Chadwick Lewis Memorial Grant
The Tennessee Herpetological Society invites applications for the 2022 THS Chadwick Lewis Memorial Grant for projects that will directly or indirectly conserve the reptiles and amphibians of Tennessee, increase scientific knowledge, or educate others about the importance of Tennessee's reptiles and amphibians.
This $1000.00 award is open to any Tennessee student with a reptile- and/or amphibian-related project. The project can already be underway if the grant would adequately enhance it.
Grant recipients are required to present their research (either a progress report or final report) at a subsequent annual meeting of the THS (meeting registration will be waived for that year). The grant recipient will also be required to submit a hard copy of the final report and any other reports assisted by the award of this grant. The grant recipient will include in any reports a Letter of Acknowledgement recognizing the award of the THS Chad Lewis Memorial Grant.
To apply, please:
1) Submit a proposal using the google form below (see Proposal Details).
2) Have a mentor/supervisor send a single letter of recommendation directly to the current society president.
Deadline:
The deadline for the 2022 THS Chadwick Lewis Memorial Grant is September 8, 2022
Proposal Details:
Submit your proposal using the following link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScKIv6aTLejGPQneZBcXPuSpCuS4P0ye38nwdgIZpY-bHIc5Q/viewform
In the submission form you will need to address these five criteria (note the character limits):
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Describe the question to be answered, problem to be addressed, and/or objectives of the research (1200 character limit including spaces and punctuation).
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Describe the methods that will be used to address the question, problem, or objectives, including a projected timeline for the work (1200 character limit including spaces and punctuation).
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Describe the expected results, the significance of the work, and how it may relate to or benefit reptiles and amphibians in Tennessee (1500 character limit including spaces and punctuation).
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Describe your qualifications and those of your mentor/ supervisor (if applicable) and how they are appropriate for the proposed work (500 character limit including spaces and punctuation).
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Provide a total cost for the project, the funds available, and how the the Chad Lewis Grant will be used to fully or partially cover the expenses (500 character limit including spaces and punctuation).
You may wish to construct your responses in a word document first and then paste them into the form.
Award Selection Criteria
Applications shall be judged by the THS Chad Lewis Memorial Grant committee on a point system with a maximum score of 100 points. The application receiving the highest score will be the recipient of the grant. New submittals shall be given preference over recurring proposals.
Criteria for judging applications will be:
-- Clarity of proposal, 5 points max
-- Originality of proposal, 10 points max
-- Significance of problem addressed, 15 points max
-- Adequacy of project design, 10 points max
-- Adequacy of experience/training, 5 points max
-- Adequacy of professional guidance, 5 points max
-- Financial need, 10 points max
-- Chance for achieving objectives, 10 points max
-- Potential benefit to the species/resource, 20 points max
-- Potential for advancing career/studies, 10 points max
Total 100 points
Previous winners of the Chadwick Lewis Memorial Grant
2010 - Chris O'Bryan, Austin Peay
Investigating the In Situ Presence of Ranavirus in Amphibian Populations in West Tennessee.
2010 - Nathan Haislip, University of Tennessee-Knoxville
A Laboratory Study of Environmental Stressors and Their Effects on the Susceptibility of Amphibian Larvae to the Widespread Pathogen, Ranavirus.
2011 - Stephen Nelson, University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Assessment of the Prevalence of Ranavirus in Northern Water Snakes (Nerodia sipedon sipedon).
2012 - Amanda Allison, University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Distinctiveness and Diversity of Bacteria Associated with Salamander Skin.
2013 - Mark Dillard, University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Box Turtle Movements/ telemetry
2014 - Cassie Dresser, University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Assessement of Mixed Source Reintroduction Strategies: A Case Study from a Bog Turtle Management Program.
2015 - Carson Lillard, University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Pathogens vs. Pesticides: The Threat to Eastern Hellbenders.
2016 - Aubree Hill, Tennessee State University
Inhibition of Chytridiomycosis by Cutaneous Microbiota of Plethodontid Salamanders.
2017 - Nicole Witzel, Tennessee State University
Detecting the Presence and Abundance of Streamside Salamanders (Ambystoma barbouri) in Middle Tennessee using Environmental DNA
2018 Emma Zeitler, University of the South
Do Tertiary Treatment Wetlands also Provide High-quality Wildlife Habitat?
2018 - Shawn Snyder, Tennessee State University
Detection and Habitat Modeling for the State Threatened Western Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius streckeri) in Tennessee.
2019 - Amy Turpin, Maryville College
Nest-site selection of an isolated population Bog Turtles (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) in Johnson County, Tennessee '
2019 - Emily Nolan, Tennessee State University
Characterization of the cutaneous bacterial microbiome of Eastern Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) before and after translocation
2021 - Alexis Hamous, Middle Tennessee State University
Gestation Site Selection in the Common Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon)
2021 - Carlin Frost, Tennessee State University
Spatial Ecology and Habitat Use of Pygmy Rattlesnakes in Tennessee River Valley Hardwood Forests
2021 - Rosemary Ronca, Appalachian State
Quantifying Ecological Parameters and Dietary Niche of a Southern Appalachian Endemic, Weller’s Salamander (Plethodon welleri)
2022 - Julia Thulander, Tennessee Tech University
Analysis of the Phenotypic and Genotypic Adaptations to Warmer Temperatures of Ambystoma barbouri during Early Development
2023 - Kalin Ferguson, Virginia Tech
The Influence of Seasonal Precipitation on Nest Site Fidelity and Annual Population Fluctuations of Four-toed Salamanders (Hemidactylium scutatum)
2024 - Maxwell Ramey, Appalachian State University
Life History and Demography of Plethodon aureoles
2024 - Bailey Sauls, Appalachian State University
Determining niche overlap of two woodland salamanders in Great Smoky Mountains