Undergraduate Awards and Scholarships

Application Required:

Shoemaker-Strickler Memorial Scholarship

Total award up to $15,000 (Equal to resident cost of tuition, fees, and books).

This scholarship is open to newly admitted students who will begin their undergraduate studies next Fall. Eligible applicants must be majoring in Physics and have an ACT composite score of 30 or above and an ACT Math subscore of 30 or above.

This award is renewable for a total of four years or to graduation, whichever comes first, as long as the student remains enrolled full-time as a Physics major in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and maintains a 3.50 University of Iowa grade point average.

For more information, visit the Shoemaker-Strickler Scholarship page.

The Strayer-Rairden Scholarship in Physics

One award of $1,000 (renewable for up to three successive years following the initial award).

Deadline: January 31st

The Strayer-Rairden scholarship is available to an entering freshman from the state of Iowa. This person is selected by the Department of Physics and Astronomy as the state's best-qualified applicant who has declared physics or astronomy as their major. This scholarship is awarded on the basis of academic merit, not financial need.

As long as a scholarship winner maintains a 3.2 grade point average, and remains in the declared major specified above, the scholarship may be renewed for a total of four years or the completion of a baccalaureate degree, whichever comes first.

For guidelines and application procedures, please see the CLAS scholarship portal.

The Acevedo Family Academic Scholarship

The Acevedo Family scholarship, in the amount of $1000, will be awarded to a physics student who is integrating computing into their choice of academic studies, specifically through their major or minor in both physics and computing. In order to be eligible for this award, a student must be majoring in Applied Physics (CS track) or Physics/Astronomy (BA or BS) with a second major or minor in Computer Science. The student must have completed at least one CS course or be enrolled in a course for the spring semester.

Application deadline is February 1 through the CLAS scholarship portal.

The Acevedo Family Research Scholarship

One award in the amount of $2500 will be made for a student who is majoring in physics or astronomy and who is incorporating novel or significant computing resources, tools, or skills in their research. Applications will consist of a description of the planned research that includes how computing resources, tools or skills are used, and a brief letter from a faculty mentor. The faculty mentor and/or research may be done outside of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, but the student must be a current physics or astronomy major in good standing.

Applications should be submitted to Misty Lyon (misty-lyon@uiowa.edu) and are due by December 13th.

Edward B. Buchanan, Jr. and Mary Louise Buchanan Scholarship

One award of up to $5,000

Awarded to a currently enrolled undergraduate student in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences who has earned over 60 semester hours of college credit and has a minimum UI gpa of 3.50.Student must be an Iowa resident, have graduated from an Iowa High School, and majoring in chemistry, physics, biology, or mathematics. Student must be seeking their first undergraduate degree and demonstrate financial need through completing the FAFSA.

For more information, visit the CLAS Scholarships page.

George S. Schaeffer Scholarship

One or two award(s) of $3,000.

Student must be an Iowa resident and their family must be currently or historically engaged in agriculture. Student must have a minimum UI gpa of 3.75, earned 30 hours of college credit, be enrolled full-time, and seeking their first undergraduate degree.

Awarded to a currently enrolled undergraduate student in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences majoring in one of the following departments: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Health and Human Physiology, Mathematics, Microbiology, Physics & Astronomy, Psychology, Communication Sciences and Disorders, or Statistics & Actuarial Science.

For more information, visit the George S. Schaeffer Scholarship page.

Kenneth J. and Sharon L. (Reisch) Erickson Scholarship

One award of up to $2,000

Awarded to a currently enrolled undergraduate student in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences majoring in one of the following departments: Chemistry, Physics & Astronomy, Mathematics, Biology, Communications Science & Disorders, Computer Science, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Health & Human Physiology, Psychology, and/or Statistics & Actuarial Science. Student must have earned a minimum of 30 hours of credit toward graduation, have a minimum UI gpa of 3.50, be enrolled full-time (12+ hours), be seeking their first undergraduate degree, and must demonstrate financial need through completing the FAFSA.

For more information, visit the CLAS Scholarships page.

Rainbow Science Award

One award of up to $2,000

Awarded to a currently enrolled undergraduate student in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences majoring in one of the following departments: Chemistry, Physics & Astronomy, Mathematics, Biology, Communications Science & Disorders, Computer Science, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Health & Human Physiology, Psychology, and/or Statistics & Actuarial Science. Student must have a minimum UI gpa of 3.50, be enrolled full-time (12+ hours), seeking their first undergraduate degree, and demonstrate financial need through completing a FAFSA.

