The Department of Physics and Astronomy annually recognizes the progress and development of our undergraduate and graduate students with scholarships, essay competitions, and research funding. Each of these awards is recorded publicly on a plaque, located on the first floor of Allen Hall.

In addition to local awards, several students studying with the department achieve national recognition through such prestigious awards as the Goldwater and Marshall Scholarships.

Sigma Pi Sigma Inductees

Founded in 1921, Sigma Pi Sigma is a member honor society of the Association of College Honor Societies. Our chapter includes over 550 inductees. The National Society society has some 75,000 historical members. Election to Sigma Pi Sigma is a lifetime membership.

Students elected to membership must attain high standards of general scholarship and outstanding achievement in physics. Undergraduate candidates must be in the upper one-third of their class in general scholarship to meet the minimum standard that chapters may use. A higher minimum average is often established for physics courses. Undergraduate candidates must have completed at least three semesters of full-time college work and at least three semester courses in physics that can be credited toward a physics major.

National Award Winners

Thomas-Lain Fund Scholarship

Sponsored by The Pittsburgh Foundation, this award is issued to both undergraduate and graduate students in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. The awardees are selected by a committee on the basis of essays submitted by the applicants that are based upon a scientific topic chosen for the contest each year.

Awardees

Emil Sanielevici Undergraduate Research Scholarship

This $4,000 tuition scholarship is awarded annually to an undergraduate major in the Department of Physics and Astronomy in memory of our student, Emil Sanielevici (1979-2000), whose enthusiasm and love of scientific research continue to inspire us all.

Halliday Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research

This award is given in recognition of outstanding research performed by an undergraduate student. Any University of Pittsburgh undergraduate student who has conducted research with a faculty member in the Department of Physics and Astronomy is eligible for this award, regardless of whether she or he is a physics or physics and astronomy major. Students are nominated by their research advisor.

Peter F. M. Koehler Academic Achievement Award

The Peter F.M. Koehler Academic Achievement Awards were established in 2000 to recognize the top achieving physics and astronomy majors in their sophomore/junior and junior/senior years. This award is given annually and recognizes overall academic performance. Students are eligible for this award, regardless of whether she or he won this award in the past. 

Julia Thompson Excellence in Undergraduate Writing

This award encourages and recognizes the ability of departmental undergraduate majors to write about scientific matters clearly, interestingly and accurately. The student is nominated by their professor.

Halliday Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Research Poster

This award is presented to a Physics and Astronomy major for an outstanding poster presentation on their research project at the department's annual poster session in the Spring semester.

NASA Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium Scholarship Award

The  NASA Space Grant program encourages students to enter STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields to support undergradaute research. This scholarship is given on a semester basis to awardees expecting to work fulltime on a research project directed by a faculty mentor.