Sonja Birthisel Selected for Prestigious Correll Fellowship
Sonja Birthisel, a Ph.D. student advised by Dr. Eric Gallandt in the School of Food and Agriculture, has been selected for the prestigious Correll Fellowship for the 2015-2016 academic year. The $25,000 award includes a 12 month stipend of $19,500, a tuition waiver of up to 19 credits and full health insurance during the 2015-2016 academic year.
While the Graduate Faculty Council was impressed by all of the nominees for the Correll Award, Sonja’s academic achievements and her research goals were considered exceptional. Sonja graduated with an M.S. in Ecology and Environmental Sciences at UMaine in 2013, and began her Ph.D. studies Fall 2014. In his nomination letter in support of Sonja, Professor Gallandt said, “Sonja was the most ambitious and self-motivated M.S. student I’ve mentored. In addition to her outstanding academic record, she collected and will be publishing the most comprehensive farm-scale dataset on weed seed predation in the U.S. Her enthusiasm for this project, strong academic skills, and exceptional field research experience far surpass that of her peers.” Sonja’s Ph.D. research is focused on the ecology and management of annual weed establishment.
Please join us in congratulating Sonja on this prestigious achievement!