Category Archives: Press Releases

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Leading Wildlife Conservation Foundation Announces 2024 Grant & Award Program Recipients

Record-setting grant applications received, more than $55K awarded

Chicago and Rockford, Ill. (May 1, 2024) – The Dr. Abigail Ross Foundation for Applied Conservation (TDARFAC), a leading conservation-focused foundation based in Chicago and Rockford, Ill., has announced the recipients of its 2024 grant and award programs.

Of the 102 applications received from around the world – a record setting amount for the grant program – TDARFAC selected seven recipients and awarded $51,500 in grant funding to those whose conservation research and community-based conservation projects best aligned with the organization’s mission and achieved the following conservation objectives: building capacity, amplifying voices, and partnering with local communities.

TDARFAC’s grant program aims to support individuals, collaborations or partnerships, and non-governmental organizations working on projects based on any non-human primates, their habitats, or any animal or plant species which share and influence the same landscape as non-human primates and directly relate to their conservation.

“We are thrilled at the response to this year’s call for grant submissions and are honored to recognize the exemplary work of these partners and individuals in the field of conservation science,” said Dr. Abigail Ross, founder and executive director of TDARFAC. “We are confident that our Foundation’s grant funding will make a positive difference for these outstanding recipients.”

The grants will fund projects that focus on applied conservation. Following is the full list of the 2024 TDARFAC grant recipients.

The 2024 TDARFAC Grant Funding Recipients

Recipient NameGrant Amount (USD)Project Title
Kuenzang Dorji$15,000Revolution in Primate Conservation: A Citizen Science-Based Research and Community-Led Interventions for People and Endangered Gee’s Golden Langur Coexistence in Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot-Bhutan
Katherine Culbertson$12,000Understanding and Overcoming Barriers to Forest Regeneration in Critical Lemur Habitat
Dr. Hoby Rabesandratra$9,000Making Lemur Conservation Effective in Madagascar by Proposing an Innovative, Pragmatic and Reflexive Conception of Environmental Education Based on Community and Science
Julieanne Montaquila$8,000Exploring the Role of Canopy-Dwelling Parasitic Mistletoes in the Regeneration and Biodiversity of a Malagasy Rainforest
Niony Mamy Koloina Rakotoarivelo$8,000Territory Exploitation Strategy of Propithecus diadema Relatively to the Fragmented and Continuous Forest at Tsinjoarivo-Ambalaomby Protected Area
Dr. Andrés Link$5,000Reconnecting Isolated Populations of Brown Spider Monkeys (Ateles hybridus): Aligning Primate Conservation, Restoration Ecology with Local Capacity Building in Central Colombia
Lucy Millington$2,500Developing New Methods for Monitoring Populations Using Novel Technology

2024 TDARFAC Award Recipients

In addition to the grant program, the Foundation also developed an annual awards program which honors scientists and activists who make exceptional contributions to the field of conservation and preservation of biodiversity.

This year, TDARFAC recognized the following individuals as the recipients of its inaugural awards program:

Devoted to Discovery: Women Scientist Conservation Award, $2,500

Eliette Noromalala, Ph.D. student at the University of Texas at Austin studying Anthropology

This inclusive award recognizes the extraordinary and cutting-edge scientific work of women in conservation science, particularly focusing on highlighting the work from females from underrepresented communities in higher education.

Noromalala was nominated by noted Malagasy primatologist Dr. Jonah Ratsimbazafy due to her efforts answering key questions regarding infectious diseases in wildlife for the conservation management of endangered lemur species. She is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Texas at Austin studying Anthropology and is a cofounder of Natior’Ala, a nature conservation association in Madagascar.

Advocates for Change: Future Conservationist & Activist Award, $2,500

Kuenzang Dorji, Director of Khebeythang Nature Center in association with the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment Research in Bhutan

This award honors the achievements of early career conversationists and activists in applied conservation.

Dorji was nominated by Dr. Lori Sheeran, professor of anthropology at Central Washington University, due to his work as a skilled research team leader and his role in primate conservation efforts in Bhutan. He is currently enrolled with the University of Calgary’s Anthropology Ph.D. program and is committed to preserving intact ancient forest in his home country of Bhutan.

Dorji was also awarded a 2024 grant from TDARFAC for his project entitled: Revolution in Primate Conservation: A Citizen Science-Based Research and Community -Led Interventions for People and Endangered Gee’s Golden Langur Coexistence in Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot-Bhutan.

