Departmental Scholarships
The following scholarships/awards/fellowships have been made available through the generosity of alumni and other friends of the Chemistry Department. Any student who is a chemistry major or is conducting research with a chemistry faculty member is eligible to apply for the scholarships. An overall GPA of at least 3.0 is required for application; awards are based on both merit and financial need.
Scholarship applications are available in late December and are typically due mid-February for both the summer and academic year awards. All applications are available on the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub, WiSH (https://wisc.academicworks.com/). Students must first complete the General Application on their WiSH dashboard (https://wisc.academicworks.com/users/sign_in), before applying to specific scholarship opportunities offered through the Department of Chemistry (https://wisc.academicworks.com/opportunities/9195)
More information can be found both in WiSH and on the chemistry website (https://www.chem.wisc.edu/content/chemistry-scholarships).
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Scholarships for the academic year
Recipients of academic year scholarships must be enrolled full-time for the semester(s) they receive the award.
- Undergraduate Student Support in Chemistry Scholarship
- Ackerman Scholarship
- Alpha Chi Sigma Alumni Scholarship
- Margaret McLean Bender Scholarship
- Don Brouse Memorial Scholarship
- Andrew Dorsey Memorial Scholarship
- Henry and Eleanor Firminhac Chemisty Scholarship
- Eugene and Patricia Kreger Herscher Scholarship
- Stephen Morton Research Fellowship – Undergraduate Mentee
- Lindsey Theresa Plank Memorial Scholarship
- Lindsey Plank and Richard Putze Memorial Scholarship
- Mabel Duthey Reiner Scholarship
- Robert Franklin Taylor Scholarship
- Karen Telander Undergraduate Research Fellowship
- Martha Gunhild Week Scholarship
- George and Arleen Ziarnik Scholarship
Scholarships for undergraduate chemistry research students
Recipients of the summer research scholarships must enroll in at least one credit of research for the summer term. Summer research award recipients must also commit to working at least 30 hours per week for eight weeks during the summer, or 240 hours over the entire summer. Students cannot receive both the UW-Madison Hilldale/Holstrom Research Fellowship and a chemistry summer research scholarship for the same summer.
- Eugene and Patricia Kreger Herscher Scholarship
- Edwin and Kathryn Larsen Scholarship
- Wayland Noland Undergraduate Research Fellowship
- Edward Panek Memorial Scholarship
- Walter and Young-Ja Toy Scholarship
- Undergraduate Student Support in Chemistry Scholarship
- Alfred Wilds Scholarship
- National Starch and Chemical Foundation
Dept. of Chemistry Undergraduate Research Travel Award
This travel award provides funding for undergraduates to attend a professional chemistry conference. Awards range in size from $200 to $400 depending on the number of applicants and funds available. Be on the look out for more details about eligibility and applying in the Fall and Spring semesters, or contact us for more details!
UW-Madison Scholarships and Awards
The following scholarships are campus-wide. Each scholarship requires a separate application based on the award’s individual requirements.
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Ruth Bleier Scholarship in the Natural Sciences
Ruth Bleier Scholarship in the Natural Sciences: Established to encourage women to pursue careers in the natural sciences or medicine. Awards are made to women students at UW-Madison who, is an undergraduate woman student enrolled in the Gender and Women’s Studies major or certificate program AND in a major or certificate program in science or health. The one-year award will provide a stipend of $1,000, which will be awarded at the end of the Spring semester to be used during the following academic year. Applications are due in March.
Hilldale Undergraduate/Faculty Research Fellowships
Hilldale Undergraduate/Faculty Research Fellowships: The Hilldale Undergraduate/Faculty Research Fellowships support undergraduate research done in collaboration with UW-Madison faculty or research/instructional academic staff. Applicants must have at least junior standing at time of application, must plan a collaborative research project with a UW-Madison faculty/staff member, and plan to graduate after May of the application year. Applications are due in February.
Holstrom Environmental Scholarship
Holstrom Environmental Scholarship: This award supports undergraduate research with an environmental focus done in collaboration with UW-Madison faculty or research/instructional academic staff. Applicants must be at least junior standing at time of application, must plan a collaborative research project with a UW-Madison faculty/staff member, and plan to graduate after May of the application year. Applications are due in February.
