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The Desert Tortoise Council
David J. Morafka Research Award
ANNOUNCEMENT
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Award Amount: $2,000 to be awarded at the Desert Tortoise Council’s Annual Symposium, depending on the availability of funding and an appropriate recipient.
Eligibility: Applicants must be associated with a recognized institution (e.g., university, museum, government agency, non-governmental organization) and may be graduate students, post-doctoral students or other researchers. They must agree to present a report on the results of the research in which award funds were used at a future symposium of the Desert Tortoise Council.
Evaluation Criteria: Applications will be evaluated on the basis of the potential of the research to contribute to the biological knowledge of one or more of the above gopher tortoise species, and to their management and conservation. Important considerations are the significance and originality of the research problem, design of sampling and analysis, preliminary data supporting the feasibility of the research, and the likelihood of successful completion and publication.
Application Procedure:
1. Download an application form.
2. Provide all information requested on the application, including a description of the research project in no more than 1,200 words.
3. Applications must be accompanied by three letters of recommendation, one of which must be from the applicant’s research advisor, supervisor or a knowledgeable colleague. The letters must be in sealed envelopes addressed to the “Morafka Research Award Selection Committee” with the recommenders’ signatures across the flaps.
4. Completed application materials must be submitted by December 2, 2011 to the Desert Tortoise Council, P.O. Box 1568, Ridgecrest, CA 93556.
5. A research award recipient will be selected by a committee of gopher tortoise biologists appointed by the Desert Tortoise Council Board of Directors.
6. The research award recipient will be notified of his/her selection by January 20, 2012 and the award will be presented at the 2012 Desert Tortoise Council Symposium, February 17-19, 2012.