The William H. Luckmann Award Endowment Fund for Student Research in Insect Pest Management
ABOUT THIS AWARD
The William H. Luckmann Entomology for the Ages Fund was established in the mid-1980s to promote research in applied entomology. Since 1994, the endowment has funded an annual competitive grant to the best Illinois student research in insect pest management for travel to present the research at a professional meeting. Winners may use the award of $750 to present their research findings at the North Central Branch Meeting of the Entomological Society of America (ESA), the Annual Meeting of the ESA, or an appropriate professional meeting of their choice. Graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Illinois are eligible to compete for this award. Research may be carried out in any department but must focus on an aspect of entomology that is directly related to arthropod pest management in agricultural, horticultural, urban, or medical systems.
The fund honors Dr. William H. Luckmann, who served as a researcher and administrator for applied entomological programs at the Illinois Natural History Survey from 1949 through 1984. As co-editor of the text Introduction to Insect Pest Management (now in it's 3rd edition), and in his roles as researcher, administrator, and graduate educator, Dr. Luckmann contributed greatly to advances in integrated pest management in field and vegetable crops. Upon his retirement, the endowment fund was established as a way of continuing support for excellence in graduate and undergraduate research training in insect pest management.
ELIGIBILITY
Current graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Illinois are eligible to compete for this award. Research may be carried out in any department of the University, may be basic and/or applied, and should focus on aspects of applied entomology such as arthropod pest management, use of insects in biological control programs, pollinators, or natural areas health. The research may be carried out for agricultural, horticultural, urban, medical or natural areas systems.
HOW TO APPLY
Completion of a brief written application that summarizes the applicant’s research goals, methods, and results is required. Please supply the application as one document submitted electronically to: spencer1@illinois.edu.
Application form for the 2009 Luckmann Award (Word document)
Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on February 16, 2009. The award will be announced on March 2, 2009.
Questions can be directed to Dr. Joseph Spencer at the above e-mail address.
PAST AWARDEES
- 2009: Nicholas A. Tinsley "Effects of Current and Future Soybean Aphid Management Tactics on Soybean Aphids and Their Natural Enemies in Illinois"
- 2007: no recipient selected
- 2006: Lori Kae Schwab M.S. student in NRES, Univ. of Illinois Drs. Rob Weidenmann & S. Raghu, advisors "Nutrient composition of soil and plant may predict the distribution and abundance of specialist insect herbivores: implications for agent selection in weed biological control"
- 2005: Jared Schroeder M.S. student in Crop Sciences, Univ. of Illinois Drs. Michael Gray & Susan Ratcliffe, advisors "Variant western corn rootworm population responses to cropping diversity and atmospheric conditions"
- 2004: Jonathan G. Lundgren Ph.D. student in Entomology, Univ. of Illinois Dr. Robert N. Wiedenmann, advisor "Transgenic insecticidal corn and Coleomegilla maculata"
- 2003: Ana R. Cabrera M.S. student in NRES, Univ. of Illinois Drs. Raymond Cloyd & Ed Zaborski, advisors "Evaluating the lethal and sub-lethal effects of pesticides on the soil-dwelling predatory mite, Hypoaspis miles"
- 2002: Jodie Ellis Ph.D. student in Entomology, Univ. of Illinois Dr. Lawrence Hanks, advisor "Conservation biological control of evergreen bagworms (Lepidoptera Psychidae): Relative roles of vertebrate and invertebrate natural enemies"
- 2001: Silvia Rondon Ph.D. student in Crop Sciences, Univ. of Illinois Dr. Michael Gray, advisor "Influence of different crops on the population dynamics of the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LaConte, in east central Illinois"
- 2000: Timothy R. Mabry M.S. student in Crop Sciences, Univ. of Illinois Dr. Joseph Spencer, advisor "Influence of hunger on adult western corn rootworm activity: diet affects western corn rootworm vigor and movement"
- 1999: Marianne Alleyne Ph.D. student in Entomology, Univ. of Illinois Dr. Robert Wiedenmann, advisor "Physiological factors determining host suitability of lepidopteran stemborers for parasitization by Cotesia flavipes-complex parasitoids (Braconidae: Hymenoptera)"
- 1998: Matt O'Neal M.S. student in Entomology, Univ. of Illinois Dr. Michael Gray, advisor "An economic threshold for western corn rootworms in soybeans for the protection of rotated corn"
- 1997: Claire Rutledge Ph.D. student in Entomology, Univ. of Illinois Dr. Robert Wiedenmann, advisor "Habitat preferences and habitat fidelity in three congeneric parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)"
- 1996: Angel Gonzalez Ph.D. student in Entomology, Univ. of Illinois Dr. Cathy Eastman, advisor "Trend of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, populations and its parasitoids and predators under intercropping and trap cropping practices"
- 1995: Lisa Carloye Ph.D. student in Entomology, Univ. of Illinois Drs. Joe Maddox and May Berenbaum, co-advisors "Tri-trophic interactions between plant chemical compounds and microsporidian pathogens of an insect herbivore, Trichoplusia ni"
- 1994: Ted Fry M.S. student in Agronomy, Univ. of Illinois Dr. Darrell Miller, advisor "Evaluation of novel formulations of Bacillus thuringiensis for control of the European corn borer"
With continued growth, the William H. Luckmann Entomology for the Ages Fund will be able to provide assistantships for direct support of graduate research in insect pest management. For more information on how to donate to this fund, please visit the INHS Donations page