American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists

Tree frog, Hyla cinema, photo by J.D. Willson

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