Libbie H. Hyman Memorial Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology
Libbie H. Hyman Memorial Scholarship: 2027 Summer Field Station Season
Administered by the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology’s Division of Invertebrate Zoology, this scholarship honors Libbie H. Hyman, one of America’s foremost invertebrate zoologists. It provides financial assistance for coursework or research on invertebrates at a marine, freshwater, or terrestrial field station. The award is intended to support a student’s first meaningful field-station experience.
- Supports in-person field-station coursework or research on invertebrates.
- Designed for advanced undergraduate and early graduate students.
Eligibility and Award Parameters
Applicants must be undergraduates or graduate students currently enrolled in a degree program; SICB membership is not required. Priority is given to advanced undergraduates and early graduate students, particularly those pursuing their first significant field-station experience. Funding is limited to eligible coursework or research based at a field station, and awards are intended for in-person experiences. Recipients are expected to share a brief account of their experience in the SICB Division of Invertebrate Zoology newsletter.
Previous recipients: Prior recipients are not eligible to apply again unless exceptional circumstances affected the use of their award and the scholarship committee chair approves their re-eligibility.
Award value and budget: Most awards range from $1,000 to $5,000. Applicants should provide a complete, detailed budget, even if the requested amount exceeds $5,000.
Changes to planned activities: Funds cannot be transferred to alternative activities. If unforeseen circumstances prevent a recipient from completing the proposed experience, they must notify the scholarship committee. The committee will review the situation; if the funds cannot be used for an eligible experience, they will be retained by SICB, and the recipient may apply in a future funding cycle, subject to the eligibility requirements.
- Applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program.
- Funding does not support fieldwork that is not based at a field station.
- Priority is given to applicants seeking their first significant field-station experience.
How to Apply
Applicants must submit the online application and all required supporting materials by the deadline. A complete application includes a proposal, transcripts, and two faculty reference letters. The student must write the proposal, although they may seek advice from their major professor. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that recommenders submit their letters on time.
Proposal: Use the proposal form provided on the application page and complete every required field. Explain how the proposed field-station coursework or research relates to your career goals and what you hope to gain from the experience. The proposal must be written by the student; do not use AI to write it. Proofread the application before submitting it.
Transcripts: Upload official or unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts as a single PDF no larger than 2 MB. Graduate student applicants must include transcripts from both their graduate and undergraduate programs.
Letters of recommendation: Two faculty members must submit letters using the online recommendation form. Applicants must give recommenders the upload link; they will not receive it automatically. Recommenders must enter the exact email address used in the student’s application so the system can match each letter to the correct application. Applicants will receive an email notification when each letter is submitted.
- Submit the application, transcripts, and both reference letters electronically.
- Confirm that all materials are received by the deadline.
- Contact the webmaster by email if you have trouble using the proposal form.
Application Timeline
The deadline for applications, transcripts, and supporting letters is in February 2027. The exact closing date is not specified in the provided information. Applicants will be notified of award decisions by March 19, 2027.
- Application materials due: February 2027.
- Award notifications: by March 19, 2027.