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Guy D. Jordan Endowment Fund
The American Cichlid Association annually solicits applications for grants from the Guy D. Jordan Endowment Fund. Applications are due by April 30 and support research on any aspect of cichlid biology, regardless of status, nationality, or ACA membership.
Applications must follow the format below and be submitted by April 30 to Dr. Michael Kidd via the application submission form on this page.
Awards are announced at the ACA National Convention, typically held in mid- to late summer, with funds distributed shortly thereafter. Individual grants generally range from $600 to $1,500, depending on available funding and the number and quality of applications.
Application Format
Begin with a cover letter describing the relevance of your proposed goals to cichlid biology; include an email address. The application must have a brief, informative title and be no more than five double-spaced pages (12-point font, 1″ margins).
The Introduction should summarize relevant literature, clearly state the objectives, and explain the significance of the expected results. The Methods section should be concise yet detailed enough to evaluate the feasibility of the project. While the funding is not specifically for conservation, briefly noting any conservation relevance would be helpful to the ACA Board of Trustees. Include a separate Literature Cited section.
Submit a separate, detailed budget listing items in order of priority, along with a brief justification. Also provide a list of all current or anticipated funding for this or related research.
Include a curriculum vitae (maximum one page, single-spaced) with home address, phone number, email address, and—for U.S. citizens—a Social Security number. List publications from the past five years separately.
Award Condition
An easily fulfilled and pleasant condition of accepting an award is that the recipient shall publish a short popular account of the findings in Buntbarsche Bulletin (the journal of the American Cichlid Association); photos in the article are welcome, even for a lab study, and including one of yourself. Of course, the investigator is expected first and foremost to publish the findings in a referenced scientific periodical. We expect the recipient to acknowledge support from the Guy D. Jordan Endowment Fund in any publication resulting from the support.
Application Submission Form
Recipients
No Applicants
2025
No Applicants
2024
No Applicants
2023
No Applicants
2022
Kiedon Bryant | Georgia State University
Cortisol Synchronization Leads to Increased Reproductive Success in Convict Cichlids.
2021
Dr Natalie Van Breukelen | Goucher College
Examining Parental Defense and Offspring behavior in the Bi-Parental Convict Cichlid.
2020
Oliver Lucanus, Dr. Margaret Kalacska, Dr. Pablo Arroyo, & Dr. Leandro Sousa | McGill University
Habitat loss of the endemic Cichlids of Bocas del Torro Province, Panama.
Tom Morgan | University of Michigan
The Phylogeography of Cichlids in Guyana.
Miranda Yourick | University of Maryland
Characterization of a putative mutation responsible for color vision variation in African cichlids.
2019
No Applicants
2018
Alexandra (Sasha) Watkins | California State University
Genetic diversity and population structure of Cryptoheros septemfasciatus.
Tiffany Atkinson | Ohio State University
Testing the role of turbidity and diet on the reproductive traits of an African cichlid.
2017
Viviana Astudillo-Clavijo | University of Toronto
Ecomorphological Evolution of Riverine Cichlids.
Sam Borstein | University of Tennessee
Does Parental Care Strategy Constrain Diversification and Functional Performance in Cichlids?
Timothy Paciorek | Lehigh University
The Effects of Conflict on Pair Bonds and Parental Care Behaviors in Convict Cichlids.
Sarah Steele | University of Toronto
–The Role of Ontogeny and Body Size Evolution in Diversification of Neotropical Cichlid Fishes.
2016
Layla, Al-Shaer | Lehigh University
Social and Environmental Influences on Convict Cichlid (Amatitlania siquia) Offspring Development and Behavior in the Crater Lakes of Nicaragua.
Richard Oldham | Ohio State University
Consistent Individual Differences in Boldness of an African Cichlid Fish.
2015
Elizabeth Foster | University Louisville
Close Quarters: How Population Density Affects Signaling Behavior in the Convict Cichlid of Nicaragua.
Michael Pauers | University Wisconsin- Milwaukee
Considering Konings’ Conjecture: The Role of Turbulence in the Development of Body Shape in the African Cichlid Genus Labeotropheus.
Nicholas Santangelo | Hofstra University
The Neurobiology of Monogamy and Biparental Care in Convict Cichlid Fish.
2014
Sam Borstein | University Tennessee
Detecting Craniofacial Convergent Evolution Among Two Adaptive Radiations of African Cichlids.
Edward Burress | Auburn University
The Evolution of Ecological Differentiation Among Lotic Species Flocks of Neotropical Cichlid Fishes.
Sarah Ramaker | University of Louisville
Male and Female Thorichthys meeki May Use Different Traits to Evaluate a Potential Mate.
2013
Kimberly Little | Lehigh University
Social Experience and Reproduction in Convict Cichlids.
2012
Martin Husemann | Baylor University
Empirical Testing for the Underlying Evolutionary Forces of Population Differentiation in Lake Malawi Rock-Dwelling Cichlids.
Joseph Leese | Lehigh University
Sex Differences in Mate Assessment Throughout Pair Formation in a Monogamous Species Amatitlania nigrofasciata.
Jacob Lowenstein | American Museum of Natural History
The Evolutionary Genetics of Lamprologus lethops: A Blind Cichlid from the Lower Congo Rapids.
Claire O’Quin | University Maryland
The Genetic Basis of Pigmentation Pattern Differentiation in Lake Malawi African Cichlid Fishes.
Karen Sullam | Drexel University
The Gut Bacterial Communities of Tanganyikan Cichlids.
Piyumika Suriyampola | University Louisville
Do Small Females Become Fierce in Defending Its Brood to Compensate for Their Inferior Eggs?
