Beta Sigma Kappa - International Optometric Honor Society

Applying to the BSK Student Research Grant

The Beta Sigma Kappa (BSK) Student Research Grant Program continues for more than 75 years as the only source of research funding dollars provided solely to students at accredited schools or colleges of optometry in the United States and Canada. This program’s funding has benefited hundreds of optometry students whose academic curiosity led them to seek answers to a vast variety of professionally-based questions covering a wide area of vision science and clinical practice. We encourage all optometry students to apply for BSK research grant funding in support of your planned project.

Applications and guidelines are available through the links below, or from the BSK Faculty Advisor at your school or college of optometry. Once completed, the application should be sent electronically to Mira Aumiller, OD, FAAO, BSK Executive Director, at bskexec@yahoo.com. All optometry students, irrespective of membership in BSK, are eligible to apply for research grants from BSK.

Currently, the maximum grant award is $2,000.00.

The deadline for receipt by the BSK Executive Office of completed applications for student research grants is April 1. Applications received after that date cannot be accepted. After review by the BSK Board of Regents, the BSK Central World Council will select the grant recipients and award funding by the beginning of June.

Grant Review Process

Proposals are reviewed by Beta Sigma Kappa’s Board of Regents:

Willard B. Bleything, O.D., M.S.

Anne E. Clark, O.D., F.A.A.O.

Anthony P. Cullen, MSc, O.D., PhD, DSc, FCO, F.A.A.O., Dip.C.L.P.
Elizabeth Hoppe, B.S., O.D., M.P.H., Dr. PH

Thomas Freddo, O.D., Ph.D., F.A.A.O.

Gerald E. Lowther, O.D., Ph.D., F.A.A.O.

Karla Zadnik, OD, PhD

Joan Stelmack, OD, MPH

David Troilo, PhD

BSK Student Grant Application Materials

Beta Sigma Kappa grant application materials are provided on this website. Please thoroughly read the grant overview, rules, and guidelines prior to completely the grant application.

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2022 BSK Travel Grant Winner:

Donnie Koonce
Southern College of Optometry

2022 BSK Student Grant Winners:

Maddi Fortman
Ohio State University College of Optometry
Characterizing Biomechanical Parameters of Eyes with Keratoconus Using Two Dynamic Bidirectional Applanation Devices

Zachary Turple
New England College of Optometry
Intravisit repeatability of retinal optical coherence tomography measurements in cerebral small vessel disease

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2021 BSK-COVD Grant

Patricia M. Cisarik, OD, PhD
Daniel Fuller, OD
Southern College of Optometry
Inter-examiner repeatability of eyelid laxity measurements in adults

Mitchell Scheiman, OD, PhD
Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University
Development of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures for Children with Concussion-Related and Non-Concussion-Related Non-Strabismic Binocular Vision, Accommodative and Visual Tracking Problems: Phase1

2021 BSK-AOF Grant

Kevin Willeford, OD, MS, PhD, FAAO
NOVA Southeastern University
Do non-strabismic individuals use slow fusional vergence to stabilize binocular alignment across gaze positions?

2021 BSK Travel Grant

Julie Lin
State university of New York, College of Optometry

2021 BSK Student Grant

Maria Riaz
New England College of Optometry
Diagnostic accuracy of visual field tests for children: a systematic review

Anastasia Logotheti
New England College of Optometry
Stereoacuity deficits in keratoconus: the relative importance of aniseikonia

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2020 BSK Student Grant

Brittany Bowman
New England College of Optometry
Exploration of visual function, eccentric viewing training and blur perception in bilateral central vision

William Hogue
New England College of Optometry
Diurnal Choroidal Thickness Fluctuations Under Positive and Negative Contrast Conditions

Becky Su
New England College of Optometry
Choroidal and Retinal Thickness Profiles in Children Receiving Myopia Control Treatment: A Longitudinal Retrospective Study

2020 BSK-AOF Grant

Jack Phu, PhD, FAAO
University of New South Wales School of Optometry and Vision Science
Phenotyping open-angle glaucoma subtypes to determine disease prognosis

2020 BSK-COVD Grant

Wei Hau Lew
University of Houston College of Optometry, Texas, Houston
Disparity-defined Letter Test for Evaluating Stereo Deficits as a Function of Spatial Frequency

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2019 BSK Student Grant Winner

Matthew Barnes, NECO Student
Effects of digital light stimuli on emmetropization

2019 BSK-AOF Grant

Sima T. Mozdbar, OD
Assistant Professor at UH
University of North Texas Health Science Center,
North Texas Eye Research Institute
Cognitive Dysfunction and the 2-Item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire

2019 BSK-COVD Grant

Maureen D. Plaumann, OD, FAAO
Clinical Instructor and Ph.D. Student
The Ohio State University
Quantifying Suppression in Adults with Strabismus and Amblyopia

