PhD candidate, Rebecca Branconi, of the Buston Lab was the recent recipient of the Thomas H. Kunz Award for 2018. Rebecca’s research focuses on reassessing a classic question in evolutionary biology – why has sociality evolved? Her research combines descriptive and experimental work to test how different factors, ecological and social constraints specifically, influence intra-group structures using two different tractable study systems, the humbug damselfish Dascyllus aruanus and the clown anemonefish Amphiprion percula.
This award provides support for Ecology, Behavior & Evolution (EBE) Ph.D. candidates who have completed the qualifying exam, with a preference for those conducting field research in the award year. The award was established in 2015 in recognition and appreciation of Professor Thomas H. Kunz’s mentorship. His current and former graduate students established this award to serve as a lasting legacy of Tom’s contributions at BU and beyond. Learn more about Dr. Kunz and how you can support this award.