Undergraduate Excellence in Paleontology

The Association for Women Geoscientists is pleased to announce the Undergraduate Excellence in Paleontology Award competition. The award, which consists of a $1000 cash prize and membership in the Paleontological Society and AWG for tenure of the awardee’s schooling, will be presented to an outstanding female student pursuing a career in paleontology. This award was made possible by the generous donations of David Watkins and Mary Anne Holmes.

Please review the qualifications and procedures outlined on the Application Form. All applicationmaterials must be received by April 15th. Late applications will not be accepted. Application materials and any questions may be sent to goldring@awg.org. Please title your email subject line with “Undergraduate Paleo Award – Applicant’s Name.” The winner will be notified in May and the award will be distributed in early summer.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Applicants must be women pursuing education as an undergraduate student in the paleontological – and affiliated – sciences at a degree-granting institution.
2. Applicant must be enrolled as a student during the period of the award.
3. Proof of student status in the form of transcripts (official or unofficial) must be provided.
4. Successful applicants will exhibit exceptional motivation, professional potential, outreach, and long-term commitment to goals.
5. Students may receive the Winifred Goldring Award only once during the tenure of their graduate school careers.
6. No prior AWG or PS membership is required.
7. National or international students are allowed to apply, with the exception of sanctioned countries.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

AWG must receive the following materials by April 15th as a single, complete PDF packet:

1. Completed application form with details of name, school, e-mail (see online).
2. Unofficial or official transcripts reflecting academic performance in current degree program. Student ID numbers or Social Security numbers MUST BE blacked out.
3. Any applications submitted without blacking out this information will not be considered.
4. One-page (limit of 500 words) personal statement. This statement should discuss how the applicant became interested in paleontology, her long-term career plans and goals, current and future research interests in paleontology, and any extracurricular activities related to the realization of her goals. Curriculum vitae. We will accept a variety of formats, as long as it is clear and dated in order from most recent to past experiences. Please do not exceed more than 5 pages for your CV. For more information on formatting CV’s, visit: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/641/01/. In your CV, please include any applicable publications, meeting abstracts, extracurricular activities, professional development activities, awards and honors, grants, GPA, and relevant work experience. Do not include coursework or courses, as those will be covered on your transcripts.

In addition to the packet above, AWG must receive one letter of recommendation from faculty or other scientific mentors on departmental or official letterhead. All letters of recommendation should be sent directly to goldring@awg.org, and should address the following criteria:

1. The types and amount of experience the recommender has had with the applicant.
2. Her current and future contributions to paleontology and the broader community.
3. The applicant’s potential for future success in a paleontological field.
4. The applicant strengths/weaknesses in leadership, intellectual merit, academic achievement, character, community involvement, etc.
5. Any circumstances that may influence the applicant’s academic record that may not reflect the student’s full potential.

AWARD REQUIREMENTS

1. Annual report (250 words or less) submitted to the Award Committee describing her academic/research progress and any related outreach. The report is due at the end of the first year of the award and annually thereafter until the applicant has completed her current academic degree program.
2. Personal statement (500 words or less) and photograph submitted to Gaea in the first year of the award, describing her interests in paleontology.
3. Every attempt made to attend the AWG Breakfast and Paleontological Society Dinner at the annual Geological Society of America meeting in the first year of the award, during which the applicant will be recognized for her accomplishments.