COSAM News Articles 2015 November Hill receives inaugural Advancement of Research and Scholarship Achievement Award

Hill receives inaugural Advancement of Research and Scholarship Achievement Award

Published: 11/09/2015

Auburn University ornithologist Geoffrey Hill is the recipient of the inaugural Research Advisory Board Advancement of Research and Scholarship Achievement Award for his accomplishments and innovative research during his 22 year career.

Hill is an Alumni Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Sciences and Mathematics and curator of birds for the Auburn University Museum of Natural History. His research focuses on the function and evolution of ornamental traits in birds and on the co-evolution of hosts and pathogens. He has garnered $8.8 million in external grant support, including grants from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.

"His efforts exemplify the high quality, competitive research and scholarly activity that increases understanding, provides solutions and improves lives at home and around the world," Auburn University Vice President for Research and Economic Development John Mason said. "I am grateful to the Research Advisory Board for their support and pleased that they chose to honor Dr. Hill with this significant award."

Hill, who will receive a $25,000 grant to further his research, was honored at Auburn’s recent "This is Research: Faculty Symposium" and will be recognized in February at the Faculty Awards Ceremony. The award is recognized as Auburn’s most prestigious research award.

He is among the most cited and published ornithologists and behavioral ecologists in the world, and was recently recognized with the 2014 Brewster Award for lifetime achievement in ornithology, the world’s highest honor for an ornithologist.

His awards also include the Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering from President Bill Clinton, the Auburn University Creative Research Award, the Auburn University Graduate School Faculty Mentor Award and the Dean’s Research Award, given by Auburn’s College of Sciences and Mathematics. For his achievements in research and teaching, he also was named an Auburn University Alumni Professor.

The Auburn University Research Advisory Board is a group of more than 40 industry professionals from across the country who actively support Auburn’s efforts to grow a fully-robust research and scholarship culture in which faculty discover new knowledge, support economic development and enrich the lives of others.