Applied Ecological Services, Inc.
Wisconsin Office
17921 Smith Road,
P. O. Box 256
Brodhead, WI 53520
Phone: 608.897.8641
Voicemail: 608.897.4898
AES Fax: 608.897.8486
TCRN Fax: 608.897.2044
Info@AppliedEco.com

Illinois Office
120 West Main St
W. Dundee, IL 60118
Phone: 847.844.9385
Fax: 847.844.8759
Info.il@AppliedEco.com

Kansas City Office
1904 Elm Street
Eudora, KS 66025
Phone 785.542.3090
Fax 785.542.3570
Info.ks@AppliedEco.com

Minnesota Office
21938 Mushtown Rd
Prior Lake, MN 55372
Phone: 952.447.1919
Fax: 952.447.1920
Info.mn@AppliedEco.com

East Coast Office
1100 E. Hector Street Suite #398
Conshohocken, PA 19428
Phone: 610.238.9088
Info.pa@AppliedEco.com

Graduate Student Research Assistance Program

We regret to inform interested applicants that we will not be offering new grants in 2008. We encourage you to check back in 2009 as we expect to renew our grant program at that time.

Applied Ecological Services, Inc. (AES) is a broad-based ecological consulting, contracting and restoration firm that was founded in 1978. Our staff of experienced scientists and project managers is adept at tackling difficult and unique environmental problems on a variety of scales. AES has been the principal ecological consultant in many diverse, large-scale restoration and site remediation projects, including creative developments and beneficial reuse projects that have drawn national acclaim. We believe it is essential to support the perpetuation of ecological sciences through graduate research.

Goals and Objectives:

The primary goal of the AES graduate student research assistance program is to provide funds to support master's and doctoral thesis research relating to conservation biology, ecology, environmental sciences, and natural resource issues, broadly defined to include issues in biological, hydrological, atmospheric and ecological sciences at universities in the United States of America. The primary objective of this program is to increase the involvement of students in the mitigation and restoration of habitats by stimulating original research, especially research embodying multi-disciplinary approaches that mitigate anthropomorphic impact. Proposals involving areas not covered above that have a socio-ecological application or are biological investigations not traditionally associated with the study of environmental problems are particularly encouraged. The maximum award that each proposal may receive is $2,500.00 annually. No student may receive the award for more than three consecutive years on the same proposal. Proposals requesting funding for consecutive years need to submit one proposal and continuing support will follow each subsequent year after the receipt of the annual progress report.

The specific objectives of this grant are to:

Support graduate student research projects that are judged to be of excellence;
Provide opportunities for the training of future researchers in the area of ecological, environmental and conservation sciences:
Assist in the communication of research results both within and beyond the academic community;
Contribute useable research that is applicable to the ecological sciences, including the area of restoration ecology;
Identify individuals for potential employment opportunities in the private sector.

Description:

A research project is defined as a sustained research activity, shaped by objectives and hypotheses for the advancement of knowledge. In pursuit of the overall objectives, a specific research approach and method are advanced, the research proceeds, and findings are made and reported. AES grants are assessed in terms of their probable significance as a contribution to knowledge in a particular field or discipline.

Application:

Eligible graduate students that are admitted and enrolled at their institution are invited to submit a research proposal and the grant application form by January 1 for consideration. Applications are adjudicated and are awarded through a competitive process. There is no guarantee of funding. Announcement of the awards will be made by February 15.

AES strongly encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to participate fully in this grants program.

Proposal Development:

We advise students to work with their graduate advisor and faculty members to develop their proposals. Proposals must follow exact guidelines or they will not be considered. Proposals should include:

Application Cover Page
Title Page & Abstract not to exceed 300 words
Introduction that includes a brief review of relevant literature, objectives and scientific significance
Description of Methodology (include detail adequate to evaluate the probability of project completion)
Literature Cited
Budget
Resume/Curriculum Vitae

Proposal should be written in a 12-point font with single spacing between lines and double spacing between paragraphs and at least 1-inch margins. Proposals should be a maximum of 5 pages, excluding the cover page, literature cited and budget. Appendices are allowed to include any figures, tables, graphs or maps that are relevant to the proposal. A resume/curriculum vitae (cv) of up to 2 pages should be included. Each applicant must submit the original application and proposals and two legible photocopies. It is imperative that all copies be legible, especially appendices, as they must be distributed to the members of the Committee on Research Grants. Only proposals submitted via the listed mail address will be accepted.

The budget should list the amount required to conduct the actual project, regardless of what AES can supply. Please include other sources of funding received or expected. Provide the actual costs of the task as a line item. It is not necessary to individually break down each expense. AES Committee on Research Grants will review appropriateness of the proposed budget, assessed separately from the research evaluation criteria, and determine the amount to be funded.

Letters of Support:

In addition to the application form, two confidential letters of support are required from the degree major advisor and either an associated faculty member, department chairman or individual involved with the research. It is the applicant's responsibility to coordinate the mailing with those persons submitting a letter on their behalf, and to be sure that the letters arrive in a timely fashion.

