The Jim Willis Studentship

The Jim Willis Studentship was established by Cybec Foundation and honours the late Dr James Hamlyn Willis, a distinguished former senior member of staff at the National Herbarium of Victoria.

A professional botanist for 60 years, Dr Willis worked at the Herbarium for many years before retiring in 1972. Dr Willis wrote the definitive reference text on Victorian flora, Handbook of Plants in Victoria, in which he described more than 3,000 species in two volumes (published in 1962 and 1972 respectively).

The annual vacation studentships are offered to students in the third or fourth year of a Science degree who have an interest in plant and/or fungal systematics. The eight-week studentship allows recipients to participate, under supervision, in one of the research programs at the Royal Botanic Gardens over the summer break.