Grants
Cofrin Center for Biodiversity Grants
Overview
We offer exciting, annual student grant opportunities that provide funds for students to gain experience in the fields of ecology, biology, geology, water chemistry, environmental policy, exercise fitness, photography, and art. Funds awarded to undergraduate or graduate students are used to complete a research project in collaboration with a UW-Green Bay faculty member. Students may propose to work on a new project of interest to them or help fund existing work (e.g., master's thesis). A student may apply to any one of our four student grant opportunities, as described below:
1 - Cofrin Student Research Grant
The proposed student project must take place at one or more of the six UW-Green Bay Natural Areas (Cofrin Memorial Arboretum, Kingfisher Farm, Peninsula Center, Point au Sable, Wequiock Creek, and Toft Point) and contribute to our understanding of these special places. Cofrin Student Research Grants are made possible thanks to a generous endowment from the family of Dr. David Cofrin and the late John Cofrin. Since this grant opportunity was founded in 1989, this program has supported nearly 200 graduate and undergraduate researchers at UW-Green Bay. View our list of past completed projects by other students.
2 - Krischan Grant for Botanical Research
This grant is named in memory of Thomas Krischan, donated by his widowed wife. This grant supports students conducting botany-related research that supports management and conservation of Toft Point Natural Area. Projects must strive to increase botanical knowledge of plant species at Toft Point as their major goal. Acceptable topics include plant biodiversity surveys, invasive plant control, plant population genetics, microbial and mycorrhizal associations with plants, pollination, plant predation, plant competition, plant pathology, or similar topics.
3 - Friends of Toft Point Grant
This grant supports students conducting traditional ecological research, as well as research or activities that support the human dimensions of conservation at Toft Point Natural Area. Acceptable projects include traditional research in ecology, conservation biology, or biodiversity research, sociology, and archaeology as well as projects related to environmental history, literature, or art that support the management, history, aesthetic appreciation of Toft Point Natural Area.
4 - Roy and Charlotte Lukes Research Award
This research award commemorates the important contributions to conservation and environmental education by Roy and Charlotte Lukes, two of Wisconsin’s most influential and beloved naturalists. The award was created by a generous endowment from West Bend philanthropist Ron Horn. The Roy and Charlotte Lukes Research Award will extend the legacy and unselfish values that these two important Door County leaders have championed for >50 years.
The Roy and Charlotte Lukes Research Award is available to support conservation research in Door County, WI by a student enrolled or employed by UW-Green Bay. Preference will be given to student research at the Toft Point Natural Area and the surrounding Door Peninsula Coastal Wetlands, designated in 2015 as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. In addition to fostering original research on the natural history, ecology, and biodiversity conservation of Toft Point and Door County, this annual award is intended to provide valuable hands-on research opportunities for students.
Eligibility
Any undergraduate or graduate student enrolled at any UW-Green Bay campus may apply.
Deadlines
- April 15 - Grant applications due to biodiversity@uwgb.edu
- May 1 - Applicants will be notified of the decision
- March or April (of following year) - Grant recipients are required to present at the annual Cofrin Student Research Grant Symposium
- May 1 (of following year) - Grant recipients are required to turn in an archive of the project (e.g., raw data files, photographs, metadata), borrowed or purchased equipment (unless otherwise instructed), and a final report to the Cofrin Center's Data Manager.
How Awarded Funds May Be Used
Awarded funds on the order of $500-$1,000 may be used for travel expenses, equipment, or supplies. In many cases, we provide a stipend (not exceeding $700) to awarded recipients, though we request that a stipend not be included in the application's budget.
How to Apply
Download our instructions on how to apply and view this past proposal as an example for more guidance on writing the proposal. If you have questions, please reach out to us at biodiversity@uwgb.edu.
Natural and Applied Sciences Heirloom Plant Fund Student Research Grants
Overview
Enrolled graduate students in the UW-Green Bay Environmental Science and Policy program are eligible to apply for NAS Heirloom Plant Student Funds to support an independent research project. Undergraduate students with an interest in environmental sciences may also apply, though graduate student projects are prioritized. Students may be awarded up to $1,000 for graduate research projects and up to $500 for undergraduate research projects. To learn more, visit the Heirloom Plant Fund website.
Data Requests
Student, faculty, and others may view our list of past projects and request final reports or presentations from the Data Manager at biodiversity@uwgb.edu. In the future we plan to make these reports and presentations available for download on the web, though some are available through the UW-Green Bay Cofrin Library's Phoenix Research Collection.