2027 - Donald R. Kaplan Dissertation Award in Comparative Morphology
2027 - Donald R. Kaplan Dissertation Award in Comparative Morphology supports Ph.D. students’ independent research on diversity in plant form to advance understanding of comparative plant structure.
Funder: Botanical Society of America
Due Dates: November 1, 2026 (Applications open) | February 1, 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to two annual awards of up to $10,000 each; funds should be spent within two years
Summary: Supports independent Ph.D. research on the evolution or generation of diversity in plant form and comparative plant structure.
Key Information: Both applicants and their advisors must be members of the Botanical Society of America.
Description
The Donald R. Kaplan Dissertation Award in Comparative Morphology supports graduate students’ Ph.D. research through an endowed fund established by the Kaplan family and administered by the Botanical Society of America (BSA). The award honors Kaplan’s contributions to comparative developmental morphology and his commitment to students pursuing and publishing independent research.
Proposals should focus strongly on questions about the evolution or generation of diversity in plant form and advance comparative plant structure. Graduate students in other disciplines are also encouraged to apply when their work may bring novel insights into developmental or morphological problems. The program emphasizes independent projects that differ substantially from the advisor’s research program.
