H. Branch Howe Grant

H. Branch Howe Jr. Biography

Call for Applications

The Georgia Ornithological Society offers graduate student research grants of up to $15,000 in support of ornithological research..

Guidelines for Grant Applicants

1) Applicants must be GOS members to apply for the Howe Graduate Student Research Grant.

2)The applicants, during the grant period, must be enrolled graduate students in the State of Georgia.

3) The research must be primarily ornithological and must be conducted under faculty direction.

4) Preference will be given first to research performed in Georgia; second to that performed in the U.S. outside Georgia; third to that performed in the Americas outside the U.S., especially when involving species moving between North and South America; and then to that performed in other parts of the world.

5) The grant will normally be for a period of 12 months. Application for renewal is permitted. The grant will not fund the grantee's salary, tuition, university overhead, or indirect costs.

6) The grant committee** will determine the amount to be granted per applicant. It may award the entire grantable amount to one applicant (unlikely) or apportion varying amounts among several applicants as it deeM.S. fit.

7) The applicant should state whether he/she can do the necessary work if the amount granted were less than the amount requested.

8) GOS will not award money from both of its graduate student grant sources (i.e., Howe and Terrell) to an individual applicant within the same calendar year. Please state if applicant is also applying for the Terrell Grant.

9) The grant application, not to exceed 10 pages, should include a cover page (with the applicant’s name, email, phone, degree pursuing, and title of the research project), a description of the research project, literature citations, an itemized budget, a statement of other financial support, and a brief resume of the applicant. Two letters of reference, submitted separately, are also required, one of which should be from the directing faculty member.

10) Email grant application and two letters of reference to Bob Cooper: rcooper@warnell.uga.edu

11) The grant application and the letters of reference shall reach the Research Grant Committee via email no later than December 1 each year. The grantees shall be selected by January 31, with the concurrence of the GOS Executive Committee.

12) At the end of the grant period, the grantee is required to submit to the Research Grant Committee a brief written summary of research results and grant expenditures. The grantee is encouraged to present research results to the members of GOS at a semiannual meeting and/or to submit a manuscript to the journal of GOS, The Oriole.

Grant applications will be reviewed and evaluated by a three-person committee (i.e., Howe Grant Committee). The chairperson of this committee shall be appointed by the GOS president. The chairperson shall then appoint two committee members with the concurrence of the president. The committee shall include at least one research scientist. In the event that there is a conflict of interest involving an applicant and a committee member, the committee member shall recuse himself or herself from the review process for that application. If a committee member must be recused, the chairperson or acting chairperson shall recommend a temporary replacement for the president’s concurrence.

All grant applications materials shall be emailed to Bob Cooper: rcooper@warnell.uga.edu

