Brief: New funds for student research at the Mountain Research Station
Hymenoxys grandiflora, also known as old man of the mountain, blooms on Niwot Ridge above the Mountain Research Station. (Courtesy, Scott Taylor)
The has pledged $75,000 to support student research projects at the Mountain Research Station. The donation will fund three years of research expenses and stipends for undergraduate and graduate students working on scientific investigations in the alpine.
The foundation already contributed $15,000 toward five undergraduate research grants in 2024 and 2025. These research experiences allow students to take a first step toward a career in science.
Ecology and evolutionary biology student Isabella Manning spent a summer studying plant-pollinator interactions in a subalpine meadow above the station. Earlier this year, Manning authored a paper covering the investigation in Oecologia — an enormous accomplishment for an undergraduate researcher.
According to Mountain Research Station director Scott Taylor, the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation grants serve a dual purpose. They provide seed funding for important research in a rapidly changing alpine environment, while also giving students valuable experience in field science.
“This is a unique opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to pursue independent research — and to build hands-on skills in the field,” he said.