Marion Smith Spector Prize

The Department annually awards the Marian Smith Spector Prize to an undergraduate who has compiled
an excellent academic record and submitted an outstanding thesis. The Prize is in memory of Marian Smith
Spector (1916-1973) who received a B.A. in Zoology from Washington University in 1938. The award is made
available through the generosity of Mrs. Spector's family and friends. The Marian Smith Spector Prize is awarded
to a graduating senior majoring in biology who has demonstrated a capacity for outstanding scholastic achieve-
ment in both course work and independent study in the Life Sciences. All candidates for the research emphasis
in biology are eligible, and must be nominated by their research mentors on the Thesis Certification form when
the thesis is submitted. Mrs. Spector attended St. Louis Public Schools and entered Washington University in
1934. She majored in zoology and studied with Dr. Viktor Hamburger and participated in his research in embry-
ology. In connection with this work, she spent summers at the Marine Biological Laboratories in Woods Hole,
Massachusetts. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi, graduating with honors in 1938. She was
secretary of the Metropolitan Transit Survey commission and was active in other civic and community affairs.
She was the author of "Survive or Succumb," a manual on how to accommodate to multiple sclerosis.

Ralph S. Quatrano Prize

Established through a generous donation from Katherine Day Reinleitner, the Ralph S. Quatrano Prize is awarded annually to the thesis showing greatest evidence of creativity in design, research methodology, and/or broader scientific implications. The award is given in honor of Dr. Ralph Quatrano, the Spencer T. Olin Professor of Biology and former Chair of the Biology Department. Examples of creativity include, but are not limited to research that combines conceptual questions or approaches from multiple disciplines to address biological questions in a novel way, use of novel methodological strategies, and unexpected results that open unexpected new lines of inquiry. All students with a research emphasis in biology are eligible and must be nominated by their research mentors on the Thesis Certification form when the thesis is submitted.

Harrison D. Stalker Award

The Department also awards the Harrison D. Stalker Award annually to a graduating senior whose college career is distinguished by scholarship, service, and breadth of interest. Professor Stalker was an evolutionary biologist, Drosophila geneticist, and dedicated teacher. In addition to science, he took great interest in the arts. He was a photographer of professional ability. The Stalker Award honors a student who in addition to doing excellent work in science has demonstrated interest and competence in a variety of areas in the humanities. Students may nominate themselves or receive nominations from others by contacting Stella Rusel on or before the first Monday following spring break.

Gar Allen Prize in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Biological Sciences

Professor Emeritus Garland E. Allen III was a renowned science historian and an outstanding leader in the Washington University Biology Department, advocating for racial and gender equality in the biological sciences. To honor his work and his memory, the Biology Department is proud to award the Gar Allen Prize in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Biological Sciences to a graduating senior biology major who has made significant effort in DEI. Nominations are welcomed from all faculty, staff, graduate, and undergraduate students, including self-nomination. The spirit of this award is to celebrate DEI efforts in the biological sciences, and as such nominations should include 1) a letter of support detailing how the student has promoted diversity, equity, or inclusion within the Biology Department, as well as 2) a current resume/CV. Submit nomination materials to Stella Rusel.