Jeffrey Goessling (above), recipient of The Kenneth Ottis Distinguished Graduate Fellowship

To qualify for this award, the nominee must have demonstrated academic excellence and potential for a professional career in teaching and/or research and their area of study should be in physiology and or molecular biosciences and working on an animal-oriented project.

Here is a sampling of what was said about this year’s awardee by faculty supporters: This graduate student is the epitome of what the Ottis Award embodies.  He is an outstanding graduate student who is well on his way to becoming an important researcher in and contributor to the new field of physiological conservation.  He is extremely smart, always thinking deeply about the literature, asking pertinent big picture questions, and then initiating novel approaches to study a non-traditional model system. He is an excellent all-around person, a dedicated and effective instructor and a top notch, highly productive researcher.

Another said: This candidate is as close to the ideal graduate student as one could hope to recruit.  He has a strong affinity for field biology and is equally adept at physiological ecology.  He is also gregarious, energetic and extremely smart.  He is on a trajectory to become a leading figure in the expanding field of eco-immunology and I am confident that he will be a prized commodity on the job market for academic positions.

 And a third commented: He has devised a research program that combines lab and field studies as well as experimentation with observation.  He has done an outstanding job of publishing and presenting his research and is building a first rate record of researching productivity.

Rebecca Koch (above), recipient of The Margaret McNeal Arant Award in Zoology

This award recognizes a graduate student in zoology who demonstrates outstanding academic achievement, leadership qualities and a strong moral character. 

Here is what was said about this year’s awardee by faculty members who wrote in support of her nomination:  Since joining our department two and half years ago her progress has been exceptional.  She has established a nationally prominent research program and is the lead writing tutor at the Miller Writing Center.  Her research lies at the intersection of ecology, evolutionary biology, and physiology and incorporates the most advanced, cutting edge methods for measuring immune responsiveness and oxidative stress in animals. She has been presenting her work at nationals meetings and publishing her work in top journals.  Since coming to Auburn, she has made 6 presentation at important international meetings, including 4 oral presentation and 2 poster presentations.  She has already published 3 papers in top international journals, two as first author.

Another supporter said: She is a brilliant, highly professional writing consultant and an invaluable part of the AU Miller writing center.  I cannot speak too highly of the work she has done.  She is a fabulous colleague, a tireless advocate for effective writing across the discipline, and a tremendous support to student writers and her fellow tutors.

Charles Thurlow (above), recipient of The Department of Biological Sciences Outstanding GTA Award

The award recognizes exceptional teaching by a graduate student.

Here is what was said about this year’s awardee by faculty and supervisors:  Unlike many other graduate students, this graduate student was adamant about maintaining his duties as a GTA while he is in graduate school.  While carrying his teaching load he is making solid progress on his PhD dissertation, working on a coauthored and a co-first authored manuscript this year.  He has the innate curiosity, the perseverance, the intelligence and the desire to teach others and it is clear that he is very driven to achieve this goal.

Another evaluator said: One measure of his effectiveness as a teacher is how the students perform on the lab practical exams.  When he stepped in, there was a notable increase in the quality of the students work and in the grades on the microscopy portion of the exam.  This is due to his generosity in offering many open lab times after hours so that students can study the slides.

And here is a sampling of the many comments he routinely receives on the evaluations of his teaching:

He always had a good attitude in class and seemed like he enjoyed being there and helping us, not like it was just a job he had to do. 

He is honest, fair and professional.  He knew this material and so I and others could trust him

He is there to do a job and he does it well.  He helps you as much as possible and encourages us and is patient to make sure we get it right.

He is friendly, positive and professional.  He critiques but does not criticize.

And my personal favorite:  He is an expert on the subject and is always in a good mood.  He could have had a funeral to attend that day or a case of appendicitis or something you would never know it.  On the outside with his body language and in his speech he is 100% professional every time!

Richard Mariita (above), recipient of The Joseph Kirby Farrington Memorial Award for academic excellence by a Graduate Student in Microbiology.

This award recognizes graduate students in microbiology who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement.

Here is what was written about our awardee from faculty evaluators:  He is making excellent progress on his degree and already has several abstracts at national and regional meetings.  Because of his scientific skill and strongly collegial and mentoring abilities he is doing a great job in training an undergraduate researcher in my lab. 

Another said:  He is making excellent progress on investigating the microorganisms associated with predatory jellyfish and the impact of seasonality on the distribution of marine microorganisms.  He is very attentive to details, intelligent, hard working and is a credit to our graduate program.

And one more evaluator said:  He has a contagious energy directed toward his education that is really evident when you discuss research with him.  He is very personable, seeks out help from other faculty, and rapidly assimilates and applies new techniques to his research.  He also has a gift for teaching.  When pressed into a new course he never had on the subject, he quickly assimilated and developed a knowledge of the lab material required and was soon presenting two lab lectures each week.  He is a stellar student and an excellent candidate for this award

Harrison Thompson (above), recipient of The Joseph Kirby Farrington memorial Award for academic excellence by an Undergraduate Student in microbiology.

This award recognizes undergraduate students in microbiology who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement.

Here is what was said about this awardee by a faculty member:  This student is in my course this semester and I have found him to be an excellent student and an active participant in the course.  He asks good questions and more importantly he is an excellent colleague to his fellow students.  His table is very interactive and he is an active contributor to the discussions.  He also serves as a tutor through the athletic department and is generous with his time and academic skills.  He has an easy going but confident manner and is an outstanding student and leader

Another faculty member said: He is undoubtedly a bright and promising young man with a perfect 4.0 GPA.  He is involved in many extracurricular activities and has received numerous honors including the Auburn Honors College, induction into Phi Kappa Phi, and served as the second chair violinist in Austria-Czech orchestra tour.

And his employer said:  He as a positive outlook each week and as a true team player takes initiatives to add to the success of the week’s programs.  From working and living with those who are participating in the oncology summer camp he is the best example of a servant leader.  He has a true sense of the value of people.  He sincerely makes an effort to leave a person or place better than when he found it.  He goes the extra mile and gladly accepts opportunities to make a difference in the lives of children with cancer.  He has selflessly helped to further the mission of Camp Rap A Hope

Malorie Hayes (above), recipient of The Department of Biological Sciences Service Award. 

This award recognizes exceptional contributions in service and outreach to the department, College, and university.

Here is what was said about this awardee by a faculty member: This student has been an outstanding departmental citizen and has been a prominent spokesperson regarding graduate student issues.  She served as treasurer and president of the Biological graduate students Associate and she is largely to thank for all of the Auburn biology t-shirts walking around campus.   Her name is one of the few graduate students names that gets brought up in faculty meetings and this a good thing.  She has brought to the attention of the dean that our graduate student stipends are too low.  She has been serving the community through science Olympiad.  For the past 2 years she has served as a coach for teams at Wrights Mill Elementary school.  She also served as a judge at the Science and Engineering Fair, helped with AU Explore, and was a top finalist for the 3 minute thesis.  Whenever there is an open house or simply something that needs to be done in the museum like curatorial tasks, she will be there sharing her time.  We expect our students to excel in teaching and research but service often gets left behind.  This awardee really gives a face to this department not just within the college and university but also in the community.