For more information, visit the CLAS Scholarships page.

Velma E. Stuit Scholarships

Awards up to $2,500.

Awarded to currently enrolled female undergraduate students in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, who have earned 60+ hours of college credit and are majoring in one of the following departments: Chemistry, Physics & Astronomy, Mathematics, Biology, Communications Science & Disorders, Computer Science, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Health & Human Physiology, Psychology, and/or Statistics & Actuarial Science or other science.

Student must be enrolled full-time (12+ hours), have a minimum UI gpa of 3.50, be seeking their first undergraduate degree, and demonstrate financial need through completing the FAFSA.

For more information, visit the Velma E. Stuit Scholarship page.

Van Allen Research Grant

Award amount varies (number varies).

Deadline: April 1

Personal stipends and ancillary expenses for undergraduate majors in physics and/or astronomy who undertake summer research projects under faculty guidance. Such grants are based on a brief written proposal, including budget, by the student and an endorsement by a mentoring member of the faculty of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. See the application form here.

Contact the Department of Physics and Astronomy to view the list of potential projects available. The student will be able to review the list and work with the faculty mentor to develop the proposal. A short report is due to the department after the project is completed.

Charles Wert Scholarship

Award amount varies (number varies).

Deadline: April 1

ICRU Research Fellowships

Awards:

Academic Year (AY): $2,000 ($1000/semester), suggested work load of ~5-6 hours per week
Summer: $2500, suggested workload of ~20 hours per week

Iowa Center for Research by Undergraduates (ICRU) Undergraduate Research Fellowships (URFs) are student support awards intended to facilitate a specific student’s (mentee) participation with a specific faculty/staff member (mentor) on a defined project.

For more information, or to apply for the fellowship, visit the ICRU Research Fellowships page.

By Nomination:

Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship

Awards up to $7,500.

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program was authorized by the United States Congress in 1986 to honor Senator Barry Goldwater. The purpose of the Program is to alleviate a critical current and future shortage of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. Funding for awards and administrative expenses derives from interest on the Trust Fund, invested in U.S. securities. Each scholarship covers eligible expenses for undergraduate tuition, fees, books, and room and board, up to a maximum of $7,500 annually. Students cannot apply directly to this program; they must be nominated by their departments. For more information, visit the The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship website.

Edward B. Nelson Scholarship

Award amount varies (number varies).

To incoming first-year students majoring in physics and astronomy. The scholarship is named after Professor Edward B. Nelson, a long-time professor in the department from the 1940s to the 1980s. Professor Nelson made the first precision measurement of structure of the ground state of the hydrogen atom, a result of tremendous importance for fundamental physics and radio astronomy. Professor Nelson was also heavily involved in undergraduate teaching during his career at Iowa. The winners of this scholarship are chosen by a faculty committee from incoming students, on the basis of ACT score results and high school records. No application is required; all qualified applicants are automatically considered.

Myrtle K. Maier Scholarship

Award amount varies (one or two awards annually).

For a junior physics major with preference to a female student. Award based primarily on scholastic ability, need, potential for success and ambition toward securing an advanced degree. May be renewed for one year with satisfactory academic progress. No application is required; qualified students are automatically considered.

Waldo Edward & Martha Althaus Smith Memorial Award

Award amount varies (one award annually).

To a senior (or less commonly, a junior) for outstanding work in physics and astronomy. This award is to encourage, promote, and foster interest in geophysics specifically by directing the award to a student with excellence in the relevant sciences, who has expressly manifested an interest in pursuing a career in geophysics. This award alternates between the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Department of Geoscience. It is awarded by the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the even years. Qualified students are automatically considered.

James A. Van Allen Award

Award amount varies (number varies).

To a senior for outstanding work in physics or astronomy. Qualified students are automatically considered.

John and Stacey Wahl Scholarship

Two awards of $2,000.

Scholarship is for graduate or undergraduate students studying physics. Recipients should be married, with preference given to those students with children. May be renewed. No application is required; qualified students are automatically considered.

Other Scholarships and Fellowships

General UI Undergraduate Scholarship Information
Scholarship Portal for Undergraduate Students (filtered for "Physics" and "Astronomy")
Scholarships for First-Year Students and Transfer Students
Office of Student Financial Aid Scholarships

CLAS Scholarships

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences supports numerous scholarships through the college's annual scholarship competition. For a list of scholarships available in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and information on applying for scholarships, visit the CLAS Scholarships page.