Darbarker Prize

The Pennsylvania Academy of Science established the Darbaker Prize in 1952.  Funds for the award are made available through a bequest of the late L.K. Darbaker, 1939 PAS President. Referring to the award, Dr. Darbaker’s will states: “Any sum applicable to the Pennsylvania Academy of Science shall be for grant or grants in Microscopical Biology.”

Proposals related to research in any topic in microscopic biology, or microscopic science, will be considered.  Examples include, but are not limited to: microbiology, microscopy, cell biology, histology, embryology, molecular biology, morphology, biochemistry, and particle physics.  Proposed projects that can be completed within 1 year will be preferred. Award applicants must be faculty at 2 or 4 year institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and an active member of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science (PAS).  Not a member of PAS?  Go to:  https://pennsci.org/membership-registration/

Preference will be given to full-time junior (tenure-track) faculty members.  The recipient will be selected by a committee of the PAS Board of Directors.  An initial prize of $1500 will be awarded to the recipient.  An additional $500 will be awarded immediately following the submission of a manuscript pertaining to the proposed research to the Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science.  Recipients are also highly encouraged to present their research at the PAS Annual Meeting.

The requirements for the award application are as follows:

  • An updated CV.
  • A detailed proposal, not to exceed 5 double-spaced pages that outlines the research plan (not including the cover page).
  • The proposal should include:
    • a cover page with title, author, and abstract
    • an introduction containing a brief literature review of the nature of the research with a description of a clear gap in knowledge that will be addressed with the research.
    •  research objectives/aims with description of the novelty and significance of project
    • proposed methodology
    • indication of faculty experience in proposed experiments
    • research timeline with expectation of ~1 year projects.
  • Please upload your proposal to the PAS website by May 31, 2025.  Website submission portal will be open by May 1, 2025 with more specific information.

**A final report summarizing the results of the research is due 1 year after the award is disbursed.**  Please send to Andre Walther (awalther@cedarcrest.edu).

The recipient will be selected based on the merit and feasibility of their proposed research.  If you have any questions regarding this funding opportunity, please contact Andre Walther (awalther@cedarcrest.edu).

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