Senior Awards in Biology
Paul F. Ware, M.D. Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award
The top student nominated for a Biology award will be chosen for the Paul F. Ware award, the highest honor given to a graduating senior in the department. This award is based on outstanding research, GPA, and leadership and/or service in the department or college.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank McDonald Senior Leader Fellowship
The senior nominated for this fellowship must have devoted substantial time and energy to create sustainable programs or other changes that fundamentally improve the student experience in Department of Biological Sciences. This academic year fellowship is given periodically to a deserving undergraduate biology major.
Outstanding Biology Student Leader Award
Seniors nominated for this award must be exemplary student leaders in the Department of Biological Sciences. The student will have made outstanding contributions, through their leadership and service, to advance the interests of other students in the department. Any Biological Sciences faculty member may nominate a student. Upon nomination, the student will be asked to submit a cover letter, transcript, and resume.
Outstanding Biological Scientist Award
Seniors nominated for this award must be exemplary undergraduate researchers who have made significant intellectual contributions in their field of research. Evidence of this would be a co-authorship on a published paper and/or a presentation at a national orregional conference. Nominated students must be senior biology majors who (1) have conducted a minimum of three semesters (or two semesters and one summer) of undergraduate research at Notre Dame, and (2) have both biology and cumulative GPAs of 3.7 or higher. Upon nomination, the student will be asked to submit a cover letter, transcript, and resume. Any Biological Sciences faculty member may nominate a student.
Outstanding Environmental Scientist Award
Seniors nominated for this award must be exemplary students in the Environmental Science major with at least three semesters (or two semesters and one summer) spent in a Notre Dame faculty laboratory that emphasizes any aspect of environmental science. The student must have made a significant intellectual contribution to their lab, typically evidenced by a co-authored publication and/or national or regional conference presentation. No GPA requirement is specified for this award but a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA is expected under most circumstances. Upon nomination, the student will be asked to submit a coverletter, transcript, and resume. In most instances, this award should be given to a student intending to enter a graduate research program. Any Biological Sciences faculty member may nominate a student.
Robert Braco, M.D. Honors Research Award
Seniors nominated for this award must be outstanding students in the Biology Honors program with at least three semesters (or two semesters and one summer) of undergraduate research in a Notre Dame faculty laboratory. The student must have made a significant intellectual contribution to their lab, resulting in a co-authored publication and/or a national or regional conference presentation. A successful candidate would also have been exemplary in all honors activities including the honors seminars, the graduate course, and the honors thesis. Any Biological Sciences faculty member may nominate a student.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank McDonald Undergraduate Research Award
Seniors nominated for this award must be exemplary undergraduate researchers with at least three semesters (or two semesters and one summer) spent in a Notre Dame faculty laboratory. The student must have made a significant intellectual contribution to their lab, typically evidenced by a co-authored publication and/or national or regional conference presentation. No GPA requirement is specified for this award but a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA isexpected under most circumstances. Upon nomination, the student will be asked to submit a cover letter, transcript, and resume. In most instances, this award should be given to a student intending to enter a graduate research program. Any Biological Sciences faculty member may nominate a student.
