Opportunities for
Off-Campus Study
in Biology

Through a generous request from the estate of Harry W. and Mary B. Huffnagle, the Biology Department awards support  for summer field experiences such as course work or research at a biological field station (or the equivalent) in the areas of ecology, environmental science, or behavior. Eligible students are BIO majors (including double, joint, and special-studies majors), BMB majors, BFB majors, and ENV SCI majors and ENV STU majors and minors. The scholarship cannot be used during the summer following graduation. The number of awards and their dollar amounts depend each year on the number of applicants, the strengths of the proposals, and the costs of the programs. Therefore, in some cases an individual award may not cover the full cost of the program. Recent awards have been in the range of $500 to $1500.

To learn about good programs at field stations in both the U.S. and other countries, you can take a look at our list of Summer and Off-Campus Opportunities, look at program advertisements posted in the Biology bulletin board (outside LSP140), look at the list of Past Huffnagle Awards (listed below), speak to recent student recipients, and speak to professors. Apply for the field program directly according to its procedures, and apply separately to the Biology Department for the Huffnagle Scholarship.

Contact Professor Joe Thompson for more information.

Submit electronic materials as a PDF or Word Document to Professor Thompson (deadline Mar 31st).  To apply, please submit a concise proposal that includes:

  • For students applying for funds to support traveling to their Summer Scholar research please:
    • Describe the project in one paragraph.
    • Describe the potential impact of the research on your career goals in one paragraph
    • A budget of estimated costs you would incur in TRAVEL to the program. Because Summer Scholars scholars receive a stipend, they are expected to cover their own room & board.
    • A statement of whether you have applied for any other financial assistance for the program. Note, if a call for proposals from the Committee on Grants is made after the Huffnagle deadline, recipients are expected to apply to COG for support for travel. Any funds received from COG may reduce the funds received from the Huffnagle scholarship depending on the portion of the budget funded by the Huffnagle. Applications must include a statement indicating a commitment to apply for COG funding (if a call for proposals is made by COG).
    • A statement that a acknowledges a short report is required within six months of completing the program.
  • For students applying to support a field experience please:
    • Give the  name and brief description of the organization and field station, as well as the course or research experience, for which you are applying. 
    • An explanation of your interest in the program, including past experiences that sparked your interest, and how the program will help you to achieve your educational or career goals.
    • A budget of estimated costs you would incur for the program; for example tuition, round-trip travel, room and board, etc.
    • A statement of whether you have applied for any other financial assistance for the program.
    • A statement of your cumulative GPA and list of courses taken in Biology, BFB, and ENV.
    • A URL at which information can be found.
    • A statement that a acknowledges a short report is required within six months of completing the program.

 

  • Past Huffnagle Scholarship Awards

    2022

    • Hannah Connuck, '23, Glory Edioma, '23, Whitney Wyche, '23, Field Study with Prof. Gotsch, Costa Rica
    • David Jones, '25, William Li, '23, Field Study with Prof. Ardia, New York

    2019

    • Leah Lopez '20, School for Field Studies, Turks and Caicos
    • Guiseppe Inglima '20, Emily Anders '21, Field Study with Prof. Gotsch, Costa Rica
    • Ruby Fries '20, Stephanie Liu '20,  Field study with Prof. Fischer, Canada
    • Hoiyun Lam '22, Anuj Ghimirey '22, Field study with Prof. Okatch, Botswana

    2018

    • Laura Green '19, Field study with Prof. Gotsch, Costa Rica
    • Colleen Lawlor '19, Field study with Prof. Fischer and Prof. Olson, Canadian Rockies
    • Sarah Mirza '20, Field study with Prof. Ardia, Big Horn Mountains, Wyoming
    • Kyla Nitahara '20, Dublin, Ireland

    2017

    • Laura Green '19, Briana Ferguson '18, Field study with Prof. Gotsch, Costa Rica
    • Luke Groff '19, Field study with Prof. Fisher and Prof. Olson, Canadian Rockies 
    • Rebecca Prisco '19, Shoals Marine Lab
    • Yosvany Rodriguez '18, Field study with Prof. Ardia, McCarthy, Alaska

