FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas chapter of the scientific research honors society Sigma Xi presented its annual Aubrey E. Harvey Graduate Research Awards to graduate students Derek Meyers and Tyson B. Raper.

Meyers is a doctoral candidate in the department of physics in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. Raper is a doctoral candidate in the department of crop, soil and environmental sciences in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.

The Aubrey E. Harvey award is made to the Sigma Xi member graduate student or students who performed the most outstanding research on campus during the preceding year. Meyers and Raper received certificates on April 22 at the U of A Sigma Xi chapter’s annual Initiation and Awards reception. They each received $475 for the award.

The family and friends of Harvey established the award in 1978 in recognition of his contributions to the graduate program at the University of Arkansas. Harvey was a longtime faculty member in the department of chemistry who also served as the campus’ director of research and sponsored programs from 1964 until his death in 1975.

Meyers, from Rogers, Ark., has nine research publications, including three as lead author, in areas ranging from thin films to X-ray absorption spectroscopy. A Doctoral Academy Fellow at the U of A, he earned a bachelor’s degree in physics at Michigan Technological University in 2009 and a master’s in physics in 2012.

His faculty mentor is Jak Chakhalian, who holds the Charles E. and Clydene Scharlau Endowed Professorship and directs the Laboratory for Artificial Quantum Materials at the University of Arkansas.

Raper, from Auburn, Ala., has five refereed research publications, including three as lead author. His research area is cotton physiology, and he is developing and testing a drought stress index to characterize experienced drought in a given growing season.

A Distinguished Doctoral Fellow at the U of A, he earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business and economics at Auburn University in 2009 and a master’s in plant and soil sciences from Mississippi State University in 2011.

His faculty mentor is Derrick M. Oosterhuis, who holds the Clyde H. Sites Professorship in International Crop Physiology.