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 2022-2023 (academic year)
President: Sadia Sultana Email: ssulta7@ilstu.edu
Vice President: Ritika Shah Email: rsshah3@ilstu.edu
Treasurer: Christen Fairow Email: crfairo@ilstu.edu
Social Chair: Emily Harders Email: epharde@ilst.edu
Secretary: Caitlyn Kant Email: cckant@ilstu.edu
Business Manager: Gracious Donkor Email: gydonko@ilstu.edu
Membership Chair: Rebecca Chicosky Email: rlchico@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
Nick Rhoades
Robert Gray Ecology Scholarship
PhD- Rachael DiSciullo
Undergraduate Researcher
Alex Hafner
Borst Scholarship
Skye Rogers
Phi Sigma Awards - Outstanding Students
MS - Madison Rittinger, PhD - Kiley Hughes
E.L. Mockford and C.F. Thompson Summer Research Fellowship Awards
MS - Gracious Donkor and Piotr Klos, PhD - Olivia Brooks
R.D. Weigel Research Grant Recipient
Phi Sigma Travel Awards
Barb Bathe Award
Hannah Kutchek
Bohn/Nielsen
Ethan Oliver and Logan Ziegler
Colwell
Lauren Naeger
Dr. Fred Gletten Memorial Scholarship
Not Awarded
Rilett Scholarship Awards Recipients
Bismark Acquah, Rachael DiSciullo, Piotr Klos, Sydney Metternich, Nick Rhoades, Caleb Sawe, and Sadia Sultana
Teaching Awards
Tak Cheung/Joni St. John General Education Teaching Assistant Awards
Outstanding Biology Lab Instructors: Ebenezer Korkor, Paige Farchmin and Carly Goben
Outstanding Biology Teaching Assistants
MS- Elliot Lusk, PhD-Ashley Waring
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant
Andrew Inda
Charlena Wallen Award
Rachael DiSciullo
Service Awards
Jack Ward Service Award
Kate Evans
Undergraduate Service Award
Hanna Paton