To see previous winners (2006-2023), click the link below

The Ramsay Wright Award is EEB’s longest-standing award for PhD candidates at any campus in their 3rd or 4th year who have done well academically (that is, publishing and presenting their PhD research), who have contributed to the life of graduate students in EEB. 

 Winners: Jaime Grimm and Maria Tocora 

Jaime has published 4 papers and has another 2 in review, along with more than 20 presentations at conferences and other venues. She also has been an exceptionally active contributor to the life of the department, having served as head editor of the EEB Quarterly, co-founding a departmental reading group on Indigenous topics in EEB, and providing leadership in the FREED program, among other activities. 

Maria has published 11 articles with another in review, along with a very large number of presentations at conferences. She also has contributed in important ways to our EEB community, including as a member of the mental health committee, allyship network, the BREWS team, the grad mentorship program, and FREED instructor, as well as other initiatives beyond our department. 

The Abrams Prize was established to recognize Professor Peter Abrams, and celebrates the sustained research excellence of senior PhD students and is awarded to EEB PhD students at any campus in the 5th or 6th year of their PhD program. 

 Winner for 2023-24: Else Mikkelsen  

Else has published 8 articles, 3 of which are first-authored in such highly-regarded journals as Systematic Biology, Molecular Ecology, and Genomics with others published in top journals like Nature Communications, ProcB, Evolution, and PNAS Nexus. She also has another manuscript in review and has disseminated her research findings in a large number of presentations at conferences, 4 of which led to presentation prizes.  

 Runner up: Timothy Fernandes 

Timothy has published 12 papers, 4 of which are first-authored, including articles in Ecology, Ecography, and Can J Fisheries & Aquatic Sci, and has another two papers in review. He also has contributed many presentations at conferences as a grad student, 2 of which garnered him presentation awards. 

The Harvey Prize was established to recognize Harold Harvey, and celebrates graduate students who make sustained contributions to the intellectual life of the EEB Graduate Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (this includes all campuses).  Evidence of contributions includes, but is not limited to, graduate leadership positions, organizing discussion groups, short courses, and academic or campus community events that provided benefit to other EEB grad students on any campus. 

 Winner: Pooja Nathan  

Pooja has played a very active role in the EGSA over her time as graduate student, including serving as treasurer and secretary, as well as the mental health committee, and peer mentorship program. She also co-organized journal clubs within EEB and has taken on several leadership roles in FREED (Field Research in Ecology & Evolution Diversified). She has shown impressive engagement in various activities throughout her time her during her PhD. 

 Runner up: Rowan French 

Rowan is a clear exemplar of academic leadership having served as co-president of the EGSA as well as GSU union representative. She also organized journal clubs within EEB and participated in SSB as a student representative, among various other activities.