2019 BSK Travel Grant

Salwa Saleh
Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University

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2018 BSK-AOF Grant Winner

Xiaohua Zhuang, PhD
Assistant Professor of Psychology, Illinois College of Optometry
Title: Flicker Adaptation Probes Detection of Contrast Sensitivity Loss in Early Glaucoma

2018 BSK Travel Grant Winner

Lea Hair
University of Houston, College of Optometry

2018 BSK Student Grant Winner:

Hannah Yoon
New England College of Optometry
The effects of timing and duration of exposure to light with balanced cone excitation in the prevention of myopia

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2017 BSK TRAVEL GRANT

Cameron Sefton
NECO Student
Chromatic and achromatic visual evokes potential following mild traumatic brain injury

2017 BSK-AOF GRANT

Adam J. Peiffer, OD
Advanced Practice Fellow, Binocular Vision and Pediatrics
Collaborative Assessment of Neurocognition and Vision in Adolescents with Sports-related (CANVAS) Concussion Study

2017 BSK-COVD GRANT

Catherine L. Heyman, O.D., F.C.O.V.D., F.A.A.O
Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University
Accommodative Response in Children with Visual Impairment as
Compared to Age Matched Children with Normal Vision

2017 BSK Student Grant Winner:

Yuno Iwabuchi
Pacific Univeristy College of Optometry
A study on the use of soft, hybrid, and piggback contact lenses for daily wear orthokeratology

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2016 BSK Student Grant Winners:

Lenna Walker
New England College of Optometry
Blur Perception & Eye Movements: Relationship to Refractive Error

Micaela Gobeille
New England College of Optometry
Measuring Outcomes of Low Vision Rehabilitation Delivered by a Mobile Clinic

2016 BSK-COVD Grant Winner:

James Kundart, OD, Med, FAAO, FCOVD-A
Pacific University College of Optometry
“Comparison of enchroma and chromapop filters for the correction of color vision deficiency”

2016 BSK-AOF Grant Winner:

Anna Ablamowicz, OD, FAAO
University of Alabama at Birmingham
“Investigation of an inflammatory component of lid wiper epitheliopathy in dry eye disease”

2016 BSK Travel Grant Winner:

Lenna Walker
New England College of Optometry
“Blue perception & eye movements: relationship to refractive error”

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2015 BSK Student Grant Winner:

Hilary Hamer
New England College of Optometry
A Visual Memory Mechanism for Binocular Summation in Alternating Stroboscopic Vision Therapy

2015 BSK-COVD Grant Winner:

Jameel Kanji OD, MSc.
New England College of Optometry
Assessment of Concussion-Related Visual Dysfunction in Pediatric and Adolescents

2015 BSK-AOF Grant Winner:

Jillian F. Meadows, OD, MS, FAAO
University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Optometry
The Isolated and Interactive Effects of Omega-3 and Omega-6 FattyAcids on the Lipidome and
Inflammatory Proteome of HumanMeibomian Gland Epithelial Cells in Health and Disease

2015 BSK Student Travel Grant Winner:

Sara Nourani
University of Houston, College of Optometry
Optic nerve head and lamina cribrosa geometry and their relationship with axial
length in young, normal eyes

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2014 BSK Student Grant Winners:

Sheila D. Morrison

Pacific University, College of Optometry

Exploring the fluid reservoir and tear exchange beneath a scleral lens

Laura Goldberg

New England College of Optometry *(additional funding)

The role of atropine in the emmetropization response to changes in color and luminance contrast

2014 BSK-COVD Grant Winner:

Tamara Oechslin, OD, MS

The Ohio State University College of Optometry

Imaging of Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Effects (I-CITE)

2014 BSK-AOF Grant Winners:

Kristine Dalton, OD, PhD, MCOptom, FAAO, FBCLA

School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo

Examination of the effects of mild truamatic brain injury on visual function, visual-motor

coordination and postural stability in adolescents.

Melanie Akau, OD, FAAO

New England College of Optometry

Quality of life, macular thickness, and central visual field characteristics in primary open angle glaucoma

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2013 Grant Award Winners

Tanya D'Cruz, University of Waterloo, School of Optometry and Vision Science

"Can adaptive processes explain AC/A ratios?"

Laura Goldberg, The New England College of Optometry

"Determining the sign of defocus in accommodation and emmetropization: The role of atropine in the emmetropization response

to changes in color and luminance contrast."

Stacy Hu, The New England College of Optometry

"Efficacy of non-invasively delivering Ranibizumab (Lucentis) to the back of the eye for the treatment of macular degeneration."

Research Grants

Applying to the BSK Student Research Grant

Grant Review Process

BSK Student Grant Application Materials

2013 Grant Award Winners