Student Organizations
The Illinois State Biology program has many ways for you to get involved not only with research, but with the community as well. These organizations exist so that students can learn and grow together during their time at the university.
See our webpage for upcoming events!
Eligibility
BSSA is a Registered Student Organization open to any interested Biological Sciences majors.
How to join
Send an email to faculty advisors Dr. Tom Hammond or Dr. Bill Perry to get signed up!
For more information and to get involved see our chapter's website.
Phi Sigma Society is a national non-profit organization devoted to the promotion of scholarship and research in the Biological Sciences. Our Chapter of Phi Sigma works closely within the School of Biological Science and is a sponsor of the weekly seminar series, the fall picnic, the holiday party, and the annual research symposium. We hold an annual grant competition to provide research funds to both graduate and undergraduate students.
Executive Board for 2023-2024 (academic year)
President: Liza Gautam Email: bgautam@ilstu.edu
Vice President: Anindita Saha Email: asaha12@ilstu.edu
Treasurer: Hannah Warfel Email: hcwarfe@ilstu.edu
Social Chair: Mason Sanford Email: mdsanfo@ilst.edu
Secretary: Aalimah Akinosho Email: aaakino@ilst.edu
Business Manager: Abu Abdullah Email: aabdul2@ilstu.edu
Membership Chair: Clinton Warren Email: crwarr1@ilstu.edu
Eligibility
Graduate and undergraduate students must rank (or have ranked) in the upper 35 percent of their class in general scholarship.
Undergraduate students majoring in biology, biochemistry and molecular biology, or clinical laboratory science who have at least junior status (60 or more credit hours) with a GPA of 3.4 or above are eligible for membership. For more information see the national Phi Sigma website .
How to Join
Our Beta Lambda Chapter of Phi Sigma currently conducts two (one each during the fall and spring semesters) membership drives each year.
Spring membership drive is currently closed.
Initiation of new members will occur during the spring semester.
For more information check out the national website for Phi Sigma
Research Awards
Cheung/Brown Publication Award
Sadia Sultana
Robert Gray Ecology Scholarship
PhD- Olivia Brooks
Undergraduate Researcher
Olivia Jankiewicz
Borst Scholarship
Olivia Jankiewicz
Phi Sigma Awards - Outstanding Students
MS - Emily Harders, PhD - Nick Rhoades
E.L. Mockford and C.F. Thompson Summer Research Fellowship Awards
MS - Rachel Berg and Anindita Saha, PhD - Sadia Sultana
R.D. Weigel Research Grant Recipient
Phi Sigma Travel Awards
Barb Bathe Award
Alex Fontanetta
Bohn/Nielsen
Colwell
Eaman Saleh
Dr. Fred Gletten Memorial Scholarship
Not Awarded
Rilett Scholarship Awards Recipients
Tope Awe, Rachel Berg, Rachael DiSciullo, Kate Evans, Liza Gautam, Lauren Leischner, Shahriar Mahmud, Gabriela Mendoza-Rangel, Sadia Sultana, Patrick Tawiah
Teaching Awards
Tak Cheung/Joni St. John General Education Teaching Assistant Awards
Outstanding Biology Lab Instructors: Dakota Fuss, Jack McKermitt, Omid Zare-Mehrjerdi
Outstanding Biology Teaching Assistants
MS- Rebecca Chicosky, PhD-Austin Calhoun
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant
Sean Gingrich
Charlena Wallen Award
Laura Rengifo-Gutierrez
Service Awards
Jack Ward Service Award
Sadia Sultana
Undergraduate Service Award
Caitlyn Kant