Link to 2024-25 Award Flyers

History: The Calavan award was established in memory of Dr. Edmond Calavan, who was among the most influential scientist to the citrus industry worldwide. Dr. Calavan pioneered the establishment of the first citrus germplasm program in the world (UCR's Citrus Clonal Protection Program) and conducted transformative research in the citrus pathology field.

The scholarship is awarded annually to one meritorious graduate student in the Plant Pathology Graduate Program at the University of California, Riverside.

Award: The prize consists of a cash award of $1,000, an engraved plaque and a certificate signed by the department chair. 

Eligibility: All graduate students currently enrolled and in good standing in the Plant Pathology Ph.D. program. A research focus on citrus pathology is preferred, but is not a requirement. Students may only win the award once.

Application Instructions: Submit all of the following documents as a single PDF by the deadline to the submission form below:

1. A cover letter, co-signed by the major professor and the student applying for the award.
2. A research statement that describes the student's dissertation project. Note: 3 page limit.
3. List of publications and presentations.

**For questions, or concerns, regarding this award and/or your submission, please reach out to rong.hai@ucr.edu, and copy lacey.grawe@ucr.edu.

Submit Your Calavan Award Application Here

Link to 2024-25 Award Flyers

History: The Microbiology and Plant Pathology (MPP) Department is, by nature, interdisciplinary in its research pursuits. This award was established by the MPP department to highlight this diversity and to recognize excellence in student research as a major contributor to the interdisciplinary strengths of the department. The Microbiology Scholarship will be awarded annually to one meritorious graduate student in the laboratory of a Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology (MPP) faculty member at the University of California, Riverside. A faculty committee will identify an applicant that has demonstrated excellence in research and creative forward-thinking in their dissertation research.

Award: The prize consists of a cash award of $1000, an engraved plaque and a certificate signed by the Department Chair.

Eligibility: All graduate students currently enrolled and in good standing in an interdepartmental Ph.D. program and with their Major Professor in the MPP Department. The student can be a member of any interdepartmental graduate program as long as their Major Professor is a faculty member belonging to the MPP Department. The student’s research focus can be broad and focus on some aspect of Microbiology. Students may only receive this award once and are only eligible for one MPP departmental award per year.

Application Instructions: Submit all of the following documents as a single PDF by the deadline to the submission form below:

1. A cover letter, co-signed by the major professor and the student applying for the award.
2. A research statement that describes the student's dissertation project. Note: 3 page limit.
3. List of publications, presentations, and awards.

**For questions, or concerns, regarding this award and/or your submission, please reach out to rong.hai@ucr.edu, and copy lacey.grawe@ucr.edu.

Submit your MPP Departmental Award Application Here

Link to 2024-25 Award Flyers

History: The Microbiology Award for Excellence in Mycology was established on behalf of the San Diego Mycological Society in honor of Dr. Moselio Schaechter. Dr. Moselio Schaechter, “Elio,” was born in Milan, Italy and in 1940 at age 12, he and his parents found refuge as European Jews in Ecuador. When he was 14, an interest in microbiology was inspired after he read Microbe Hunters, by Paul de Kruif. Studies in high school and medical school plus his work in bacteriology laboratories led him in 1950 to the University of Kansas and University of Pennsylvania for graduate degrees. He was soon drafted and served in the US Army doing microbial research at Walter Reed, later spending time in Denmark doing postdoctoral study. The Microbiology Award for Excellence in Mycology will be awarded to one meritorious graduate student in the Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology (MPP) at the University of California, Riverside. A faculty committee will identify the applicant that has demonstrated excellence in research and creative forward-thinking in their dissertation research.

Award: The prize consists of a cash award of $1000, an engraved plaque and a certificate signed by the Department Chair.

Eligibility: All graduate students currently enrolled and in good standing in a Ph.D. program in the MPP Department. The student can be a member of any graduate program as long as they are working in the laboratory of a faculty member belonging to the MPP Department. The student's research focus should be on mycology. All aspects of fungal biology and ecology are encouraged. Students may only receive this award once and are only eligible for one departmental award per year.