2021
Paul F. Ware, M.D., Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award
- Alexis Waldschmidt
Outstanding Environmental Scientist Award
- Abigail White (Mentor: Ronald Hellenthal)
Robert Braco, M.D., Honors Research Award
- Owen Ivan (Mentor: Paul Huber)
Outstanding Biological Scientist Award
- Grace Zhang
- Brianna Brown
- Matthew Aubourg
Mr. and Mrs. Frank McDonald Undergraduate Research Award
- Margrethe (Gretchen) Andreasen (Mentors: Michael Cramer/Ronald Hellenthal)
- Sydney Louden (Mentor: Stuart Jones)
Outstanding Biology Student Leader Award
- William Aberger (Mentor: Matt Ravosa)
- Aidain Cook (Mentor: Joe O'Tousa/Michelle Whaley)
2020
Paul F. Ware, M.D., Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award
- Amanda Addiego (Mentor: Rebecca Wingert)
- Yanting Luo (Raven) (Mentor: Xin Lu)
Outstanding Environmental Scientist Award
- Brielle Jaglowski (Mentor: Rachel Novick)
Robert Braco, M.D., Honors Research Award
- Rebecca Hipp (Mentor: David Hyde)
Outstanding Biological Scientist Award
- Brady Stiller (Mentor: Jason McLachlan)
- Lindsey Mortensen (Mentor: Amy Stark)
- Michael O'Dea (Mentor: Cody Smith)
- Ryan Middleton (Mentor: Zachary Schafer)
- Tess Marvin (Mentor: Kevin Vaughan)
Mr. and Mrs. Frank McDonald Undergraduate Research Award
- Abigail Zellmer (Mentor: Cody Smith)
- Carmen Alvarez (Mentor: Matthew Ravosa)
- Amelia Grose (Mentors: Jennifer Tank/Ronald Hellenthal)
- Erica Gerstbauer (Mentor: Kevin Vaughan)
Outstanding Biology Student Leader Award
- Love Osunnuga (Mentor: Crislyn D'Souza-Schorey)
2019
Paul F. Ware, M.D., Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award
- Caitlin Harrington (Mentors: Joseph O'Tousa and Michelle Whaley)
Outstanding Environmental Scientist Award
- Aleah Appling (Mentor: Jason McLachlan)
Robert Braco, M.D., Honors Research Award
- Nathan Hermann (Mentors: Gary Lamberti and Dominic Chaloner)
Outstanding Biological Scientist Award
- Meridith Balbach (Mentor: Zachary Schafer)
- Caroline Murtagh (Mentor: Amy Stark)
- Christina Del Greco (Mentor: Amy Stark)
- Bailee Egan (Mentor: Hope Hollocher)
Mr. and Mrs. Frank McDonald Undergraduate Research Award
- Colin Sheehan (Mentor: Crislyn D'Souza-Schorey)
- Eleanor Clark (Mentor: Rebecca Wingert)
- Henri Chung (Mentor: Stuart Jones)
- Magdalene Walters (Mentor: Alex Perkins)
Outstanding Biology Student Leader Award (Chaloner/Veselik/Schafer)
- Cayla Bales, SLC, Uplift
- Katheryn Barnhart, SLC
2018
Paul F. Ware, M.D., Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award
- Matt McGoldrick (Mentors: Matt Leevy, David Veselik and Michelle Whaley)
Outstanding Environmental Scientist Award
- Audrey Thellman (Mentor: Jennifer Tank)
Robert Braco, M.D., Honors Research Award
- Maggie Brecker (Mentor: David Hyde)
Outstanding Biological Scientist Award
- Elizabeth McGough (Mentor: Matt Ravosa)
- Anna Levesque (Mentor: Rebecca Wingert)
- William Morgenlander (Mentor: Xin Lu)
- Mati Nemura (Mentor: Zach Schafer)
Mr. and Mrs. Frank McDonald Undergraduate Research Award
- Shannon Leahy (Mentor: Kevin Vaughan)
Outstanding Biology Student Leader Award (Chaloner/Veselik/Whaley)
- Matt McGoldrick SLC and Biology Club Co-President
- Audrey Thellman, ES Leadership Chair
- Candice Park, Biology Club Co-President
- Gabrielle Mungcal, Uplift Co-Coordinator
2017
Dean's Award
- Alexis Doyle
Paul F. Ware, M.D., Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award
- Abbey Tirrell (Mentor: Michael Ferdig)
Outstanding Biology Student Leader
- Keon Schmidt
- Haley Barlow
- Claire Kampman
- Mary Brinkman
Outstanding Biological Scientist Award
- Nicole Handa (Mentor: Rebecca Wingert)
- Caitlin Broderick (Mentor: Jason McLachlan)
Outstanding Environmental Scientist Award
- Joseph Vanderwall (Mentor: Stuart Jones)
Robert Braco, M.D., Honors Research Award
- Justin Brill (Mentor: Matthew Ravosa)
Mr. and Mrs. Frank McDonald Undergraduate Research Award
- Lea Lovin (Mentor: Gary Lamberti)
2016
Dean's Award
- Mark Brahier – Perrysburg, OH (Mentor: Robert Schulz)
Dean's Research Award
- Diane Choi – Indianapolis, IN (Mentors: Nicole Achee and John Grieco)
Paul F. Ware, M.D., Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award
