American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
Helen and Frederick Gaige Fund Awards
Award Announcement
Gaige Awards are presented annually in honor of Frederick (Dick) and Helen Gaige, both of whom lived during the years 1890–1976. Dick Gaige, an entomologist, was also an avid herpetological collector and was director of the Museum of Zoology at the University of Michigan from 1928–1945. Helen Gaige was a herpetologist with an interest in Neotropical frogs. She served as herpetological editor of Copeia from 1930–1937 and as editor-in-chief from 1937–1950. This unsurpassed editorial service earned Helen the title of Honorary ASIH President for Herpetology in 1946. The Gaiges showed a lively interest in colleagues and students and, through their helpfulness to others, were a major influence in biology in the United States and on herpetology in particular.
Applications are solicited for grants to be awarded from the Gaige Fund. These funds are used to provide support to student herpetologists for museum or laboratory study, travel, fieldwork, or any other activity that will effectively enhance their professional careers by contributing to the science of herpetology.
Applicants must be members of ASIH and should be enrolled in an advanced degree program. Individual awards are typically in the range of $400–1000 and will be awarded on the basis of both merit and need. Because of limited funds, previous awardees requesting additional funding for the same or a similar project will be given lower priority than students who have not received Gaige funds.
Students will be notified of the status of their application by 1 May 2025, and the award checks will be issued by the Treasurer. Certificates and checks will be mailed to the winners before the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists and will be announced at the Business and Awards Meeting during the Annual Meeting of the ASIH.
To Apply
Applications for the Gaige Award and letters of recommendation should be sent as PDFs (email attachments) to the 2025 Gaige Award Chairperson, Dr. Anna Savage (Anna.Savage@ucf.edu). The application should consist of no more than two single-spaced, typewritten pages (12-point font, reasonable margins) and must include the following:
Name, email address, mailing address, and telephone numbers of the applicant (if this information is not included, you will not be eligible for an award);
Institutional affiliation;
Academic degree being sought and the year of its expected completion, or highest degree and its date of award;
Name of the applicant's current or most recent major professor;
Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of two persons who have agreed to recommend the applicant and proposal (see below);
Title of the proposed research;
Concise description of the proposed investigation including the general research objectives, hypothesis/question, and methods of study (see below);
Sources and amounts of partial support for the research and pending applications for support and amounts from other sources;
Prioritized budget outline not exceeding the range of typical awards;
Short statement of the way in which the award would be used to enhance research.
A Literature Cited section should be appended (this section does not count as part of the two-page limit). In recent years, successful proposals were carefully prepared, well written, and complete with two letters of recommendation. Award-winning proposals had one or more clearly described central hypotheses/questions that were likely to be answered, at least in part, by completing the proposed research. Importantly, proposals that framed their specific questions within a broader biological context were consistently highly ranked.
Two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant and his or her research must be solicited by the applicant. One of these letters should be from the current major professor. Both letters should be from reputable scientists, preferably herpetologists, and should include statements concerning the following:
Competence of the applicant;
Significance of the applicant's research;
Desirability of and need for the funds being requested by the applicant.