Application Instructions: Submit all of the following documents as a single PDF by the deadline to the submission form below:

1. A cover letter, co-signed by the major professor and the student applying for the award.
2. A research statement that describes the student's dissertation project. Note: 3 page limit.
3. List of publications, presentations, and awards.

**For questions, or concerns, regarding this award and/or your submission, please reach out to rong.hai@ucr.edu, and copy lacey.grawe@ucr.edu.

Submit your Mycology Award Application Here

Link to 2024-25 Award Flyers

History: The Peter and Pamela Tsao Endowed Graduate Student Scholarship Award was established on behalf of Drs. Peter and Pamela Tsao, who began their research careers at UC-Riverside in 1956. Dr. Peter Tsao is an authority on the biology, ecology, and pathology of species in the genus Phytophthora and on the biological and cultural control of soil-borne diseases of citrus and avocado caused by Phytophthora spp.Dr. Pamela Tsao’s research formed critical contributions towards an improved understanding of pear decline, insect vectors of plant pathogens, and the development of fungal species in three phyla that could be used as biocontrol agents for mosquitos.

The Peter and Pamela Tsao Scholarship will be awarded to 1 meritorious graduate student in the Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology (MPP) at the University of California, Riverside in 2019. A faculty committee will identify an applicant that has demonstrated excellence in research and creative forward-thinking in their dissertation research.

Award: The prize consists of a $1,000 cash award, an engraved plaque and an engraved certificate signed by the Department Chair.

Eligibility: All graduate students currently enrolled in good standing in a Ph.D program in the MPP department. The student can be a member of any graduate program as long as they are working in the laboratory of a faculty member belonging to the MPP department. The student's research focus should be on soil-borne diseases of plants caused by fungi or oomycetes. Students may only receive this award once and are only eligible for one departmental award per year.

Application Instructions: Submit all of the following documents as a single PDF by the deadline to the submission form below:

1. A cover page, including the title of the dissertation project, the name of the student applying for the award, and co-signatures of the student and the major professor.
2. A research statement that describes the student's dissertation project. Note: 3 page limit.
3. List of publications, presentations, and awards.

**For questions, or concerns, regarding this award and/or your submission, please reach out to rong.hai@ucr.edu, and copy lacey.grawe@ucr.edu.

Submit your Tsao Award Application Here

Coming Soon!

Download the application Form for the L.J. Klotz Memorial Fund Travel Grant (PDF):  

History: The Klotz travel grant is funded by the L.J. Klotz Memorial fund in honor of Leo Klotz a former member in the department and a distinguished plant pathologist. The intent of the fund was to support the attendance at scientific conferences of students studying plant pathology. Dr. Klotz is best known for his research on Phytophthora diseases of citrus, but also studied other pathogens and hosts such as palm.

Award: Varies depending on conference expenses.

Eligibility: While the fund was established to support graduate students studying topics connected to plant pathology, you need not be a member of the Plant Pathology graduate program to apply, but you must be in a Microbiology and Plant Pathology department lab.

Recipients are required to present a seminar describing their research in the department seminar series (PLPA 250).

Application Instructions: Submit all of the following documents as a single PDF by the deadline to the submission form below:

1. Klotz Travel Grant Application (Above)
2. Proposed Budget. Please itemize (travel, registration, housing...)
3. A copy of your abstract.
4. A statement of up to half a page in length, describing how your research is relevant to plant pathology.
5. A statement of up to half a page in length, describing how you will benefit from attending the meeting.

If approved, the plant pathology office will contact you with information concerning travel arrangements.

Note: Applications containing incomplete forms or missing required documents will not be considered.

**For questions, or concerns, regarding this award and/or your submission, please reach out to emma.gachomo@ucr.edu and copy christine.morgando@ucr.edu

Submit your Klotz Application Here