The Erling J. Ordal Award Fund was established in 1988 as a memorial to Professor Ordal through contributions made by friends, former students, colleagues, and members of his family.

Dr. Ordal was a professor in the Department of Microbiology (and its predecessor, the Department of Bacteriology) at the University of Washington from 1937 until his retirement. He acquired an international reputation for his research in general bacteriology, particularly for his studies of microbial taxonomy and ecology. A bacterial fish pathogen Vivrio ordalii, was names in his honor. Dr. Ordal was greatly admired by colleagues and students alike.

The Erling J. Ordal fund provides an award to the undergraduate student judged to have written the best microbiology research paper each year.