The Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Dietrich School have a series of scholarships and awards accepting applications now. See below for a list of current opportunities, and make sure to visit our Undergraduate Student Scholarships page for more.
David Halliday Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research
Nomination Deadline: Friday, March 11, 2022
This award is given in recognition of outstanding research performed by an undergraduate student.
Eligibility: Any Pitt undergraduate student who has conducted research with a faculty member in the Department of Physics & Astronomy is eligible for this award, regardless of whether they are a major. Students are nominated by faculty to Dr. Wood-Vasey.
Julia Thompson Excellence in Undergraduate Scientific Writing
Nomination Deadline: Friday, March 11, 2022
This award encourages and recognizes the ability of departmental undergraduate majors to write about scientific matters clearly, interestingly, and accurately.
Eligibility: Faculty nomination letter describing the nature of how the paper satisfies the criteria for this award. Students are nominated by faculty to Dr. Wood-Vasey.
Summer Undergraduate Research Awards (SURA)
Award: $4,000
Deadline: Monday, March 14, 2022
Recipients will conduct independent research over the summer with an offered stipend & enroll into a 12-week SURA course on communicating research findings.
Requires: Cover Page, Research Proposal, Community Statement addressing a prompt, Letter of Support from Faculty, Confirmation that student will not hold other summer research awards, (optionally) IRB submission.
Eligibility: Dietrich School Undergraduates who can secure a faculty mentor.
Apply Here
Thomas-Lain Fund Scholarship Essay Competition
Award: $1000-5000
Deadline: Tuesday, March 15, 2022
Applicants will submit a 4-5 page essay based on a yearly prompt. Awards may be renewable.
Requires: Cover Page, Essay, Transcript.
Eligibility: Physics & Astronomy undergraduate (& graduate) majors with a 3.25 or higher GPA and at least 1 full term of study remaining.
Apply Here
Emil Sanielevici Undergraduate Research Scholarship
Award: $4,000
Deadline: Friday, March 18, 2022
Recipients will create a research proposal and present their research in a seminar.
Requires: Cover page, Abstract, Research Question, Research Plan/Approach.
Eligibility: Physics & Astronomy undergraduate majors with at least 1 full year of study remaining.
Apply Here
David Halliday Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Research Poster
Nomination Deadline: Wednesday, March 30, 2022
This award is given to a Physics & Astronomy major for an outstanding poster presentation on their research project at the department's annual poster session in the spring semester.
Eligibility: Any major in the Department of Physics and Astronomy who presents a research based poster at the annual poster session, and who has at least one additional full-term of undergraduate study remaining.
Peter F.M. Koehler Academic Achievement Awards
No Deadline; Awards Selected by Faculty
These awards were established in 2000 to recognize the top achieving physics and astronomy majors in their sophomore/junior & junior/senior years.
Eligibility: Any sophomore, junior, or senior major in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Students are eligible regardless of winning this award in the past.