H. Branch Howe, Jr. Graduate Student Research Grants Awarded

2022 -	Kimberly Perez (Ph.D. student), University of Georgia Proposal Title: Finding Ways to Prevent Salmonella Infections in Birds and People Ashley McMahon (Masters student), Georgia College and State University Proposal Title: Population Genetics and Morphometrics of Overwintering Swamp Sparrows (Melospiza georgiana) at Panola Mountain State Park Diane Klement (Masters student), University of Georgia Proposal Title: Linking Avian Demography to Plant Communities through Fine-Scale Space Use
2021 -	Heather Gaya (Ph.D. student), University of Georgia "Survival and Movement of a Declining Species in the Southern Appalachian Mountains" Taylor Miller (Ph.D. student), University of Georgia "Influences of yolk testosterone on immunological development in Eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis)" Michelle Ross (Masters student), Kennesaw State University "Physiological and behavioral impacts of lead on songbirds along urban-to-rural gradient"
2020 -	Heather Gaya, PhD Student, University of Georgia "Investigating the Relative Roles of Abiotic and Biotic Factors on Songbird Range Limits" Lily Martin, M.S. Forestry and Natural Resources Candidate, University of Georgia "Using acoustic spatial capture-recapture to estimate owl population density and the effects of anthropogenic noise in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Georgia" Matthew Tatz, Master of Science Candidate, University of Georgia "The Relationship Between Mercury, Urbanization and Salmonella in the American White Ibis (Eudocimus albus)"
2019 -	Kayla B. Allen, Master of Science in Biology, Georgia College and State University "Reproductive Success of Grassland Birds at Panola Mountain State Park and Jarrell Plantation State Historical Site, GA." James Christopher Leaphart Recommended, PhD Student, University of Georgia "Influence of Methylmercury on the Innate and Acquired Immune Function of Waterfowl Neonates Exposed In Ovo"
2018 -	Kayla B. Allen, Master of Science in Biology, Georgia College and State University "Reproductive Success of Grassland Birds at Panola Mountain State Park and Jarrell Plantation State Historical Site, GA." James Christopher Leaphart, PhD Student, University of Georgia "Influence of Methylmercury on the Innate and Acquired Immune Function of Waterfowl Neonates Exposed In Ovo"
2107 -	Andrea J. Ayala, University of Georgia "Epidemiological and Ecological Factors Influencing Viral Transmission from Backyard Poultry to Wild Resident Birds" Cody M. Cox, Graduate Assistant, University of Georgia "Identifying wintering habitat of Neotropical migratory birds in the upper Guacimal watershed, Costa Rica to inform conservation planning" Anjelika D. Kidd, M.S. Candidate, University of Georgia "Movement Ecology of White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) along an Urbanization Gradient"
2016 -	Heather Abernathy, M.S. Candidate, University of Georgia “Effects of historic Hydroclimate and Isolation on Current Songbird Abundance; Building a Better Predictive Model” Cody Cox, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Georgia "Analyzing occupancy and movements of Neotropical migratory birds wintering in the Corredor Biologico Pajaro Campana, Costa Rica" Angela Hsiung, M.S. Candidate, University of Georgia "Factors influencing migratory propensity of altitudinal migrants within tropical agricultural landscapes in Costa Rica" Betsy Kurimo-Beechuk, M.S. Candidate, University of Georgia "Estimating occupancy and abundance of secretive marsh birds and evaluating the effects of metal contaminants on the health of clapper rails in the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, Jacksonville, Florida" Joel Owen, M.S. Candidate, University of Georgia "Modeling Parrot Nest Site Selection"
2015 -	Heather Abernathy, M.S. Candidate, University of Georgia “Effects of historic Hydroclimate and Isolation on Current Songbird Abundance; Building a Better Predictive Model” Shannon Curry, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Georgia “Public Perceptions of Wild Birds and Bird Feeding Activity in Palm Beach County, Florida” Brigette N. Haram, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Georgia “Identification and Monitoring of Bald Eagle Roosts on a Georgia Reservoir Dominated by Hydrilla verticillate to Investigate Effects of Avian Vacuolar Myelinopathy” Joel Owen, M.S. Candidate, University of Georgia “The Factors Affecting Red-and-Green Macaw Nest Site Selection in Fazenda Boa Vista, Brazil.” Brianna WilliaM.S., M.S. Candidate, University of Georgia “Diversity of Ectoparasites and Haemoparasites of Seabirds on Middleton Island, Alaska and their Impacts on the Health of Birds”