Welton Honors Summer Sophomore Research Apprenticeship Grant
Welton Honors Summer Sophomore Research Apprenticeship Grant: The ultimate purpose of the apprenticeship is to allow talented students to learn what research is and how it is conducted within a discipline by participating in actual, cutting-edge research. You are responsible for finding a faculty member whose research interests you, but once you find a research mentor, the grant will support your summer research in the form of a $2500 stipend. Applicants must be L&S honors sophomores. Applications are due in March.
ACS-Hach Land Grant Undergraduate Scholarship
ACS-Hach Land Grant Undergraduate Scholarship: This generous $10,000 per year scholarship is available to a student majoring in chemistry (or biochemistry) who intends to teach high school chemistry after graduation. It is renewable each year, and it can even be used for to earn a Master of Science in Curriculum & Instruction at UW-Madison, which provides certification for teaching high school chemistry. The application for this scholarship will be available through WiSH and due mid-February. More information about this scholarship can be found here.
Sophomore Research Fellowships
Sophomore Research Fellowships
Supports undergraduate research done in collaboration with UW–Madison faculty or research/instructional academic staff. The student researcher receives $2,500, and the faculty/staff research advisor receives $500 to help offset research costs. At the time of application, the student must be a sophomore, a freshman who will have more than 24 credits after May 2020, or a transfer student in their first year of attendance at UW-Madison. The application deadline is February 28, 2020. Directions for accessing the on-line application, eligibility and selection criteria can be found at the UAA website.
Wisconsin Idea Fellowships
These fellowships are awarded to undergraduate students to develop and implement community-based research or service-learning projects that will meet a community identified need (local, national or international) under the supervision of a UW-Madison faculty or instructional academic staff member. Fellowships provide three (3) academic credits, a program implementation budget of up to $5,000 for individual projects and up to $7,000 for group projects. If desired, students can designate a portion of their funds as a scholarship, to be administered through the Bursar’s Office. The application deadline for 2020-21 fellowships is February 7, 2020. (There is a priority deadline of January 24, 2020 for applicants seeking proposal feedback from the Wisconsin Idea Fellowship Advisor).The on-line application, instructions and FAQs can be found on the Morgridge Center for Public Service website.
UW-Madison McNair Scholars Program
UW-Madison McNair Scholars Program
The McNair Scholars Program is an academic excellence opportunity for undergraduate students with aspiration and strong academic potential for advancing toward doctoral (Ph.D.) study upon completing the bachelor’s degree. The program creates a bridge between undergraduate and graduate education through academic, research, and scholarly experiences. Students selected for the McNair Scholars Program join a supportive community of peers, faculty, staff, and alumni. Applications will remain open on the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH) from January 1st- February 3rd, 2020.
National Scholarships and Awards
Each external scholarship requires a separate application based on the award’s requirements. This list is not exhaustive. You may also wish to visit the UW-Madison Undergraduate Academic Awards Office for additional information.
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ACS Women Chemists Committee/Eli Lilly Travel Awards
ACS Women Chemists Committee/Eli Lilly Travel Awards: A program designed to provide funding for undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral women chemists to travel to a scientific meeting to present the results of their research. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and must be a women that has not previously received this award. Preference will be given to the following: 1) any applicant who is making her first presentation at a national or major meeting. 2) Graduate or postdoctoral applicants who have not presented at a national or major meeting since leaving undergraduate school. Applications are due Sept. 15 for meetings between Jan. 1 and June 30. Applications are due February 15 for meetings between July 1 and Dec. 31.
Priscilla Carney Jones Scholarship
Priscilla Carney Jones Scholarship: Provides scholarships for female undergraduate majors in chemistry or related disciplines who are beginning their junior or senior year of study. Sponsored by Paul Jones and the Alpha Chi Sigma Educational Foundation, the scholarship is a one-time award on the basis of both need and scholarship. The award amount is subject to available funding, but will be a minimum of $1,500 to defray tuition, books, and lab fees. Applicant must be a rising junior or senior female undergraduate student enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university, majoring in chemistry or chemistry-related science (pre-med students are not eligible) with a minimum overall GPA of 3.25, have completed research or plan to conduct research during undergraduate years, be a US citizen or permanent resident and able to demonstrate evidence of financial need according to an award letter from the applicant’s institution and estimated unmet need for the upcoming academic year. Application deadline is May 1.
Charles D. Coryell Award
Charles D. Coryell Award: This award honors undergraduate students who have completed research projects in nuclear or nuclear-related areas. Each year there is a $1000 prize to be awarded to the successful nominee(s). Contributions are judged on the basis of ingenuity, novelty, and potential usefulness. To be eligible, a student must have been an undergraduate at some time during the 12-month period prior to the deadline date for submission of applications for the award. The student may be sponsored by a faculty member at the home institution or by a research director at another institution where the student performed the work.