2011
Sam Borstein | Cal State University, Sacramento
Can Patterns of Melanophore Development in New World Cichlids be used as a Phylogenetic Character?
Ashley Rogers | University California, Santa Cruz
Differential Allocation of Reproductive Effort due to mate Selection: A Test of Parental Care and Mate Quality in the Convict Cichlid Amatitlania nigrofasciata.
Adam Smith | University of Maryland
Designer Eyes: Can Developmental Light Environments Determine Adult Color Vision?
2010
Natalie van Breukelen |Mount Aloysius College
Interactions between Native and Immigrant Cichlid Effects: Long and Short Term Effects On Reproductive Behavior.
Suzanne Gray | McGill University
Assessing the Influence of Increased Turbidity on African Cichlid Fish Biodiversity.
Pascal Hablutzel | University Zurich
Intra and Interspecific Cichlid Diversity of the Bolivian Lowlands.
2009
Natalie van Breukelen | Mount Aloysius College
Interactions between Native and Immigrant Cichlid Effects: Long and Short Term Effects On Reproductive Behavior.
Suzanne Gray | McGill University
Assessing the Influence of Increased Turbidity on African Cichlid Fish Biodiversity.
Pascal Hablutzel | University Zurich
Intra and Interspecific Cichlid Diversity of the Bolivian Lowlands.
2008
Bianka Bommarito, California State Univ, Sacramento
– Does Egg Size Influence Spawning Temperature Preference in Neotropical Cichlid Fish.
Samanthat Hilber, University of Florida
– Patterns of Monogamy in a Biparental Cichlid Fish Archocentrus nigrofasciatus.
Michael Tobler, University of Oklahoma
– The Evolutionary Ecology of Two Distinct Morphotypes of Archocentrus nigrofasciatus in Northeastern Honduras
Catherine Wagner, Cornell University
– Patterns of Genetic and Morphological Diversification in Lake Tanganyika’s Tropheine Cichlids.
2007
Luciana Ramirez
– Southern South American Eartheaters: Effects of an external Factor on Delayed Mouthbrooding Behavior.
Anthony Mazeroll
– Paternity and Gene Flow in Symphysodon aequifasciata and Pterophyllum scalare in Rio Nanay Peru.
2006
Lesley Hamamoto, California State, Sacramento
– Infection of Convict Cichlid Eggs by Oomycete Watermolds and Parental Care.
Erin Reardon, McGill University
– Effects of Hypoxia on the Life History and Energetics of the African Cichlid, the Egyptian Mouthbrooder.
2005
Terence Lee, University of California, Los Angeles
– Female Ornamentation in the Convict Cichlid.
Lynn Drennan, California State University, Sacramento
– Female-Female Competition in the Kribensis (Pelvicachromis pulcher).
Ron Oldfield, University of Michigan
– Behavioral Influences on Sex Differentiation in the Midas Cichlid/Refurbishment of Robert Rush Miller’s Fish Lab.
2004
Susan Renn, Bauer Laboratory, Harvard University
– Sex Role Reversal and Dominance Genes in African Cichlids
Brook O. Swanson, Northern Arizona University
– Trophic Polymorphism in Herichthys minkleyi.
C. Darrin Hulsey, University of California, Davis
– Population Genetics of the Texas Cichlid Herichthys cyanoguttatus.
2003
Martin T. O-Connell, University of New Orleans
– Movement and Population Expansion of an Exotic Cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus).
Martine Maan, University of Leiden (Netherlands)
– Sexual Selection and Speciation in Lake Victoria Cichlid Fish.
2002
Robert Schelly, American Museum of Natural History
– Revision of the Lamprologines via DNA Sequencing.Description of work
2001
Hernan Lopez Fernandez, Texas A&M University
– Systematics of the South American Geophagines via DNA Sequencing.
2000
Kasi Jackson, University of Kentucky
– Female Mating Coloration in Convict Cichlids.
Michael J. Pauers, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
– Speciation of the Polychromatic Genus Labeotropheus.
1999
Karen A. Kellogg, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
– Timing of Cichlid Diversification.
Wayne S. Leibel, Lafayette College
– Evolution of Mouthbrooding in Geophagine Cichlids.
1998
Lauren J. Chapman, University of Florida
– Cichlids of Cuatro Cienegas (Herichthys minkleyi).
1997
J. Todd Streelman, University of South Florida
1996
J. Jasper Lament, University of Miami
– Exotic “C.” uropthalmus in Florida Waterways.
Ronald N. Coleman Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
– The Cichlid Egg Project – field.
1995
Craig S. Berg Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Ronald N. Coleman Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, L.A. Marian, Nadurai Kamarzj University (India)
– The Cichlid Egg Project – laboratory.
1994
Paul George Sackley, Harvard University
1993
Ivan Chase, Ph.D., State University of New York, Stony Brook
– Dominance in Lake Malawi Mbuna.
1992
David B. Jepsen, Deptartment of Wildlife and Fisheries Science, Texas A&M University
1991
Dan Fromm, Cherry Hill, NJ
– Geographic Variation in Amphilophus alfari.
1990
Anthony Ribbink, JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology (South Africa)
– Status of Tilapia guianasana.
1989
Robert Lavery, Queen’s University (Canada)
– Parental Investment in the Convict Cichlid.
1988
Gordon McGregor Reid | Horniman Museum, England
Conservation of Lake Victorian Cichlids.
1987
Axel Meyer | University of California, Berkeley
Morphological/trophic plasticity in Parachromis managuensis.
Marcie Friedman | University of California, Berkeley
Reproductive ecology of Herichthys minkleyi at Cuatro Cienegas.
Peter Wimburger | Cornell University
Morphological/trophic plasticity in Geophagus steindachneri.