IACS Junior Researcher Award
This award* is given to continuing PhD graduate students in the fall of their third year, or later in their graduate study, who are conducting full-time research with fulltime support (in the form of RA, TA or other means) and are recognized as outstanding junior researchers by institute faculty or affiliates.
How to apply?
The application consists of a two-step review process:
1. The first round consists of submitting an application, a CV, a 2-page research statement, a letter from your advisor, and a presentation outline.
- The research statement should clearly state how the candidate will advance science in their field of interest and highlight any interdisciplinary aspects to the research. (References are not counted in the 2-page limit.)
- The letter from your advisor should clearly state the contributions you have made to your field and how your research differs from their own. Please note: Only one student per research group can be nominated for this award.
- These documents should be submitted in pdf form to iacs@stonybrook.edu, and the documents will be reviewed by an IACS award committee.
- THE DEADLINE IS JUNE 1 ANNUALLY.
2. If the candidate receives committee approval, he/she moves to the second round of review which is to give a presentation (12 minutes in length) to the IACS review committee, and the candidate should be prepared to take questions after the presentation. A final decision will be made by the review committee once the candidate completes the presentation.
What does the award provide?
This award provides lump-sum payments each semester to ensure that your total combined (Department TA/GA/RA, summer funding, and other awards) annual stipend support reaches $37,000 for one calendar year. In addition to the award, the recipient will have a $4K allowance to be used for research-related expenses such as conference travel and equipment for the duration of their award. This allowance does not reset upon award renewal. (The recipient of the award is responsible for determining if the payments received are taxable or non-taxable income when filing their individual income tax return. It is suggested that the recipient should seek professional advice from the IRS or income tax advisors regarding this matter.)
What are our expectations?
Participation in student organized activities
Attendance at our student and faculty seminar events
Meet with the IACS Director once a year
Mentoring an IACS New Recruit
What are the continuation requirements?
Continuation of the award for another year is subject to availability of funds and is contingent upon an outstanding follow-up evaluation by the student’s advisor as well as another presentation before the IACS Award Committee. Continuation of the award for a second year is also contingent upon the approval of an IACS core or affiliate faculty member as a research supervisor who, if a TA is not available, will pay the full-time department-level Research Assistant (RA) stipend, a strong evaluation by the faculty member, and the availability of funds. Also required is that the student receive no less than a B in any graduate course taken throughout the duration of the academic year in which the award was given along with at least a B+ GPA. The award cannot be extended beyond 2 years. A copy of the student's transcript, the PI's evaluation as well as the outline of the presentation must be sent to iacs@stonybrook.edu by June 1.
*Notes - In order to be eligible for any IACS financial award, all graduate students who joined their research group as of fall 19 or later must have completed the Professional Development Program (PDP) or be currently enrolled.
PAST WINNERS
- 2024
Clare Flynn
Ecology & Evolution 
Ernest Glukhov
Chemistry Meroona Gopang
Public Health 
Kenneth Hanson
Linguistics 
Caitlin Hetherington
Chemistry 
Thomas Knoll
Chemistry 
Mokhwa Lee
Computer Science 
Han Li
Linguistics 
Hao Lin
Sociology 
Naqib Rahimi
Civil Engineering 
Logan Swanson
Linguistics 
Gaurav Verma
Computer Science 
Zhengxiang Wang
Linguistics - 2023
Carole Hall
Applied Mathematics & Statistics Kenneth Hanson
Linguistics Caitlin Hetherington
Chemistry 
Marija Iloska
Electrical & Chemical Engineering Mokhwa Lee
Applied Mathematics & Statistics 
Magdalena Markowska
Linguistics Gaurav Verma
Computer Science - 2022
Rasha Atwi
Materials Science & Chemical Engineering Carole Hall
Ecology & Evolution Marija Iloska
Electrical & Computer Engineering 
Catherine Feldman
Physics & Astronomy Hao Lin
Sociology Magdalena Markowska
Linguistics 
Scott Nelson
Linguistics 
Emma Talis
Ecology & Evolution 
Ziji Zhang
Applied Mathematics and Statistics - 2021
Aaron Gregory
Computer Science 
Alec Wills
Physics & Astronomy Catherine Feldman
Physics & Astronomy 
Dakotah Lambert
Linguistics Emma Talis
Ecology & Evolution Rasha Atwi
Materials Science & Chemical Engineering 
Saeed BoorBoor
Computer Science Scott Nelson
Linguistics Ziji Zhang
Applied Mathematics and Statistics - 2020
Yanzhu Chen
Physics & Astronomy 
Ian Jordan
Neuroscience & Behavior 
Yousef El-Laham
Electrical Engineering 
Xiaoning Wu
Marine & Atmospheric Sciences - 2019
Saeed Boor Boor
Computer Science Yanzhu Chen
Physics & Astronomy 
Sebastian Dick
Physics & Astronomy 
Bhavya Ghai
Computer Science Ian Jordan
Neuroscience & Behavior Yousef El-Laham
Electrical Engineering 
Jonathan Rawski
Linguistics Xiaoning Wu
Marine & Atmospheric Sciences - 2018
Alena Aksenova
Sebastian Dick
Bhavya Ghai
Bento Goncalves
Mikhail Ignatov
Jonathan Rawski
Maria Barrios Sazo
Junting Ye
- 2017
Aditi Ghai
Alena Aksenova
Bento Goncalves
Maria Barrios Sazo
Rathish Das
Zeyang Ye
- 2016
Philip McDowall
Adrian Soto-Cambres
Zeyang Ye
Aditi Ghai
- 2015
Adam Jacobs
Bryan Perozzi
Philip McDowall
Adrian Soto-Cambres
- 2014
Adam Jacobs
Bryan Perozzi
