Entomology Graduate Student Awards and Grants

Terms of the Awards

Berly: $5,000/year in supplemental support; 

Creighton: $3,000/year in supplemental support

• Awards are for one year
• Awards are open to new applicants and enrolled students in both the M.S. and Ph.D. programs
• Award is administered by the Entomology Awards Committee 

Submission Requirements

New program applicants should submit research prospectus (one page maximum) as part of their application's personal statement, including:

• Identification and background on a problem in entomology,
• Questions and hypotheses to be addressed,
• Research methods and field sites or facilities to be utilized.
• Complete applications must be submitted to the Graduate School by January 15 each year (for consideration for a Fall award)

Enrolled entomology students should submit:

• Research prospectus (guidelines as above),
• Updated checklist of program requirements,
• Courses completed and grades received for degree requirements.
• Materials should be submitted to the chair of the Entomology Awards Committee by January 15 to be judged concurrently with new applicants.

Dr. Ted Adkins was an Entomology faculty member at Clemson University for 28 years specializing in medical and veterinary entomology. He was recognized nationally for his work in forensics to which he devoted his full effort when he retired. He was known for the energy and passion he brought to his work, and for his affable and generous nature. While he enjoyed great success in his research, Dr. Adkins always said his students were his greatest accomplishment.

Terms of the Award

$500-1,000 annually depending on availability of funding

• Awarded on a competitive basis to a student enrolled in the Entomology Graduate Program conducting research in medical, veterinary or forensic entomology
• Recipient is asked to send a note of thanks to Mrs. Joyce Adkins upon award notification
• Award is administered by the Graduate Advisory Committee 

Submission Requirements

To be considered for the award, interested enrolled Entomology graduate students should submit the following items in a single, electronic file by the deadline:

• Statement of Research (no more than 2 pages)
• Curriculum Vitae
• Graduate Transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable)
• A brief report on results from past Entomology Award funding, if any
• Up-to-date Entomology Graduate Program Checklist – no funding will be granted to a student who has not met the deadlines for their degree program.

Dr. King was a professor in the Entomology Department from 1957 until retirement in 1982. His enthusiasm for the study of insects because of their inherent interest, his love of teaching, and his demands for excellence led many students to rewarding careers in entomology. He was an avid illustrator of insect subjects and natural history.

The purpose of the King fund is to provide grants-in-aid to advance student professional activities and research in basic entomological sciences. Grants of $500-$1,000 per proposal are available depending on availability of funding.

Terms of the award:

• Awarded on a competitive basis to students enrolled in the Entomology Graduate Program
• A proposal may be submitted for support from either the King or Nettles program, but not both
• Funds may be requested for the purchase of equipment (to remain the property of Clemson University), supplies, research travel, services, publication costs, and similar expenses but may not be used for student salary, wages, or fringe benefits
• Recipients are asked to send a note of thanks to the King family upon notification of funding
• Funding is administered by the Graduate Advisory Committee

Submission Requirements

To be considered for an award, interested enrolled Entomology graduate students should submit the following items in a single, electronic file by the deadline:

Cover sheet, indicating which fund is sought and the amount requested. Cover sheet must include:

• Title of the project
• Your name
• Grant for which you are applying
• Requested amount
• A brief project summary including a statement of how the funds will fulfill a professional, research or developmental need

Project description (5 pages maximum, 2-line spacing, and no smaller than 11-point font.) The project description should include the following sections:

• Introduction
• A brief report on results from past Entomology Award funding, if any
• Objectives
• Methods, procedures, or approach to be taken
• Proposed outcome of project
• Schedule for accomplishment (within one year of award)
• Budget with a notation of current or pending support from other sources
• Available facilities and equipment
• References Cited, if applicable
• Curriculum Vitae (11-point font)
• Budget (detailed); if other funds are available to partially support activity, indicate this on your request
• Budget Justification
• Current and Pending support for the project, if any
• Available Facilities and Equipment (adequacy of resources)
• Up-to-date Entomology Graduate Program Checklist – no funding will be granted to a student who has not met the deadlines for their degree program.

Dr. Carl Nettles served Entomology from 1928 until retirement in 1972.  His work includes an extensive collection of economically important insects and diseases.   He is responsible for the excellent tradition of entomology extension at Clemson University, specializing in the control of insects of agricultural importance in SC.

The purpose of the Nettles fund is to provide grants-in-aid to advance student professional activities and research in applied entomological sciences. Grants of $500-$1,000 per proposal are available depending on availability of funding.

