Five Bucknell students win seven national research awards in botany

Bucknell undergraduates were recently announced as winners of three highly selective research-related awards in the plant sciences. The five Bucknellians are co-mentored by Dr. Chris Martine, David Burpee Professor, and Dr. Tanisha Williams, Burpee Postdoctoral Fellow.

The Botanical Society of America (BSA) has chosen Anais Barnes '22, Jeff Heim '21 and Claire Marino '23 as three of the twelve winners of the 2021 Undergraduate Student Research Award, a student grants program requiring a proposal and letter of support. The award to Heim helped him finish up his senior project, while the awards to Barnes and Marino will support their work as Bucknell Summer Research Fellows.

The selection of these students means that Bucknell undergrads have now received this competitive award 19 times since 2013.

Link for Undergrad Research Award: https://botany.org/home/awards/awards-for-students/bsaundergraduatestudentresearchawards.html

The BSA has also selected Heim (Cell Bio and Biochemistry), Jonathan Hayes (Biology '21) and Heather Wetreich (Biology '21) for the Young Botanist Award, an award for individual recognition of outstanding graduating seniors in the plant sciences. Nineteen students were selected this year from institutions across North America based on a review of student achievement evident from resumes and letters of recommendation. Bucknell students have now been recognized with this award 17 times.

Link for Young Botanist: https://botany.org/home/awards/awards-for-students/bsayoungbotanistawards.html

Hayes (from Mifflinburg, PA) was also selected for the Undergraduate Research Prize, the American Society of Plant Taxonomists' annual recognition of an outstanding and independent research project in the field of plant systematics. Hayes' work using population genetics to assess the conservation status of a rare Pennsylvania grass called river-oats was successfully defended as his Honors Thesis in April and will go out for journal publication this summer. Hayes is the sixth Bucknellian to win this highly-coveted award.

The seven awards will be presented in July as part of the virtual Botany 2021 conference, initially planned for Boise, Idaho. Eight members of the Martine Lab are due to participate in the conference and present research talks or posters.

"What an incredible outcome for our students," said Martine. "It's been a really tough year for student research, with most of their work happening remotely or under strict COVID-19 safety protocols. But these awards are a clear indication of their persistence, talents, and grit. Dr. Williams and I couldn't be more proud."

To view these students click here: https://bucknell.meritpages.com/achievements/Five-Bucknell-students-win-seven-national-research-awards-in-botany/136555