- Mark Brahier – Perrysburg, OH (Mentor: Robert Schulz)
Mr. and Mrs. Frank McDonald Senior Leader Fellowship
- Mark Brahier
Outstanding Biology Student Leader
- Diane Choi – Indianapolis, IN
Outstanding Biological Scientists
- Anna Szentirmai – Boyce, VA (Mentor: Matthew Ravosa)
- Vincent Riccelli - North Huntingdon, PA (Mentor: Matthew Ravosa)
- Phillip Allen- Arlington, VA (Mentor: Kevin Vaughan)
- Michael Dinh – Richmond, VA (Mentor: Patrick Sheets)
Outstanding Environmental Scientists
- Zoe Volenec- Ormond Beach, FL (Mentor: Gary Belovsky)
Robert Braco, M.D. Honors Research Award
- Luqun Shen (Mentor: Zach Schafer)
Mr. and Mrs. Frank McDonald Undergraduate Research Award
- Diane Choi (Nicole Achee and John Grieco)
- Amelia McReynolds – Noblesville, IN (Mentor: Gary Lamberti)
2015
Dean's Award
- Jeffrey Hansen – Vienna, Virginia
- Anna Kottkamp – Wenatchee, Washington
Dean's Research Award
- Sienna Durbin – Newton, Massachusetts
Outstanding Biology Student Leader
- Elena Brindley – Downingtown, Pennsylvania
- Jonathan Jou – Chicago, Illinois
Outstanding Biological Scientists
- Mary Olivia Balmert San Diego, California
- Eric Donahue – Brentwood, Tennessee
- Sienna Durbin – Newton, Massachusetts
Outstanding Environmental Scientists
- Julia Hart – Mundelein, Illinois
Mr. and Mrs. Frank McDonald Undergraduate Research Award
- Rachel Miceli – Queens, New York
Robert Braco, M.D. Honors Research Award
- Samantha Piekos – Naperville, Illinois
Paul F. Ware, M.D., Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award
- Jeffrey Hansen – Vienna, Virginia
2014
Dean's Award
- Rebeca M. Marton – Andover, Massachusetts
Dean's Research Award
- Rachel N. Cotton – San Diego, California
Outstanding Biological Scientists
- Patricia D. Amorado – Mount Vernon, Illinois
- Andrew G. Mancini – Erie, Pennsylvania
- Frank M. Mezzacappa – Omaha, Nebraska
- Roger S. Smith – Homer Glen, Illinois
- Valerie A. Verdun – Byron, Illinois
Outstanding Environmental Scientists
- “Charles” Cong Xu – Granger, Indiana
Mr. and Mrs. Frank McDonald Undergraduate Research Award
- Rachel N. Cotton – San Diego, California
Robert Braco, M.D. Honors Research Award
- Nicholas R. Pagani – Bolton, Connecticut
- Kristin N. Springer – New Albany, Ohio
Paul F. Ware, M.D., Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award
- “Charles” Cong Xu Granger, Indiana
- John D. Brahier Perrysburg, Ohio
2013
Dean's Award
- Patrick J. O'Hayer – South Bend, Indiana
Outstanding Biological Scientists
- Erin E. Flattery
- Michael E. Petravick
- Cameron M. Pywell
Outstanding Environmental Scientists
- Kevin P. Creamer – Olney, Maryland
- Courtney M. Currier – Troy, Michigan
Paul F. Ware, M.D., Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award
- Patrick J. O’Hayer – South Bend, Indiana
2012
Outstanding Biological Scientists
- Peter N. Kundert – Denver, Colorado
- Kristen M. Laricchia – Arlington Heights, Illinois
- Mary C. McAllister – Grove City, Ohio
- Kathleen E. Pieper – Cincinnati, Ohio
- Timothy J. Yee – Munster, Indiana
Outstanding Environmental Scientist
- Kate E. Augustine – Salina, Kansas
Paul F. Ware, M.D., Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award
- Michael T. Kemp – Rochester Hills, Michigan
2011
Dean's Award
- Kristopher A. Kast – Tell City, Indiana
Outstanding Biological Scientists
- Donna M. Cerabona – Arlington Heights, Illinois
- Shanik J. Fernando – Portland, Oregon
- Brittany L. Angarola – Whittier, California
- Kevin E. Hodges – Naperville, Illinois
- Timothy T. Spear – Mokena, Illinois
Outstanding Environmental Scientist
- Shayna A. Sura – Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
Paul F. Ware, M.D., Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award
- Kristopher A. Kast – Tell City, Indiana
2010
Dean's Award
- Katie O. Washington — Gary, Indiana
Outstanding Biological Scientists
- Alexander W. Bray — San Diego, California
- Sara L. Fossum — Plymouth, Minnesota
- Andrew D. Gloss — Appleton, Wisconsin
- Matthew J. Molloy — Gilbert, Arizona
- Kirsten L. Ploetze — Poplar Bluff, Missouri
- Michelle M. Stein — Morton Grove, Illinois
Paul F. Ware, M.D., Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award
- Katie O. Washington — Gary, Indiana