Terms of the award:

• Awarded on a competitive basis to students enrolled in the Entomology Graduate Program
• A proposal may be submitted for support from either the Nettles or King program, but not both
• Funds may be requested for the purchase of equipment (to remain the property of Clemson University), supplies, research travel, services, publication costs, and similar expenses but may not be used for student salary, wages, or fringe benefits
• Recipients are asked to send a note of thanks to the Nettles family upon notification of funding
• Funding is administered by the Graduate Advisory Committee

Submission Requirements

To be considered for one of the awards, interested enrolled Entomology graduate students should submit the following items in a single, electronic file by the deadline:

Cover sheet, indicating which fund is sought and the amount requested. Cover sheet must include:

• Title of the project
• Your name
• Grant for which you are applying
• Requested amount
• A brief project summary including a statement of how the funds will fulfill a professional, research or developmental need

Project description (5 pages maximum, 2-line spacing, and no smaller than 11-point font.) The project description should include the following sections:

• Introduction
• A brief report on results from past Entomology Award funding, if any
• Objectives
• Methods, procedures, or approach to be taken
• Proposed outcome of project
• Schedule for accomplishment (within one year of award)
• Budget with a notation of current or pending support from other sources
• Available facilities and equipment
• References Cited, if applicable
• Curriculum Vitae (11-point font)
• Budget (detailed); if other funds are available to partially support activity, indicate this on your request
• Budget Justification
• Current and Pending support for the project, if any
• Available Facilities and Equipment (adequacy of resources)
• Up-to-date Entomology Graduate Program Checklist – no funding will be granted to a student who has not met the deadlines for their degree program.

The bequest is from the Nettles’ children in honor of their parents. Mrs. Nettles was an accomplished artist and china painter, and Mr. Nettles was an Extension Entomologist at Clemson University beginning in 1933, although he was employed at Clemson by 1928. When Mr. Nettles retired in 1972, he held the longest continuous service record in the School of Agriculture and nationally as an Extension Entomologist-Plant Pathologist.

The funds are intended to support professional development for entomology students. Up to 50% of the available funds are designated to support travel to meetings at which an Entomology student will be engaged in professional activities such as presenting a research paper. Proposals are funded for up to $1500 depending on availability of funding.

Terms of the Award:

• Awarded on a competitive basis to a student enrolled in the Entomology Graduate Program for expenses incurred for travel to regional, national, or international meetings at which the student engages in an activity before an audience of professionals, e.g. presenting a paper or poster, or as a participant on a panel, debate, or competitive team
• Funds may be requested up to the full amount of travel
• Registration fees may not be requested for a meeting at which the fee may be waived in lieu of volunteer service
• Students may request funding for more than one meeting in a given calendar year if the terms of the award are met. Students will be asked to sign a letter of agreement acknowledging that receipt of funding is contingent upon availability of funds and their fulfillment of the terms of the award
• In the event there is a change in the student’s participation status at the meeting for which they have been allocated funding, the funding will be withdrawn
• Recipients are asked to send a note of thanks to the Nettles family upon notification of funding
• Funding is administered by the Entomology Graduate Advisory Committee

Submission Requirements

To be considered for one of the awards, interested enrolled Entomology graduate students should submit the following items in a single, electronic file by the deadline:

• Statement including name of meeting, date and location of meeting, and how the awardee will meet the terms of the award, i.e., presentation, team member, etc.
• Itemized budget for expenses
• Graduate transcripts (unofficial is acceptable)
• Curriculum vitae
• Up-to-date Entomology Graduate Program Checklist – no funding will be granted to a student who has not met the deadlines for their degree program

Dr. Alfred G. Wheeler is currently an Adjunct Professor in Clemson's Entomology program. He received his entomology training at Grinnell College (B.S. 1966) and Cornell University (Ph.D. 1971). He retired to Clemson following an illustrious career with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. He remains very active in research-related fieldwork, primarily involving the true bugs, and his personal speciality, the Miridae. 

This award was established to support expeditions for groups of entomology graduate students across labs to explore unusual and interesting ecological communities. It is intended to promote enthusiasm and camaraderie among the program's faculty, staff and students, and to facilitate exchange of knowledge and ideas, leading to long-lasting and productive professional relationships. Approximately $4,000 is available each year to help support travel costs.

Terms of the Award:

• Expedition proposals must be developed and sponsored by the Clemson Entomology Club.
• Proposals should be initiated early enough to allow students, staff, and faculty to incorporate the expedition into their planning (at least six months prior to the trip).
• There are no geographical restrictions, but costs may impose limits or require cost-sharing.
• Expeditions should result in a presentation in the Entomology seminar series on the trip by a student representative.
• Proposals will be reviewed by active and emeritus entomology faculty as well as the donor. Funding decisions will be made by an ad-hoc committee of entomology faculty.

Submission Requirements

Proposal should include:

• destination
• specific dates
• travel plans (fly or drive)
• available accommodations
• collecting legalities (permits required and applications submitted)
• list of committed and tentative participants
• detailed break-down of costs and exactly what Wheeler funds would be needed to cover
• brief synopsis of efforts made to maximize inclusion of eligible students, staff, and faculty