Iota Sigma Pi Undergraduate Award for Excellence in Chemistry
Iota Sigma Pi Undergraduate Award for Excellence in Chemistry The nominee shall be a senior woman chemistry student in an accredited college or university that grants a four year degree. The nominee may be, but need not be, a member of Iota Sigma Pi. Nomination for the award must be made by members of the institution’s faculty, and only one nomination may be submitted by each department. Nominations must be received by February 15 and the recipient will be notified by April 15. The award will be $500, a certificate, and a waiver of dues for one year.
Undergraduate Research Award in Agriculture and Food Chemistry
Undergraduate Research Award in Agriculture and Food Chemistry: This award recognizes an outstanding undergraduate student conducting research in agriculture and food chemistry. Students who are a junior or senior undergraduate are encouraged to apply.
I. M. Kolthoff Enrichment Awards for Undergraduate Students
I. M. Kolthoff Enrichment Awards for Undergraduate Students: This award is intended to encourage talented chemistry undergraduate students to pursue further studies in analytical chemistry. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents. Preferences are given to those who have not made a previous presentation at a national scientific meeting, prior recipients are not eligible.
Travel Awards for Outstanding Undergraduate Students in Organic Chemistry
Travel Awards for Outstanding Undergraduate Students in Organic Chemistry: This award recognizes outstanding undergraduate students in organic chemistry. Applicants must be a junior, have engaged in fulltime research for at least 1 summer, and have the intent to enter graduate school in chemistry. Preferences will be given to those students who plan to present a poster or paper at a meeting, limit of one award per institution.
Travel Awards for Undergraduates Traveling to the National Organic Symposium
Travel Awards for Undergraduates Traveling to the National Organic Symposium: This travel award provides $500 in financial assistance to attend the National Organic Symposium. Awardees are selected by the incumbent and future ACS Executive Officers using research experience and letters of recommendation. The recipients should have engaged in at least one significant research project and have the intent to enter graduate school in chemistry. Preference will be given to those who are presenting posters at a National Organic Symposium. Each university department can have only one award recipient. Application deadlines for these awards will be in early March in the year of the National Organic Symposium.
UNCF-Merck Undergraduate Science research Scholarship Awards
UNCF-Merck Undergraduate Science research Scholarship Awards: These awards are intended to help African American undergraduate students who are interested in science to further their science education and potentially pursue science careers. The UNCF-Merck awards provide tuition support and opportunities for research experience in a state-or-the-art research facility for two summers. Each award provides up to $30,000. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. Resident and an African American, enrolled full-time in a four-year college or university, a junior, must have completed two semesters of organic chemistry, a minimum GPA of 3.3, and committed to work as an intern for 2 summers at a Merck research facility.
Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship
Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship: Established by congress in 1986 to honor the career of Senator Barry Goldwater. These scholarships worth $7,500 encourage promising students to pursue a Ph.D. and a research career in engineering, mathematics or natural science fields. This is a national scholarship for sophomores or juniors. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, or national or resident aliens intending to obtain citizenship. Strong applicants have a GPA of 3.8 or above and previous research experience.
Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research Program
Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research Program: To support scientific investigations in any field. Applicants must be seeking support for a new research project or a continuation of a previous research project. There are no citizen restrictions for this award.
ACS DOC SURF program (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship)
These are $5000 fellowships to support summer research opportunities for outstanding undergraduate chemistry students who plan to conduct organic research. For more information: https://www.organicdivision.org/student-and-postdoc-awards/surf/ Application deadline is Feb. 14th.
External Resources for Scholarship Searches
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FastWeb
FastWeb: This service offers a free customized list of financial aid sources via a searchable database of more than 400,000 private sector scholarships, fellowships, grants, and loans from more than 3,000 sources for all levels of higher education and in all sorts of disciplines. Approximately 500 new scholarships are added to the database daily.
Community of Science Database Search
Community of Science Database Search: This site claims to be the “most comprehensive source of funding information available on the Web, with more than 25,000 records, representing over 400,000 funding opportunities, worth over $33 billion.”
Scholarly Societies Project
Scholarly Societies Project: This website which was compiled by the University of Waterloo Library provides links to a collection of scholarly society web pages. These web pages often provide information about grant, scholarship, fellowship, and post-doctorate funding via their journals and newsletters.