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UF/IFAS Office of the Dean for Research

UF/IFAS Office of the Dean for Research

Awards of Excellence for Graduate Research

Submission Deadline: January 22, 2025

Overview: The UF/IFAS Office of the Dean for Research is committed to recognizing the best thesis and best dissertation completed during each calendar year. In addition to identifying overall best thesis and overall best dissertation, we also identify best thesis and best dissertation in each of our major focus areas: (1) Agricultural, (2) Natural Resources, and (3) Human Systems.
Plaques will be presented to all winners as part of the UF/IFAS Florida Agricultural Experiment Station’s Annual Research Awards Ceremony on May 20, 2025. Supervisory committee chairs will also be recognized with a plaque as part of the ceremony. Overall best thesis and overall best dissertation awardees will also receive cash awards ($1,500 Doctorate; $1,000 Master).
Eligibility: All theses and dissertations completed under majors granted in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences are eligible (see below). Each M.S. and each Ph.D. major listed by program is allowed to submit one nomination. The nominee’s supervisory chair or co-chair must have a tenure home in UF/IFAS.
Selection Process: Two committees will be established of three faculty members each to evaluate the nominations and select both overall and each program area’s best M.S. thesis and best Ph.D. dissertation based on the following criteria:
1. The quality of the thesis or dissertation presentation (i.e., organization, style, clarity, and writing).
2. The quality of the research (i.e., thoroughness, contribution to the field, importance, originality, depth, and scope).
The relative value of each of the criteria is the decision of the selection committee.
Nomination Process: All nominations must go through the academic lead for the major (typically your Department Chair) and submitted by the Chair or designee at the following website by January 22, 2025: https://ufresearch.infoready4.com/#ifas.
The information requested includes:

1. Nomination form (online):

a. Nominee information (name, UF ID#, major, title, email, and current mailing address)
b. Supervisory Committee Chair/Co-chair (name and email information)
c. Nominator (name and email information)
d. Focus area: (1) Agricultural, (2) Natural Resources, and (3) Human Systems.

2. Uploaded PDF files:

a. Letter of nomination
b. Thesis or dissertation
c. Supporting materials (e.g., statement by chair or departmental selection committee, or list of     
    presentations, publications, or other outputs derived from the research)
Submission Process: Upon submission, all nominators will receive an immediate email confirmation. If you have any other questions, please contact Dr. Damian Adams, Associate Dean for Research, at dcadams@ufl.edu. For technical issues concerning the website, contact Brian Gray ( seven7@ufl.edu).

 

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2024 IFAS/CALS Majors

 

Master of Science (M.S.)

Thesis

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Dissertation

Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Agricultural Education and Communication

Agricultural Education and Communication

Agronomy

Agronomy

Animal Molecular and Cellular Biology

Animal Molecular and Cellular Biology

Animal Sciences

Animal Sciences

Entomology and Nematology

Entomology and Nematology

Family, Youth and Community Sciences

Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences

               Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences

Food and Resource Economics

Food and Resource Economics

Food Science

Food Science and Human Nutrition

Forest Resources and Conservation

Forest Resources and Conservation

Genetics and Genomics

Horticultural Sciences – Environmental

Horticulture

Horticultural Sciences – Environmental

Horticulture

Horticultural Sciences – Horticultural

Sciences

Horticultural Sciences – Horticultural

Sciences

Interdisciplinary Ecology

Interdisciplinary Ecology

Microbiology and Cell Science

Microbiology and Cell Science

Plant Pathology

Nutritional Sciences

Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences

Plant Breeding

Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology

 

Plant Pathology

 

Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences
 

Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

 

Youth Development and Family Sciences

 

  • 2023 Best Thesis Winners

     

      Author Title Chair(s)
    Agricultural Systems Jessica Griesheimer Beetle Herding: Optimizing the biological control of Dioscorea bulbifera using semiochemicals.

    Xavier Martini

    Carey Minteer
    Natural Resources (and Best Overall) Kaili Gregory Population modeling as decision support science for two species of imperiled freshwater turtle. Conor McGowan
    Human Systems Rachel Biderman An exploration of self perceived leadership styles of small-operation farmers. Laura Greenhaw
  • 2023 Best Dissertation Winners

     

      Author Title Chair(s)
    Agricultural Systems (and Best Overall) Clebson Dos Santos Tavares Midgut surface proteome of Diaphorina citri and toxicity of gut-targeting insecticidal proteins for use in citrus greening management.

    Bryony Bonning
    Natural Resources  Fernando Aristizibal High resolution flood inundation mapping from remote sensing observations and hydrology models at continental scales. Jasmeet Judge
    Human Systems Alexandra Bastidas Lactobacillus johnsonii N6.2-Purified lipids as bioactive components of immunoregulation. Claudio Gonzalez

Click here for the full list of Best Theses - M.S. in UF/IFAS from 1987-2021.

Click here for the full list of Best Dissertations - Ph.D. in UF/IFAS from 1987-2019.