“With the rapid changes our planet is undergoing, it’s more important than ever to support the next generation of conservation scientists to encourage them to effectively combat the effects of climate change through rewilding,” Dr. Ross said. “Through our awards program, TDARFAC can provide needed funding to up-and-coming conservationists who show enormous promise to help them achieve their career goals while building a more sustainable future.”

To learn more about TDARFAC and its award and grant programs, visit https://www.foundationforappliedconservation.org/grantsandawards.

About the Dr. Abigail Ross Foundation for Applied Conservation

Based in Chicago and Rockford, Ill. with a team operating in the field in Madagascar, The Dr. Abigail Ross Foundation for Applied Conservation aims to bridge the gap between academic breakthroughs in conservation science and applied conservation on the ground by generating actionable conservation interventions. The Foundation supports novel applications of techniques and approaches from the natural and social sciences while leveraging existing knowledge to solve real-world challenges.

A 501(c)(3) Private Foundation that formed in 2023, the Foundation accomplishes its goals by funding direct research and soliciting grant proposals and award nominations annually. Visit https://www.foundationforappliedconservation.org/ to learn more.

2023 AWIS Distinguished Doctoral Research Scholar: Interview with Jessica Ramirez

Written by Christina Nowicki, Ph.D.

Jessica Ramirez, M.S., is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Integrative Biomedical Sciences at Rush University in ovarian cancer research. She is a current AWIS-CAC member and a recipient of the 2023 AWIS Distinguished Doctoral Research Scholarship.

Jessica earned her BS in biology from Loyola University Chicago, before working at Rush University Medical Center in the Flow Cytometry, Molecular Oncology, and HLA laboratories as a laboratory technician for five years. During this time, she received her M.S. in molecular medicine from Drexel University while completing her thesis on lung cancer with the Molecular Oncology Laboratory at Rush University. She then began her Ph.D., also at Rush University, in 2020 in Dr. Animesh Barua’s laboratory for translational research in ovarian cancer. Here, her thesis currently focuses on aging and ovarian cancer. The goal of her research is to identify factors or biomarkers that could lead to advancements in early detection methods for ovarian cancer.

Check out our scholarships page for more information about scholarships for women in STEM!


Tell me a little about your background. What made you want to get into science?

Growing up, my family was always big on science. My dad was a chemical engineer, so he was already in a STEM field. He really pushed us to be the best that we could be in those fields. For me, I just ran with it. In the summertime for fun, we would do math and science books for kids. I know that’s weird, but that’s what I would do. I still had friends I would hang out with! Progressing, going into high school, math and science were always the two subjects I loved most.

How did you initially become involved/interested in cancer research?

When I started college, I took a human genetics class and loved it. The professor was amazing, and she made the information easy for students to understand. For my undergraduate, I did a biology degree and started working at Rush immediately afterward. I started as a lab technician in the flow cytometry department, as well as HLA (human leukocyte antigen) testing, and then moved to molecular oncology. While I was working there, I pushed because I wanted to learn more and didn’t want to get bored doing the same repetitive task. So, they continued to train me, ultimately leading to molecular oncology. That’s what really started my love for research in oncology. 

While working there, I knew I wanted to return to school and began a master’s degree in molecular medicine through Drexel University. I loved it because you could do your degree online and I didn’t have to stop working. Since I was already working in molecular oncology, I was able to do my thesis research with the director at the time. I continued to work after that, but knew I still wanted to go further. That led me to the Integrative Biomedical Sciences program at Rush, and it just took off from there. Working at Rush in the oncology field and being connected firsthand to the pathologists and oncologists there made me realize “Cancer research is what I want to do”.

What is your Ph.D. thesis currently on?

My research focuses on aging and the development of ovarian cancer. Women are typically diagnosed with ovarian cancer in their early to mid-60s. When you age, your cells are exposed to chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. My work aims to find mechanisms or biomarkers that influence chronic inflammation and oxidative stress that can lead to the onset of ovarian cancer. This includes looking at ovaries, fimbria, epigenetic changes, or if there are any mutagenic DNA adducts that form.

Another section of my research also focuses on how we can reverse epigenetic changes. We’re asking, “if we see these epigenetic changes occurring and what mechanisms lead to those changes, how can we reverse them?” That’s where Withaferin A comes into play, which is the active ingredient in ashwagandha. We’re interested in looking at age-associated malignant transformation and how Withaferin A could possibly reverse these changes to prevent or slow the progression of ovarian cancer.