The applicant should request that each letter be sent directly to the Gaige Award Chair Dr. Anna Savage (Anna.Savage@ucf.edu) in electronic form (PDF).
The application and letters of recommendation must be received by the committee chairperson by 11:59 pm, 8 March 2025. Incomplete applications or lack of ASIH dues payment by this date disqualifies the application.
Past Winners
-
2023
Guillermo Garcia Costoya
Jack K. Dirck
Rachel Gutner
Jonathan Huie
Brandon R. Kong
Vanessa Marshall
Morgan Muell
Jenna Noel Palmisano
Michael A. Reynolds -
2022
Annelise Blanchette
Michael Deutsch
Alexis Hamous
Autumn Holley
Alondra Medina Charriez
Travis Rainey
Rysa Thomas
Savannah Weaver -
2021
Hannah Bow
Oceane Da Cunha
Sarah Lamar
Brittany Maldonado
Alexandra Martin
Chelsea Martin
Haley Moniz
Oleksandra Oskyrko -
2020
Kaitlyn Campbell
Connor French
Maggie Grundler
Joshua Hallas
Kyle Jaynes
Thomas Radomski
Joseph Redinger
Jill Sanderson
Brian Tornabene -
2019
Justin Agan
Nicholas Buss
Michael Itgen
Dylan Maag
Katherine Martin
Kenzie Pereira
Jackson Roberts
Trevor Ruppert
Veronica Urgiles -
2018
Anthony Breitenbach
John Capano
Grace Capshaw
Nerine Constant
Thomas Firneno
David Haskins
Iris Holmes
Zachary Lange
Brendan Pinto
Simon Scarpetta
Levi Storks -
2017
Katie Allen
Gareth Blakemore
Meaghan Clark
Matthew Dickson
Devin DiGiacopo
Jessica Reimche
Danielle Rivera
Hannes Schraft
Alexandra Sumarli
Stephen Zozaya -
2016
Bennett Hardy
Clay Noss
Amanda Wilson Carter
Sean Harrington
Christopher Robinson
Brian Waldron
Sara McClelland
Milinda Thompson
Amanda Cicchion
Alex Shepach
Nicole White
Vanessa Young
Jennifer McKenzie
Rachel Wilson -
2015
Clare Adams - $500
Michael A. Carlo - $500
E. Anne Chambers - $500
Kristin L. Charles - $500
Andrew Frank - $500
Tyler D. Hoskins - $500
Eric J. Gangloff - $500
Gillian C. Larson - $500
Marta P. Lyons - $500
John G. Phillips - $500
Eric Riddell - $500
Scott L. Travers - $500 -
2014
Michael Britton - $500
Danielle H. Drabeck - $500
Meredith Fox - $500
Leah Jacobs - $500
Sandy Kawano - $500
Melissa A. Miller- $500
Ryan Seddon - $500
Jessica Thomas - $500
Denita M. Weeks - $500
Kristin M. Winchell - $500 -
2013
Anna Davis - $500
Drew Davis - $500
Hilary Edgington - $500
Shane Hanlon - $500
Matthew Holding - $500
Jessie Tanner - $500
Rebecca Tarvin - $500
Jennifer Tennessen - $500
Michelle Thompson - $500
Kyle Weichert - $500 -
2012
Catherine Dayger - $500
Robert Denton - $500
Maggie Hantak - $500
Kayla Hardwick - $500
Christina Howard - $500
Justin Lawrence - $500
Russell Ligon - $500
Gail McCormick - $500
Samantha Rumschlag - $500
Jason Warner - $500 -
2011
Bradley Carlson - $500
Timothy Clay - $500
Maxwell B. Joseph - $500
Susan King - $500
Tara Pelletier - $500
Enrique Santoyo Brito - $500
Lindsay Swierk - $500
Beck Wehrle - $500
Melissa Youngquist - $500
Adrienne Zillmann - $500 -
2010
Andrea Acevedo - $500
Simone Des Roches - $500
Caitlin Fisher-Reid - $500
Julius Frazier - $500
Elaine Klein - $500
Amy Luxbacher - $500
Heather Shaffery - $500
Michael Steffen - $500
Christopher Thawley - $500
Denita Weeks - $500 -
2009
Barb Banbury - $500
Jesse Delia - $500
Christopher A. Distel - $500
Jacqueline M. Doyle - $500
Maya Groner - $500
A. Justin Nowakowski - $500
Nicholas B. Pollock - $500
Michael Reichert - $500
Kelsey E. Reider - $500
Yoel E. Stuart - $500 -
2008
Sarah Becker - $500
Jennifer Chang - $500
Sandra Galeano - $500
Robert Hegna - $500
Sarah Hellmuth - $500
Adam Leland - $500
Mike Osbourne - $500
Beth Petitt - $500
Gabrielle Radik - $500
Brooke Talley - $500 -
2007
Karen M. Benyo - $500
Bhart-Anjan S. Bhullar - $500
Brittny Calsbeek - $500
Krista P. Coquia - $500
Heather Cunningham - $500
Emily A. Gardner - $500
Casey A. Gilman - $500
Rachel M. Goodman - $500
Matthew L. Niemiller - $500
John Perterson - $500 -
2006
Philip Bergmann - $500
Jennifer Curtis - $500
Matt Gifford - $500
Myra Hughey - $500
Ali Rabatsky - $500
Julie Ray - $500
Gabriel Rivera - $500
Rebecca Symula - $500
Maria Thaker - $500
Nathan Turnbough - $500 -
2005
Lelena Avila - $500
Nathan Calder - $500
Jena Chojnowski - $500
Paula Kahn - $500
Dana Koscinski - $500
Gregory Pauly - $500
Daniel Rabosky - $500
