CALL FOR NOMINATIONS:
Jeffery P. La Fage Student Award for Applied Research on Social Insects
Due October 13, 2025
Purpose: To recognize a graduate student for distinguished research and scholarly activity on social insects with an emphasis on applied projects. This annual award was established in memory of Dr. Jeffery Paul La Fage (1945-1989), a Professor of Entomology at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Dr. La Fage studied the biology and control of the invasive subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus.
Nature: The award shall consist of a certificate and a $500 honorarium. The award winner will be announced by November 14, 2025. Information on previous awardees can be found on the IUSSI-NAS website.
Eligibility: The award will be given annually to the Ph.D. student who, in the opinion of the award committee, shows the most distinguished record of research and scholarly activity (i.e., number and quality of published papers, presentations, and related educational activity) on social insects with an applied emphasis. Work addressing control of social insect pests, or fostering beneficial social insects is appropriate, but the research must be aimed at solving an applied problem. Any Ph.D. student member of IUSSI-NAS or the Entomological Society of America may be nominated as long as they have not received a Ph.D. or terminated studies earlier than 12 months prior to the award. Previous award recipients are not eligible for a second award.
Nominations: Nominations may be made by the student or by others familiar with the student’s work. Each nomination must include a single PDF with the following materials:
- Name and curriculum vitae of the nominee.
- Career stage (i.e., a letter from the PI/head of the department or the program confirming eligibility)
- Title and brief description of their research and its significance (not to exceed one page, 12 pt. font, 1-in margins).
- Reprints of no more than three publications or submitted manuscripts.
- Optional: A personal statement on how the award would positively affect the nominee’s career and any obstacles they encountered (not to exceed 200 words).
- Address to which the award should be sent, if granted.
Two letters of recommendation should be sent separately as PDFs on university or company letterhead. Letters should support the intellectual role and independence of the applicant in their research and scholarship, including examples that substantiate the student’s reported achievements.
George C. Eickwort Student Research Award
Due October 13, 2025
Purpose: To recognize distinguished research and scholarly activity by graduate or undergraduate students in the field of social insect biology.
Nature: The award shall consist of a certificate, a $1000 honorarium, and a one-year subscription to Insectes Sociaux if the student does not already have institutional access. The award winner will be announced by November 14, 2025. Information on previous awardees can be found on the IUSSI-NAS website.
Eligibility: The award will be given to the student who in the opinion of the award committee shows the most distinguished record of research and scholarly activity (i.e., number and quality of published papers, presentations, and related educational activity) in the area of social insect biology. Any student member of IUSSI-NAS may be nominated as long as they have not received a Ph.D. or terminated studies earlier than 12 months prior to the award. Students continuing beyond a baccalaureate or master’s degree will remain eligible. Previous award recipients are not eligible for a second award.
Nominations: Nominations may be made by the student or by others familiar with the student’s work. Each nomination must include a single PDF with the following materials:
- Name and curriculum vitae of the nominee.
- Career stage (i.e., a letter from the PI/head of the department or the program confirming eligibility)
- Title and brief description of their research and its significance (not to exceed one page, 12 pt. font, 1-in margins).
- Reprints of no more than three publications or submitted manuscripts.
- Optional: A personal statement on how the award would positively affect the nominee’s career and any obstacles they encountered (not to exceed 200 words).
- Address to which the award should be sent, if granted.
Two letters of recommendation should be sent separately as PDFs on university or company letterhead. Letters should support the intellectual role and independence of the applicant in their research and scholarship, including examples that substantiate the student’s reported achievements.
Documents should be sent to Josh King (awards.nas.iussi@gmail.com), co-chair of the IUSSI-NAS Awards Committee. To receive full consideration, complete applications must be received by October 13, 2025.