BRENDA WEEMS BENNISON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP IN GRADUATE STUDIES Department of Biological Science Florida State University The Brenda Weems Bennison Memorial Scholarship in Graduate Studies provides support for the awardee's participation in an off-campus training program, specialized course, or organized research experience. Selection of the awardee is based on academic qualifications and the relevance of the proposed off-campus experience to the applicant's educational and research goals. Award: Up to $1,000 |
Brenda was raised in Gainesville, Florida, one of five children of Dr. Howard and Camilla Weems. Her father, a noted entomologist, was on the faculty at the University of Florida, and Brenda as a child traveled extensively with her family on "collection trips". Her primary and secondary education was in Gainesville, Florida. She received a B.A. in Anthropology from Emory University in 1977. She earned a second bachelor’s degree from Florida State University, graduating Magna Cum Laude in Biological Science in 1989.
Her graduate education in the Department of Biological Science at Florida State University was a combination of molecular biology and marine biology. She published numerous abstracts and papers on marine bacteria. She was granted two patents on "Species Specific DNA Probes for Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio cholerae." In Dr. Robert Reeves' research laboratory she developed DNA probes for a number of bacteria and studied the use of such probes for monitoring vibrios in oysters and in marine environments. She was also instrumental in obtaining two major research grants (totaling more than $300,000) from NOAA on the development and use of DNA probes for marine bacteria. Her Ph.D. dissertation, defended in 1995, was titled "Detection of Vibrio vulnificus using oligo-DNA ribosomal RNA-targeted probes and investigation of the 'viable but non-culturable' state."
One of Brenda's most valuable experiences as a graduate student was attending the Summer Program on Marine Ecology at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. The Program was specifically on the "Concepts, Techniques and Application of Molecular Probes." The program was extremely valuable to her dissertation research, and she truly enjoyed working with other prominent scientists at the workshop. She returned to FSU with new ideas and a renewed enthusiasm for her work. This experience meant a great deal to Brenda, and is the basis for establishing this scholarship as a "travel grant" for an off-campus research experience or workshop.
While pursuing the development of her DNA probe techniques in Tallahassee, Brenda died tragically in November of 1997. She is survived by her parents, two sisters, a brother and her ex-husband, Charles Bennison.
The scholarship was established by the Weems and Bennison families and by Dr. and Mrs. Robert Reeves to honor the memory of Brenda Bennison. An award of $1000 will be given each year to a graduate student in the Department of Biological Science at Florida State University. The funds are for travel and expenses incurred in an off-campus research experience or workshop that provides instruction in the areas of molecular and/or cell biology. The off-campus experience should enhance or compliment the awardee's thesis or dissertation research.