Illinois University [Identifying Radio Continuum Controls to Characterize Variability of Methanol Masers in the Orion Nebula]
1st Poster, Mehbuba Rashid Mouri, Western Illinois University [Density Measurements of Binary and Ternary Lead/Bismuth Borate Glasses]
Plant Biology
1st Oral, Sara Kiler, Eastern Illinois University [Optimization of Transformation and Regeneration in the Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) Data, Not Surmise: Weighing the Importance of the Spring and Fall Canopy Light]
Honorable Mention Poster, MyDeja Johnston, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville [A Comparison of Vegetation Diversity Among Southwestern Illinois Sand Prairies]
STEM Education
1st Poster-Grad, Farzana Elaf, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville [ Nitrile Glove Permeability Study: Assessing Protective Effectiveness and Educating Students on Glove Safety]
1st Poster-UG, Yusra Amena & Brenden Auerbach, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville [Students’ Perceptions of Student Experiences in Math Enrichment Sessions]
Zoology
1st Oral-Grad, Patrick Menke, Bradley University [The Effects of Potassium Chloride during Aerial Exposure on Zebra Mussels]
1st Oral-UG, Sophie Dorgan, Millikin University [Repeatability of Corticosterone Stress Response in Songbirds Within and Among Seasons]
1st Poster-Grad, Dylan Krohe, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville [Developing a System to Study Competitive Tool Use in Ants]
1st Poster-UG, Tomi Sewell & Kiki Fisher, Bradley University [The Effect of Substrate Type and Orientation on Zebra Mussel Survival During Aerial Exposure]
2nd Poster-UG, Zachary Renken, Illinois College [The Use of Automated Recorders to Examine Shifting Insectivorous Bat Population Trends in Siloam Springs State Park]
Illinois Junior Academy of Science
1st Poster, Vignesh Tiruvannamalai & Josephine Kim, Illinois Math & Science Academy [DDX18 Plays a Functional Role in the Association of Centromeres and Heterochromatin to the Nucleolus]
2nd Poster, Elizabeth Hubbard, Southeastern Junior High School [Exploring the Environmental Impact of Copper II Sulfate on Dugesia tigrina and Lemna minor]
3rd Poster, Anda Wattanakit, Richwood High School [Thermoelectricity as a Power Source for a Self-Activating Fall Alert Device]