Laerm Award

Dr. Joshua Laerm - A Remembrance

About the Laerm Award

The Georgia Museum of Natural History provides Joshua Laerm Academic Support Awards annually. These awards support undergraduate and graduate studies in natural history by students currently enrolled at the University of Georgia. Studies that may be supported include but are not limited to field or collection-oriented research in archaeology, behavioral biology, ecology, ethnobiology, evolutionary biology, geology, paleontology, systematics, wildlife biology, zoology, or any other work which fits within a broad interest in evolutionary processes and the relationships between organisms, including humans, in the natural world. Requests may be for supplies, equipment, publication costs, travel, or other costs associated with field or collection-oriented research and disseminating the results. 

Awards are competitive. They are made each year on the basis of a proposal for graduate students, and a nomination for undergraduates. The graduate proposal is submitted by the student and should outline the methods, expected results, relevant literature, and budget justification. Undergraduate nominations are judged separately from graduate applications and receive a separate award. The call for graduate proposals and undergraduate nominations is announced during Fall Semester. Funds awarded must be used within one year of the award and conform to University accounting procedures.

Only pdf submissions will be accepted. Send pdfs of undergraduate nominations and graduate applications to Elizabeth Reitz (ereitz@uga.edu). Letters of support from graduate students’ major professors may be sent separately to the same address or attached to the graduate student’s application. Electronic submissions must be received before NOON on Friday, October 11, 2024. Applications must be complete to be considered.
 

Contributions

Contributions in support of the Georgia Museum of Natural History are tax deductible and apply toward the Presidents Club. Checks should be made payable to the University of Georgia Foundation and sent to the Museum. Please indicate whether your gift is for the Laerm Academic Support Fund, Friends of GMNH, or one of our other targeted funds such as the Collection Endowment Fund. For gifts by credit card, stocks, or estate please contact Johnie Tucker at 706-542-1388 or by email at jptucker@uga.edu. The Museum is grateful for contributions to the Laerm Academic Support Fund that make this Award possible. 

Information for Students

The Joshua Laerm Academic Support Fund offers financial awards for the purpose of supporting your studies in natural history. Studies that may be supported include but are not limited to: field or collection-oriented research in archaeology, behavioral biology, ecology, ethnobiology, evolutionary biology, geology, paleontology, systematics, wildlife biology, zoology, or any other work which fits within a broad interest in evolutionary processes and the relationships between organisms, including humans, in the natural world. 

Proposals are judged on the basis of significance of the research, the feasibility of the study in terms of schedule and budget, the quality of the proposal itself, the scientific merits of the work, and its appropriateness to the Georgia Museum of Natural History's mission and goals. 

Requests may be for supplies, equipment, publishing, travel or other costs associated with field or collection-oriented research and disseminating the results of said research. Applicants may request a maximum amount of money that will be announced near the deadline date (See below for this year's amount). Students may only submit one application per academic year but may receive support more than once if all requirements have been completed for the first award. Awards for travel to meetings will only be considered if the student will be presenting a paper or poster as senior author. 

Eligibility:

Any University of Georgia student. Student must have completed one semester and be currently enrolled to be eligible. For clarification or questions, contact Dr. Elizabeth J. Reitz, ereitz@uga.edu. 

Deadlines:

Graduate Application

Undergraduate Application