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!

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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.

Visit our facebook page.

Phi Sigma Crest

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