Awards and Scholarships

The Desert Research Institute recognizes the work of outstanding scientists and students through a variety of awards and scholarships. To learn more about our awards, explore the links below.

Earth & Ecosystem Sciences

Joshua trees

General Frederick Lander Scholarship for Native Americans

The General Frederick Lander Scholarship for Native Americans consists of annual awards of $3,000 to American Indian or Alaskan Native students at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the University of Nevada, Reno. The scholarship, administered by the Earth and Ecosystem Sciences of DRI in collaboration with the scholarship offices of the two universities, is open to juniors and seniors with an overall grade point average of 3.0 or better.

Joshua trees

The Colin Warden Memorial Endowment

The Colin Warden Memorial Endowment was established by Mr. Warden’s family and friends after his death in 1991. The endowment recognizes outstanding graduate students working on DRI projects or who have DRI faculty members directly supervising their graduate research. The amount of the award will be $1,500. The award will be based on the best research paper submitted by a student on subjects related to identification and/or resolution of an environmental problem.

Joshua trees

Jonathan O. Davis Fellowship

The Desert Research Institute Jonathan O. Davis Research Scholarship is awarded annually to outstanding Masters and PhD students conducting research relevant to the Quaternary geology, geomorphology, and/or geoarchaeology of the Great Basin.

Hydrologic Sciences

water fallings

George Burke Maxey Fellowship

The George Burke Maxey Fellowship is a one-year award given to a current DRI graduate research assistant who is enrolled either in the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, or University of Nevada, Reno hydrology/hydrogeology graduate program pursuing discretionary research in water resources that will serve as the basis of their Master’s thesis or Ph.D. dissertation.

water fallings

George Burke Maxey Award in Water Resources Research

This award was established in the honor of Dr. George B. and Jane C. Maxey, former Executive Director of the Division of Hydrologic Sciences and his wife. The amount of the award is $1,500.00. This award is based on a research paper submitted by the student on a subject related to water science and engineering.

Atmospheric Sciences

clouds in a blue sky

Wagner Award for Women in Atmospheric Sciences

The Peter B. Wagner Memorial Award for Women in Atmospheric Sciences is awarded each year to a woman pursuing a Masters or Ph.D. in atmospheric sciences or a related program at a university in the United States.