2014 -	Amanda E. Holland, M.S. Candidate, University of Georgia “Environmental Contaminants and Blood Parasite Loads in Black and Turkey Vultures in the Southeastern USA” Andrea J. Ayala, Ph. D Candidate, University of Georgia “Epidemiological and Ecological Factors Influencing Viral Transmission from Backyard Poultry to Wild Resident Birds.” Shannon Curry, M.S. Candidate, University of Georgia “Urban Foraging Impacts on White Ibis Health in Palm Beach County, Florida”
2013 -	Shannon Curry, M.S. candidate, University of Georgia Lauren M. Deaner, M.S. candidate, Georgia Southern University Brigette N. Haram, M.S. candidate, University of Georgia Anna Joy Lehmicke, Ph.D.. candidate, University of Georgia Katie LeAnn Reames, M.S. candidate, Georgia Southern University Abby Sterling, M.S. candidate, University of Georgia
2012 -	Camille Beasley, M.S. candidate, University of Georgia Mason Cline, Ph.D.. candidate, University of Georgia Emily Cornelius, M.S. candidate, University of Georgia Christy Greene, Ph.D.. candidate, GeorgiaState University Brigette N. Haram, M.S. candidate, University of Georgia Clark Jones, Ph.D.. candidate, University of Georgia Ryan A. Malloy, Ph.D.. candidate, University of Georgia Gabrielle L. Robinson, M.S. candidate, University of Georgia
2011 -	Camille Beasley, M.S. candidate, University of Georgia Clark D. Jones, Ph.D.. candidate, University of Georgia Anna Joy Lehmicke, Ph.D.. candidate, University of Georgia Ryan A. Malloy, Ph.D.. candidate, University of Georgia Gabrielle L. Robinson, M.S. candidate, University of Georgia
2010 -	Clark D. Jones, Ph.D.. Candidate, University of Georgia Patti J. Newell, Ph.D.. Candidate, University of Georgia Bryan L. Nuse, Ph.D.. Candidate, University of Georgia
2009 -	Jonathan K. Gray, M.S. Candidate, University of Georgia Brett M. Maley, M.S. Candidate, University of Georgia Catherine E. Ricketts, M.S. Candidate, University of Georgia Kirk W. Stodola, Ph.D.. Candidate, University of Georgia
2008 -	Ryan Malloy, M.S. Candidate, University of Georgia Michael C. Parrish, M.S. Candidate, University of Georgia Kathryn Spear, M.S. candidate, University of Georgia Kirk Stodola, Ph.D. candidate, University of Georgia
2007 -	Dallas Rebecca Ingram, M.S. candidate, Valdosta State University Brandon Noel, Ph.D. candidate, Arkansas State University Kathryn Spear, M.S. candidate, University of Georgia
2006 -	Renee E. Carleton, Ph.D. candidate, University of Georgia Nico Suzanne Dauphine, Ph.D. candidate, University of Georgia Soo Hyung Eo, Ph.D. candidate, University of Georgia Rua Stob, Ph.D. candidate, University of Georgia
2005 -	Nico Suzanne Dauphine, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Georgia Cary Leung, Ph.D. Candidate, Emory University Elizabeth K. Mojica, M.S. candidate, University of Georgia Brandon L. Noel, M.S. candidate, Georgia Southern University
2004 -	Nico Suzanne Dauphine, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Georgia Catharine Bradley, Ph.D. Candidate, Emory University Guo-Jing Weng, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Georgia
2003 -	Wendy Grus, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Michigan Kirsten R. Hazler, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Georgia John B. Sabine, M.S. candidate, University of Georgia
2002 -	Brady J. Mattsson, M.S. candidate, University of Georgia Angela B. McMellen, M.S. candidate, University of Georgia Gina M. Zimmerman, M.S. candidate, Georgia Southern University
2001 -	R. Clay George, M.S. candidate, University of Georgia Elizabeth Wright, M.S. candidate, University of Georgia
2000 -	Kenneth J. Feeley, Ph.D. Candidate, Duke University Scott B. Somershoe, M.S. candidate, Georgia Southern University A. Corrie WilliaM.S., M.S. candidate, Appalachian State University
1999 -	William A. Mackin, Ph.D. Candidate, Univ. of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
1998 -	Stacy A. Lindemann, M.S. candidate, Georgia Southern University Maria A. Whitehead, M.S. candidate, University of Georgia
1997 -	William Benjamin Cash, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Mississippi
1996 -	James C. Major, Jr., Ph.D. Candidate, University of Texas
1995 -	Larkin A. Powell, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Georgia
1994 -	James B. Berdeen, M.S. candidate, University of Georgia
1993 -	R. Terry Chesser, Ph.D. Candidate, Louisiana State University
1992 -	Sara R. Morris, M.S. candidate, Cornell University
1991 -	Dagmar Platt Thurmond, M.S. candidate, University of Georgia