PARTNER NEWS

Thanks to generous donations, the Botanical Society of Western Pennsylvania is excited to share two research opportunities for undergraduates this summer in botany. One is designed for students at their home institutions and the other is to participate in a new program at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

Allison W. Cusick Undergraduate Research Award: Short proposal/application due March 20, 2026.

Read here (and attached) for more details:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CFZz9Tjx67a6AD6PYDgt3eK-KFgJvKYHXhsltYNCFjg/edit?usp=sharing

In collaboration between Botanical Society of Western Pennsylvania and the PA Botany Symposium, this award provides support (ca. $1000) to enable undergraduate student research on plants relevant to western Pennsylvania. Projects are to be completed under guidance with a research mentor. Over 24 student projects have been supported since 2022!

Botany Research Internship Program at Carnegie Museum of Natural History: Applications due March 1, 2026.

Read here (and attached) for more details: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jNNyMi80fR8KEK1xI8im57IuqdwcTaGq/view

Made possible through the newly established Allison W. Cusick Botanical Research Fund, this 10-week paid program ($5,000 stipend) provides an immersive research experience at the museum for currently enrolled undergraduate students interested in plants.

Founded in 1886, the Botanical Society of Western Pennsylvania (BSWP) is one of the oldest botanical organizations in the country. To continue this long history of botanical curiosity and education, BSWP is excited to support undergraduate student research on the flora of Western Pennsylvania.

This award is named in honor of Allison Cusick for his enthusiastic and steadfast support of botanical research and education in our region. Allison is a dedicated member of the Botanical Society of Western Pennsylvania, expert in the flora of the region, and former chief botanist of the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. 

Please consider donating to the student research fund to allow BSWP to continue to support budding botany students in our region. A link to donate can be found on the membership renewal page of the BSWP website https://www.botsocwpa.org/membership.php