Why ovarian cancer specifically?

Women who get diagnosed with ovarian cancer often don’t get diagnosed until the late stages because many are asymptomatic, so they believe the symptoms they’re having are part of the normal progression of menopause. Unfortunately, that’s why a lot of doctors also miss the initial symptoms.

There are also invasive procedures required to have ovarian cancer diagnosed. We’re interested in finding an early detection mechanism or creating an early detection product that isn’t as invasive as current methods but is still reliable. The blood/serum marker they currently use to detect ovarian cancer is not reliable. Sometimes, it has lower expression even if you have ovarian cancer or will show increased expression if you instead have an autoimmune disease. The end goal of this research is to identify markers that could lead to the diagnosis of ovarian cancer at earlier stages with less invasive methods.

What are your plans/career goals after you graduate?

I would like to go into the industry field, specifically as a medical science liaison. I like that they’re a middleman between a product and physicians. I did KOL (key opinion leader**) engagement when I was doing research and I really enjoyed it. I’m hoping to stay in oncology, not necessarily ovarian cancer, but I would like to stay in the cancer field. 

How has being a woman in science impacted your career? How has being a member of AWIS benefited your journey?

Growing up from elementary all the way to college, I’ve always been one of a handful of women in my courses. For a long time, it seemed so male-dominated that it could be a bit discouraging. Unfortunately, some professors would dismiss you or even talk down to you. On the other hand, you’d have other professors that were all about lifting you up and pushing you to do the best that you could. I don’t want to say it’s been challenging, but it has been an interesting journey.

I do see things slowly changing, though. Like AWIS – it’s amazing to have this community that pushes women to do and be their best. And further, having scholarships to help get them to the next level hugely helps the community. I get a bit emotional talking about it.

I come from a family where in my dad’s generation, the women weren’t allowed to go to school past high school because it was thought they needed to be home taking care of their family. My dad raised three girls and that’s why he pushed us so hard in science. He knew we could advance in STEM and wanted to give us opportunities his sisters never had. It’s great to see AWIS and other organizations also pushing to make a change. 

If you had one piece of advice for girls entering the STEM field, what would it be?

Try to find a person, group, or organization that will give you support within your field. It’s easy to become and feel discouraged when things don’t pan out the way you’ve planned but having that support system can help through the rough times and keep you from giving up. Always remember, there is nothing wrong with standing out and being confident. 


**KOL (key opinion leader): A well-known and trusted professional who is an expert in their particular field. For example, a well-respected physician who gets reports on research and helps to decide how to implement that research in a clinical setting.

AWIS Announces 2022 ‘Shooting Star’ Chapter Awards

The Association for Women in Science (AWIS) has designated nine ‘Shooting Star’ Chapters in recognition of their initiatives throughout 2022 that supported the AWIS mission of advancing women in science. These chapters include Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, East Bay California, New York Women in Natural Sciences, Notre Dame, Philadelphia, Sacramento Valley, and Seattle.

The winning chapters were determined by AWIS’ Chapter Advisory Committee based on the information submitted in each chapter’s annual report. Each of these chapters will receive a $350 grant for use in chapter activities that impact their community and raise the profile of women in science.

Meredith Gibson, AWIS CEO, stated, “Once again, AWIS members and chapters have showcased their abilities to have a significant impact on their communities, regardless of the chapter size. We are fortunate to have many dedicated members and volunteer leaders working to advance women in science.”

Shooting Star for Mentoring

  • AWIS Chicago added a “Speed Circle” to their successful Summer Mentoring Circles program that allowed participants to meet more mentors and mentees. They also had AWIS leaders engage rising high schoolers and create a podcast interviewing their middle school science teacher.

Click here to read the full article!

AWIS Chicago Newsletters

 

Please click on the links below to download current and past versions of the AWIS Chicago Newsletter.

Current issue: Summer 2011 Newsletter

Past issues:

Winter 2011 Newsletter

Summer 2010 Newsletter

Fall 2009 Newsletter

Fall 2008 Newsletter

Spring 2008 Newsletter

Spring 2007 Newsletter

National AWIS news, including featured Chapter news, can be found in the AWIS magazine and at www.awis.org.

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