The Bob Bilger Graduate Student Award
Robert C. Bilger (1926-2002) served the Department of Speech and Hearing Science both as a faculty member and department head during his University of Illinois career, which spanned almost 25 years. Dr. Bilger is recognized internationally as one of the leading researchers in psychoacoustics and hearing. For over thirty years he received continuous support from the National Institutes of Health to fund his research and was among the first to bring rigorous psychoacoustic techniques to the investigation of auditory dysfunction. A number of his scientific papers are considered to be landmarks in the discipline.
The Bob Bilger Graduate Student Award is dedicated to graduate students who are enrolled at UIUC and engaged in research to study the auditory system. Award recipients will be determined based upon academic merit and potential for continued research progress, with preference given to PhD students. Up to $4,000 can be awarded. Applications and support materials must be received no later than 5:00 pm on Monday, February 23, 2026.
Award recipients will be determined based upon academic merit and potential for continued research progress, with preference to doctoral students – specifically:
Considerations
- Progress toward a graduate degree with preference toward the Ph.D.
- Research interest nearest to that pursued by Bob Bilger as described in the student’s essay
- Innovative nature and promise of research program
- Emerging signs of graduate productivity
- Strength of faculty letter
- Potential impact of research findings on science and society
- Perceived commitment to pursue research in hearing
An interdisciplinary faculty committee will conduct a review of the proposals. Students are eligible to receive the award on a one-time basis.
To apply for the Bob Bilger Graduate Student Award, please complete and submit the application at this link. Your application and all support materials must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. Note that the required essay and your curriculum vita must be attached to the form.
This includes:
Requirements
- An essay that details your research accomplishments and the direction you would like your research to take in the future. The essay should also explain the problem that you are addressing, the specific goals of your research, and the impact/significance of this work on psychoacoustics and hearing science. In a separate text box in the application, also describe how your research is related to that of Professor Bob Bilger. Please submit this essay in the application form, found here.
- Your curriculum vita that includes degrees, academic and professional experiences, publications, presentations, awards, and honors. Please attach your CV to the same form, found here.
- A letter of support from a faculty member who is able to evaluate the merit of your research program. Faculty can send their letter by email (BilgerAward@mx.uillinois.edu) or regular mail to the address listed below.
Bob Bilger Graduate Student Award Recipients
| Date | Name | Major |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Charles Nudelman | Speech & Hearing Science |
| 2025 | Prajna BK | Speech & Hearing Science |
| 2024 | Namitha Jain | Speech & Hearing Science |
| 2024 | Rohit Mathur Ananthanarayana | Speech & Hearing Science |
| 2024 | Simran Sing | Speech & Hearing Science |
| 2023 | Gibbeum Kim | Speech & Hearing Science |
| 2023 | Kaley Graves | Speech & Hearing Science |
| 2022 | Simin Soleimanifar | Speech and Hearing Science |
| 2021 | Mr. Rafay Khan Ms. Ali Marquess Ms. Sylvia Murgia | Neuroscience Speech and Hearing Science Speech and Hearing Science |
| 2020 | Jungeun (Jenny) Won Shraddha Shende | Bioengineering Speech and Hearing Science |
| 2019 | YiHsin Tai Hannah Staisloff | Speech & Hearing Science |
| 2018 | Kevin Stebbings | Neuroscience |
| 2017 | Georgiy Yudintsev | Neuroscience |
| 2016 | Guillermo Monroy | Engineering |
| Alexandria Lesicko | Neuroscience | |
| 2015 | Sarah Robinson | Engineering |
| Sara Schmidt | Neuroscience | |
| 2014 | Jake Carpenter-Thompson | Neuroscience |
| 2013 | Andrea Trevino | Engineering |
| 2012 | Cac Nguyen | Engineering |
| 2011 | Woojae Wan | Speech & Hearing Science |
| 2010 | Lynn Brault | Speech & Hearing Science |
| 2009 | Hee-Cheong Chon | Speech & Hearing Science |
| 2008 | Jaimie Gilbert | Speech & Hearing Science |
| 2007 | Brian Powers | Neuroscience |
| 2006 | Sarah Melamed | Speech & Hearing Science |
| 2005 | Jeremy Loebach | Biological Psychology |
| 2004 | Jeffery Larsen | Speech & Hearing Science |
| 2003 | Hanna Stevens | Neuroscience |
Bilger Award Selection Committee
College of Applied Health Sciences
110 Huff Hall, MC-586
1206 South Fourth Street
Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: 217-244-6600