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Dolan Regulations and Application Procedures

Application deadline December 1

Submit application digitally (in PDF format) to [email protected]

Purpose: An expert applied environmental statistician, David M. Dolan (1949-2013) devoted his career to Great Lakes research to further the understanding of phosphorus loadings to the Great Lakes through modeling and statistics. He was a full professor at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, and prior to joining the university worked for 27 years as an Environmental Statistician for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the International Joint Commission. Using applied mathematics, including statistics and computer modeling, he was instrumental in developing a quantitative understanding of the Great Lakes that could inform policy decisions and influence management actions. 

The intent of the bequest is to support individuals pursuing a future in applied environmental statistics/modeling pertaining to the Great Lakes .

Number and Value of Awards: The David M. Dolan Scholarship is $3,000 (U.S.) to be awarded annually based on the funds available from the memorial endowment set up by IAGLR for this purpose, and at the discretion of the scholarship judging committee. In addition, the scholarship winner will receive a one-year membership in IAGLR, including a subscription to the Journal of Great Lakes Research. The recipient will receive the award at the conference banquet.

Eligibility: Students must be enrolled in a master's or doctoral program and must not be previous recipients of the Dolan Award.  Preference will be given to excellent students whose current graduate research is in the spirit of Dr. Dolan's work, utilizing quantitative and applied tools focused on Great Lakes ecosystems. Relatives of IAGLR officers and/or directors are not eligible.

Application Elements: A complete application is composed of four parts:

  1. Application form.
  2. A brief title and extended abstract of proposed research, including its relevance to the application of applied environmental statistics/modeling in studying the Great lakes (no more than 2 single-spaced pages).
  3. Current curriculum vitae.
  4. Letter of endorsement from a supervising professor, sent directly to [email protected] with the student's and award name in the subject line. The letter should be in PDF format and indicate the following:
    • Name, address, e-mail, and telephone number of major professor;
    • Statement of student's stage of progress, and anticipated time to completion of degree;
    • Endorsement of student's application.
  5. Transcripts indicating the student's academic performance in the last 2 years of their undergraduate degree, plus any graduate courses they have taken over past two years.

Criteria for Judging: Applications will be evaluated on the basis of scientific merit, academic excellence, presentation, originality, and relevance of the graduate student's current research to the scholarship's goals.

Terms and Conditions of Awards: The David M. Dolan Scholarship will be awarded with the student's prior understanding and acknowledgement that an oral presentation of the research will be presented  at an IAGLR annual conference.