The Apes Valentes Graduate Student Award supports Penn State graduate students pursuing student-led projects in pollinator biology and health. Offered through the Penn State Center for Pollinator Research, the award encourages innovative work that advances understanding of pollinators and helps connect research, education, extension, outreach, and public engagement.
The award supports a broad range of project types related to pollinator biology and health. Penn State welcomes proposals in research, extension, education, and outreach. Students from non-biology backgrounds are also encouraged to apply if they are developing artistic, creative, or other scholarly works related to pollinators for public audiences.
Successful applicants may receive funding of up to $5,000 to support project costs.
Why This Award Matters
Pollinators play a vital role in ecosystems, agriculture, and food systems. Through the Apes Valentes Graduate Student Award, Penn State supports graduate student projects that advance pollinator biology and health while also promoting public understanding and engagement. The award helps prepare students to contribute original ideas, interdisciplinary thinking, and meaningful outreach in support of pollinator research and conservation.
Purpose of the Award
The Apes Valentes Graduate Student Award is designed to encourage graduate students to develop and lead meaningful projects that contribute to pollinator science and public understanding. The program emphasizes student initiative, creativity, and scholarly impact while supporting work that aligns with Penn State’s commitment to research, engagement, and service.
Projects may focus on any aspect of pollinator biology and health, including but not limited to:
- Pollinator ecology and conservation
- Pollinator health and stressors
- Research related to bees and other pollinating species
- Extension or education programming
- Public outreach and engagement
- Creative or interdisciplinary scholarship related to pollinators
Eligibility and Project Expectations
The award is intended to support student-generated efforts. Students are encouraged to work closely with a faculty mentor as they develop their project, but the proposal and resulting work should reflect the student’s own leadership and ideas.
Award recipients are expected to be actively involved in all aspects of the project, including:
- Proposal development
- Project design
- Implementation
- Data collection or creative development
- Interpretation of results or outcomes
- Public sharing of the work, when applicable
This emphasis on student leadership helps ensure that funded projects contribute to graduate training as well as to pollinator research, education, or outreach.
Application Materials
Applicants should prepare materials that clearly explain the purpose, design, and impact of the proposed project. A complete application typically includes:
- A brief project description
- A letter of support from a faculty mentor
- A project budget
For research-focused proposals, project descriptions should address:
- Background
- Significance
- Objectives
- Experimental or project design
- Expected outcomes
- Cited literature, if relevant
- The student’s specific role in the project
Broader Impacts
Penn State encourages applicants to explain how their project will benefit society. Proposals should include a broader impacts component describing how the work will extend beyond the immediate project.
For research proposals, broader impacts should include at least one outreach activity in which the student will participate. For non-research proposals, applicants should describe how the completed work will be shared with public audiences.
This focus reflects the Center for Pollinator Research’s commitment to connecting scholarship with communities, education, and real-world impact.
How to Apply
Graduate students interested in the Apes Valentes Graduate Student Award should follow application instructions provided by the Penn State Center for Pollinator Research. Applicants are encouraged to work with a faculty mentor early in the proposal development process to refine project goals, clarify expectations, and prepare a strong application.
Students should consult the Center for Pollinator Research for current submission details, eligibility information, and application deadlines.
Contact:
Heather Hines
- Interim Director, Center for Pollinator Research
- Interim Director, Insect Biodiversity Center