M.D.F. Udvardy Student Award at California State University, Sacramento 2026

M.D.F. Udvardy Student Award

The purpose of this scholarship honors Dr. M.D.F. Udvardy outstanding contributions to ornithology and biogeography and his wide-ranging curiosity about the natural world. This award is intended to support graduate student research or dissemination of ornithology or biogeography from an evolutionary perspective. The award may support 1) the purchase or research equipment, supplies, and travel to field sites, and/or 2) defray costs of travel and attendance at professional meetings where the applicant has a paper accepted for presentation of their research findings.

Eligibility criteria for M.D.F. Udvardy Student Award -

• The applicant must be pursuing major in Biological Sciences and conducting field research in any of the following disciplines: ornithology, biogeography, or conservation biology, with a preference to research with an avian emphasis (biology, population ecology, community ecology, biogeography, or systematics).
• The applicant must have Minimum GPA: 3.0 GPA.
• The applicant must be a Graduate: Classified.
• The applicant must be enrolled full-time or part time at time of award and at time of application

Application process -

The applicant must also answer the supplemental questions asked by the University.

• Submit a paragraph (no more than 100 words) summarizing your personal motivation for the research topic and career plans
• Submit your proof of advancement to candidacy (Department Form or Abstract) along with the following: (A) Title of research project/paper presentation or (B) description of research project/paper presentation
• For applications requesting research support: Submit an itemized list of supplies and equipment, and briefly describe their need for the study
• For applications requesting travel funds to a conference: Submit proof of submission or acceptance of a paper for presentation at a conference, workshop, symposium or other professional forum related to your research, this should include the presentation’s title and abstract