AES as Thesis Advisors:

The AES team is comprised of key scientists and restoration practitioners who have made unprecedented contributions to their respective scientific fields. This team has extensive field experience in researching and monitoring a wide array of ecological projects, including a number of Ph.D. and Masters degree level principal investigators with over 20 years of experience. Subsequently, whenever their expertise is beneficial and logistically feasible, various individuals are available to participate as a thesis committee advisor.

Use of Grant Funds:

Grant monies are to be used solely to cover the actual expense incurred while conducting the research. Investigator labor costs and expenses other than a daily per diem will not be funded. The daily per diem is $40.00/ day and is designated to cover the primary investigator's temporary housing expense, e.g. field station housing and meals.

Grant funds are to be used solely for the support of the work described in the grant application approved by the degree major advisor as an authorized agent of the institution. Funds are not to be redirected to activities that are outside the scope of the grant application. All funds must be spent within the 12-month period following receipt of the award.

Grant Conditions:

It is understood that research is unpredictable and may require adaptations in order to follow up on promising insights and hypotheses. The graduate investigator with the approval of the degree major advisor has the discretion to make changes in the emphasis or direction of the research as it progresses as long as these changes are within the overall scope of the grant application. If major changes to the research direction are contemplated, prior approval from the committee should be obtained.

AES reserves the right to make site visits to verify progress of the research and proper use of grant funds. Notification will be given prior to any such visits.

At a minimum, progress reports are due each year on the anniversary date of the award until the grant funds have been fully expended or until the project has reached its conclusion. The report should evaluate the success of the project, areas for potential improvement, and include a brief itemized budget showing how the grant funds were spent.

AES may request that the recipient of the grant present their findings to the AES organization in a formal presentation. AES will reimburse the recipient for all out-of-pocket expenses associated with traveling to present their work. Within 60 days of the thesis defense, a copy (original quality) of the thesis is to be sent to the AES. Future funding requests will not be considered from universities with outstanding requirements as stipulated herein.

Applicants receive copies of all information used to make a decision relating to their application. If unsuccessful, applicants may submit a new application in a subsequent competition.

Publication:

The principal investigator is strongly encouraged to publish the findings of his or her research in the appropriate scientific journals, acknowledging the support of the Applied Ecological Services, Inc. and other donors. It is requested that three reprints of any publications resulting from the research be sent to AES.

Application Submittal

Please use this Application Form. Mail this with the other required forms to the address below. No electronic submittals will be accepted. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible rather than waiting until the deadline.

Proposal Mailing Address:

    Committee on Research Grants
    Applied Ecological Services, Inc.
    17921 Smith Road
    P.O. Box 256
    Brodhead, WI 53520

2006 RECIPIENTS

We are proud to announce the 2006 recipients of the Applied Ecological Services Graduate Student Research Award.

David Coyle, University of Wisconsin
Effects of invasive weevil feeding on forest growth and health.

Rebecca Flanagan, University of Wisconsin
Quantifying the effects of exotic invasive species on the pollination dynamics of native plant communities: a multispecies approach.

2005 RECIPIENTS

We are proud to announce the 2005 recipients of the Applied Ecological Services Graduate Student Research Award.This year there were many competitive proposals requiring substantial scrutiny by the evaluation committee to determine the finalists. We extend our congratulations and support to each recipient and look forward to their continuing research success.

Michael Hillstrom, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Impacts of global environmental change on forest insects communities.

Stacy Neerhof, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Heavy metal adsorption and absorption by macroperiphyton, microperiphyton and suspended algae in urban streams.

Karin Marie Kettenring, University of Minnesota.
Seed germination ecology of Carex spp. in hydologically restored prairie pothole wetlands.

Amy Martin, University of Wisconsin.
Restoring community structure and diversity in planted prairies: The effects of varying seeding densities.

Joesph Mascaro, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
The emergence of novel, exotic - dominated species assemblages in Southern Wisconsin: causes and consequences.

Leanne Marie Vigue, University of Wisconsin.
Effects of CO2 and O3 on soil arthropod communties and litter decompostion.

2004 RECIPIENTS

We are proud to announce the 2004 recipients of the Applied Ecological Services Graduate Student Research Award.

Tricia Benson, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Invertabrate colonization responses to varying levels of riparian canopy and UV radiation in an urban stream.

Michael Hillstrom, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Impacts of global environmental change on forest insects communities.

Andrew Holdsworth, University of Minnesota.
Factors limiting herb layer recovery: deer, exotic earthworms, or propagule supply.

Kathy Hoverman, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Prediction of success for riverine habitat restoration: Giving designers a goal and fish a happy home.

Kathleen Lacasse, University of Minnesota.
What factors influence the invasion of Rhamnus cathartica?

Stacy Neerhof, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Heavy metal adsorption and absorption by macroperiphyton, microperiphyton and suspended algae in urban streams.

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