Jennifer Sheridan - $500
Justin Touchon - $500
Jessa Watters - $500 -
2004
Venetia S. Briggs - $500
Alessandro Catenazzi - $500
Kamelia Fallahpour - $500
Raymond A. Hernandez - $500 (funds declined)
Lesley T. Lancaster - $500
Deborah I. Lutterschmidt - $500
Suzanne McGaugh - $500
Nancy M. Schoeppner - $500
C. Tristan Stayton - $500
Daniel A. Warner - $500 -
2003
Diana L. Andres - $500
Matt Brandley - $500
Ammon Corl - $500
Alison Davis - $500
Andrew Giordano - $500
Alison McCombe - $500
Mason Ryan - $500
Geoffrey Sorrell - $500
Jennifer Weist - $500
Steven Whitfield - $500 -
2002
Lynn M. Almli - $500
Ronald M. Bonett - $500
David Chapple - $500
Alison M. Hamilton - $500
Robyn Konvalinka - $500
Kenneth H. Kozak - $500
Day Ligon - $500
Melissa A. Pilgrim - $500
Chelsa Ward - $500
Heather Waye - $500 -
2001
Tomasz Owerkowicz - $500
Michael Ruddo - $500
Ryan O'Donnell - $500
Lauren Chan - $500
Valerie Simon - $500
Christopher Leary - $500
Aaron Krochmal - $500
Becky Williams - $500
Shannon O'Grady - $500
Jessica Stapley - $500 -
2000
Erika Adams - $500
Ryan Calsbeck - $500
John Neidzweicki - $500
Catherine A. Palmer - $500
Kelly M. Passek - $500
Vanessa S. Quinn - $500
Jeanne M. Robertson - $500
Betsie B. Rothermel - $500
Luis Schiesari - $500
Christine E. Todd - $500
Patricia Zaradic - $500 -
1999
Travis Ryan - $500
Andrew Crawford - $500
Michael Alfaro - $500
Kirsten Nicholoson - $500
Rachel Bowden - $500
Sharon Downes - $500
Carrie Morjan - $500
Pamela Elf - $500
Mike McCay - $500
Sarah Smith - $500 -
1998
Michael J. Angilletta - $500
Rafe Brown - $500
Sharon Downes - $500
Maureen Kearney - $500
Meredith J. Mahoney - $500
Jeanne M. Serb - $500
Rachel Willard - $500 -
1997
Louise M. Armstrong - $500
W. Anthony Frankino - $500
Nathan J. Kley - $500
Matthew Klukowski - $500
Dusti K. Timanus - $500
Stephanie M. Welter - $500 -
1996
Melissa D. Dills - $500
Robert E. Espinoza - $500
Matthew F. Meyer - $500
Steve Phelps - $500
R. Mark Waters - $500
Tim Watkins - $500 -
1995
Todd S. Cambell - $500
David Bickford - $500
Maura Maple - $500
Adam P. Summers - $500 -
1994
Paul E. Brunkow - $500
Robert E. Espinoza - $500
Johannes Foufopoulos - $500
Christopher R. Tracy - $500 -
1993
Alistar J. Cullum - $525
Frank R. Hensley - $350
Rosemary Knapp - $525
Karen M. Warkentin - $525
Tifmothy B. Watkins - $525 -
1992
Allison Abbell - $500
Raymond J. Clark - $500
Tyrone Hayes - $500
John J. Wiens - $500
Kelly Zamudio - $500 -
1991
Brian P. Butterfield - $260
Robert St. Clair - $250
Kevin A. Dixon - $260
Glenn P. Gerber - $220
Anna Graybeal - $300
Karen R. Lips - $300
Devin A. Reese - $285
Geoffrey R. Smith - $250
William A. Velhagen - $125 -
1990
Gregory Haenel - $385
Vincent A. Cobb - $385
Christopher Schneider - $385
Howard Whiteman - $385
Calvin A. Porter - $390
Rusty Gonser - $385
Stephen M. Secor - $385 -
1989
Daniel Seufert - $600
Richard King - $400
William Wagner - $600
Joseph Bernardo - $250
Tod Reeder - $400
Frederic K. Janzen - $250 -
1988
Jonathan B. Losos - $265
Charles C. Peterson - $350
Matthew S. Rand - $260
Roger Ellis Roudebush, Jr. - $375
Rafael O. De Sa - $250 -
1987
Allison Collins - $425
Diana Hews - $425
David Pfennig - $250
Alan de Queiroz - $250
John Beck, Jr. - $250 -
1986
John L. Carr - $400
Brian T. Henen - $600
Byron S. Wilson - $600
Linda C. Zimmerman - $200 -
1985
Stephen C. Adolph - $200
Mac F. Given - $450
Carole L. Hom - $450
Frances J. Irish - $400
Michael J. Lannoo - $200
Barry R. Sinervo - $80 -
1984
John Crawford - $854
J. Ellen Marsden - $370
Martha K. Pancak - $500
Joyce S. Tsuji - $461
Thomas D. Kocher - $300
Trip Lamb - $1500 -
1983
Gary L. Breitenbach - $1500
Glenn Flores - $800
Ellen M. Daley - $700
Brian C. Bock - $633
David W. Jansen - $434 -
1982
Bruce Waldman - $1200
Steven D. Werman - $1200
Richard B. King - $200
David W. Jansen - $200
Joseph C. Mitchell - $287 -
1981
Carol A. Beuchat - $1250
Daniel S. Townsend - $750 -
1980
Carol A. Beuchat - $340
Thomas J. Berger - $540
Benjamin E. Dial - $90
Donald G. Kephart - $590 -
1979
Patricia H.Lehrer - $600
Charles R. Peterson - $575
Mary J. Packard - $150
Gordon Rodda - $500
Michael J. Ryan - $400
R. D. Stevenson - $1300
Bruce Waldman - $400