Louis Agassiz Fuertes Award

Each year, the Wilson Ornithological Society offers four categories of research grant. The focus of each differs somewhat, as does the amount of the award. Willingness to report results of the research as an oral or poster paper at an annual meeting of the Wilson Ornithological Society within the next five years and provide a brief write-up and a photograph of the awardees for the webpage is also a condition of all grants.

Louis Agassiz Fuertes Grants

The Wilson Society’s most prestigious award is available to all ornithologists, although graduate students and young professionals are preferred. Any avian research is eligible. Up to two awards of $5000 are given annually.

A complete application consists of:

1. Application form

A. Provide the information requested below.

2. Proposal application guidelines – all documents must be combined into a single pdf file in the order listed below.

A. Proposal

1. Formatting requirements: The body of the proposal is limited to three 21.6 x 28 cm (8 1/2 x 11 in) pages, with 2.5 cm (1 in) margins and 12-point, double-spaced typeface. This page limit does NOT include the budget, literature cited, or tables and figures sections. Please keep tables and figures to a minimum.

2. Title

3. Abstract: (about 100 words)

4. Introduction: Provide relevant background information. Clearly state the objectives of your study and state a research hypothesis or specific research goals. Proposals must state how your research will contribute to the advancement of ornithology, including how your work will answer ornithological questions from the literature, and how it will stimulate new questions for future studies. Include a statement of how the Wilson Ornithological Society grant will benefit this research and what alternatives will be sought if you do not receive Wilson

Ornithological Society funding. Include a time frame within which you expect to complete the project.

5. Methods: Proposals must provide information on research methodology, analytical methods (including statistical treatments) and the locality where the research will be conducted. Write this section for reviewers who may know little about specific methodologies in your field. If your research involves obtaining permits or capturing live animals, make it clear that you have obtained, or have initiated the process of securing permits and/or necessary Animal Care and Use training documents.

6. Budget: Be specific and follow the monetary limits of the award(s) for which you are applying. Appropriate budget items include: research related travel, expendable supplies and equipment, field expenses and stipends. If applying from a university, indirect costs will NOT be provided. List budget items separately and indicate if you are applying for funding from other sources.

7. Literature Cited: List all references cited in the body of the proposal, using the citation format of the Wilson Journal of Ornithology. The literature cited section does not count as part of the proposal page limit.