NREL Scholarship Awards
Francis Clark Soil Biology Scholarship
The scholarship has been established through the kind donations of the late Francis and Evelyn Clark out of their belief in the importance of continued research in soil biology and keeping the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory on the cutting edge of science. The scholarship Fund is to benefit students at Colorado State University who are desirous of pursuing studies in Soil Biology. The term "Soil Biology" is inclusive of soil microbiology, biochemistry, biogeochemistry, nutrient cycling, molecular microbiology, and the impact of soil organisms on ecosystem functioning and the global environment, from the gene to global scales
Dr. Francis Clark
NREL is proud to honor Dr. Francis Clark, truly the “Dean” of soil microbiologists and soil ecologists worldwide, and a great benefactor to the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory and the College of Natural Resources. Dr. Clark was born on March 4, 1910. He received his PhD from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1936. He has made major contributions to the field of soil microbiology, particularly with respect to the cycling of nutrients in terrestrial ecosystems and to understanding soil, plant, and microbial interactions.
His long and distinguished career includes work with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service and faculty affiliations at Colorado State University, Kansas State University, and Iowa State University. He has completed foreign assignments with the UN and NATO, and in 1971 spent a full month in Bulgaria as a senior USDA/ARS Scientist advising the Bulgarian government on soil microbial ecology. He has mentored and advised a number of graduate students, and was a key adviser to George Van Dyne, an early catalyst to the formation of NREL, in the early IBP Grassland Biome days during 1970-74. He played a strong role in international synthesis with IBP in those challenging years.
Dr. Clark is the author of several books, including Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry with Eldor Paul, and more than 175 journal articles. In addition to his scientific publications, Dr. Clark has written two books and several manuscripts on the history of Larimer County, Colorado. His many awards and honors include the ARS Hall of Fame Award in 1988, the Soil Science Society Distinguished Career Award in 1990, and the CU Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1992.
2016/2017
2015/2016
2014/2015
2013/2014
2012/2013
2011/2012
2010/2011
2009/2010
2008/2009
2007/2008
2006/2007
2005/2006
2004/2005
2003/2004
2002/2003
2001/2002
2000/2001
1999/2000
1998/1999
Samantha Mosier and Allison Rhea
Yamina Pressler, Derek Fedak, and Melissa Miller
Amanda Shores and Jenny Rocca
Sarah Fulton-Smith
Kelly Hopping, Carolyn Livensperger, and Caroline Melle
Jocelyn Lavallee, Brooke Osborne, and Paul Brewer
Shinichi Asao and Barbara Fricks
Sara Evans, Megan Steinweg, and Tracy Smith
Jessica Ernakovich and Karen Seaver
William Smith and Eliana Bontti
Chelsea Roan, Megan Steinweg and Shannon Spencer
Jana Heisler, Suellen Melzer, and Michelle Haddix
Sarah Hamman, Erandi Lokupitiya and Jill Oropeza
Sanjay Advani and Moffatt Ngugi
Suzanne Bird and Paddy Sullivan
Catherine Stewart and Todd Wojtowicz
Karolien Denef, Rod Simpson and Mark St. John
Nichole Barger and Tamera Hochstrasser
Serita Frey and Amy Treonis
James E. Ellis Memorial Graduate Scholarship
The scholarship has been established through the kind donations of many individuals to honor the memory of Dr. Ellis, by advancing knowledge of ecosystems and the humans that rely upon them, and supporting students of NREL. The scholarships is open to Graduate students who have an affiliation with the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory and a broad interest in relationships between humans and their environments.
Dr. James E. Ellis
James Ellis (1938-2002) was an ecosystem scientist at the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory (NREL) of Colorado State University for more than 30 years. Dr. Ellis’ preeminent work on understanding the interplay between people and natural processes in arid ecosystems set a global standard for novel research spanning scientific disciplines. He applied integrated, interdisciplinary approaches to understanding pastoral ecosystem ecology throughout the world. Dr. Ellis was a systems ecologist in the classical sense—his greatest strength was his ability to conceptualize large, complex scientific problems as whole systems, to sketch the interactions among their significant components, and to develop ways to understand their dynamics. He mentored many students, several of whom are now international leaders in ecosystem science and ecology.
2016/2017
2015/2016
2014/2015
2013/2014
2012/2013
2011/2012
2010/2011
2009/2010
2008/2009
2007/2008
2006/2007
2005/2006
Cara Steger
Karie Boone and Shelley Spear
Kate Wilkins
Matt Luizza and Steve Chignell
Jared Stabach
Sarah Maisonneuve
Andrew Tredennick
Gregory Wann
Sarah Maisonneuve and Amy Swan
Gabriela Bucini and Stacy Lynn
Linda Knapp
Stacy Lynn and Amy Samuelson