    2016

    • Haley Plante '18, Shelby Sawyer 18, Field study with Prof. Fisher, Canadian Rockies
    • Danae Diaz '18, Field study with Prof. Thompson, Darling Marine Center, Maine
    • Yosvany Rodriguez '18, Field study with Prof. Ardia, McCarthy, Alaska

    2015

    • Ken Davidson '16, Vanessa Duarte '16 Field study with Prof. Gotsch, Costa Rica
    • Molly Lowell '16, Rebhi Rabah '16, Field study with Prof. Fisher, Canadian Rockies
    • Matt Steinwurtzel '16, Marine Turtle Ecology Assessment Program 

    2014

    • Eila Miller '15: Field study with Prof. Fisher, Canadian Rockies
    • Ken Davidson '16, Lex Darby '15, Andrew Glunk '15: Field study with Prof. Gotsch, Costa Rica

    2013

    • Suzanna Talento '14: Field study at the Highlands Biological Station
    • Jin Hwang '14: Field study with Professor Fischer, Canadian Rockies
    • Lex Darby '15Andrew Glunk '15: Field study with Prof. Gotsch, Costa Rica

    2012

    • Nora Theodore '13; Field research with Professor Fischer, Canadian Rockies
    • Mawell Sechzer '14, Hannah Scharf '13, Austin Huffman '13; Field research with Professor Ardia, Ithaca, NY
    • Alex Krupnick '14; Primate Ecology and Behavior course in Costa Rica

    2011

    • Abigail Kucher '13; Marine Mammal Behavior and Cognition Internship at the University of Southern Mississippi
    • Veronica Pickens '13; School for Field Studies, Turks and Caicos
    • Eliana Rabinowitz '14; Field research with Professor Fischer, Canadian Rockies
    • Frederick Zinkhan '12; Field research with Professor Sipe, Wabash College, Indiana

    2010

    • Brandon Morrison '11; Tropical Ecology in the Bahamas in San Salvador (through HACC)
    • Scott Rownd '12; School for Field Studies Summer Program on Sustaining Tropical Ecosystems: Biodiversity Conservation and Development, Costa Rica

    2009

    • Elizabeth Burmester '10; School for Field Studies, Turks and Calcos
    • Rebecca Windsor '10; Organization for Tropical Studies (Duke University), Costa Rica

    2008

    • Brian Gill '09; School for Field Studies, Costa Rica

    2007

    • Audrey Koid '09; Belize Global Learning Programs

    2006

    • Caitlin Halligan '08; Primate Behavior and Ecology course at La Suerte, Costa Rica
    • Bryan Teschke '07; Reef to Rainforest program, Belize
    • Angela Werner '07; Earthwatch Institute program on Queen Conch conservation; Belize

    2005

    • Christi Walsh '06; Coastal Wetlands, Mexico

    2004

    • Philip Salko '04; Maui, HI

    2003

    • Megan Brace '04: Primate Behavior, Ecology, and Biology courses, Ometepe Biological Field Station, Nicaragua.
    • Jo Wern Goh '05: Ionian Dolphin Research Project, Island of Kalamos, Greece.

    2002

    • Corynne Mulcahy '04: Community Wildlife Management course, School for Field Studies, Kenya.
    • Shannon Stephens '03: Balinese Macaque Project, Indonesia.
    • Ariel White '04: Field Work in Animal Behavior course, South Africa and Kenya.

    2001

    • Karen Hippe '03: Biology of the Rainforest course, La Suerte Biological Field Station, Costa Rica.
    • Erin Sipe '03: Ecology courses, Flathead Lake Biological Station, Montana.
    • Megan Walsh '02: Marine Parks Management course, School for Field Studies, South Caicos Island, West Indies.

    2000

    • Anthony Sigismondo '01: Underwater Research course, Shoals Marine Laboratory, New Hampshire.