Graduate Researchers Award

Annual award aims to foster innovation in the use and mobilization of biodiversity data shared through the GBIF network

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2017 Young Researchers Award winner Nora Escribano, in the stacks at the Museum of Zoology, University of Navarra, Spain.

The Graduate Researchers Award (previously the Young Researchers Award) is an annual programme aimed at fostering innovative research and discovery in biodiversity informatics. The GRA provides prizes to two graduate students—generally one Master’s candidate and one Ph.D candidate—nominated by GBIF Participant countries.

The call for nominations for the 2024 Graduate Researchers Award will open by mid-January 2024. While you're waiting, check out our 2023 winners: André Vicente Liz of Portugal and Dorothy Akoth of Uganda!

Since its inception in 2010, the Award has encouraged innovation in the use and mobilization of biodiversity data shared through the GBIF network.

Calls for nominations go out each spring, and interested students must submit applications to either a national Head of Delegation or node manager from a GBIF Participant country. These national delegations may nominate a maximum of two students each year to the GBIF Secretariat.

Graduate students wishing to be considered for the nominations should consult the websites of their national GBIF Participants or contact the Head of Delegation or node manager directly. The GBIF Secretariat and national Participants whose nominees are selected to receive the award announce the award winners each autumn just before the annual Governing Board meeting.

Previous winners

Year Winner, country affiliation Winner, country affiliation
2023 André Vicente Liz (news item)
Portugal
Dorothy Akoth (news item)
Uganda
2022 Christopher Schiller (news item)
Germany
Armand Rausell-Moreno (news item)
Spain
2021 Mike Belitz (news item)
United States
Julen Torrens Baile (news item)
Spain
2020 Vaughn Shirey (news item)
United States
Ángel Luis Robles Fernández (news item)
Mexico
2019 Nicky Nicolson (news item)
United Kingdom
Marcos Daniel Zárate (news item)
Argentina
2018 Kate Ingenloff (news item)
United States
Raquel Gaião Silva (news item)
Portugal
2017 Nora Escribano Compains (news item)
Spain
Itanna Oliveira Fernandes (news item)
Brazil
2016 Juan M. Escamilla Mólgora (news item)
Mexico
Bruno Umbelino da Silva Santos (news item)
Brazil
2015 Fatima Parker-Allie (news item)
South Africa
Gonzalo Enrique Pinilla Buitrago (news item)
Colombia, Venezuela & Mexico
2014 Vijay Barve (news item)
India
Caoimhe Marshall (news item)
Ireland
2013 Emma Gomez-Ruiz
Mexico
Nathan Ranc
France
2012 Salvador Arias
Argentina
Elkin Tenorio Moreno
Colombia
2011 César Antonio Ríos-Muñoz
Mexico
Conor Ryan
Ireland
2010 Amy McDougall
United Kingdom
Andrés Lira-Noriega
United States