Undergraduate Scholarships and Awards

The University of Michigan Physics Department invites undergraduate physics students at the University of Michigan to apply for the Ralph B. Bodine Scholarship. The scholarship is made possible by a gift from Norman R. Bodine ('64) and United Technologies. It is named in honor of Ralph B. Bodine, a 1936 University of Michigan graduate.

The Scholarship provides annual scholarship support to a 3rd-year student (applications should be submitted by current 2nd year students) with proven academic ability in the Department of Physics. The recipient must be a citizen of the United States and need financial assistance. If no undergraduates in physics meet the qualifications, the scholarship is to be given to an undergraduate in electrical engineering or to a first- or second-year graduate student in physics, in order of preference. Each recipient will receive scholarship support for two years, contingent on satisfactory academic performance.

Award Amount: Provides scholarship support for two years up to $10,000 per academic year

Number Awarded: One student per year

Scholarship Criteria: Prospective students must be citizens of the United States and need financial assistance. Students should currently be in their second year to apply.

Deadline: All materials must be submitted by 5 p.m. on the second Monday in March. The scholarship is awarded in the month of April.

Apply: Bodine Application & Bodine Recommendation Form

The 2017 Ralph B. Bodine Scholarship was awarded to Noah McNeal.

The Cornwell Prize is given to a graduating Physics Concentrator who has demonstrated intellectual curiosity and given promise of original study and creative work. The award can be made to honor research, teaching, or any other contributions made to the intellectual life of the Department.

Award Amount: $5,000

Number Awarded: One student per year

Award Criteria:

    Student must:

• Graduate in current academic year 
• Be a declared Physics Major
• Have a GPA of at least 3.5
• Have been involved in research while an undergraduate student
• Plan to be enrolled in a graduate program no later than Fall 2018

Deadline: Student completes the application and submits it to the Student Services Office (1440 Randall) no later than 5 p.m. on the second Monday in March. The prize is awarded in the month of April.

Apply: Wirt & Mary Cornwell Prize - Undergraduate Application

The 2017 recipient of the Wirt & Mary Cornwell Prize for Undergraduates was Jacqueline Beechert and Wenli Zhao.

This award is established in memory of Professor William L. Williams to honor an outstanding undergraduate thesis. The award recognizes a student who exhibits excellence in posing a question, conducting independent investigation, and determining an answer.

Award Criteria: You must be a University of Michigan student receiving a bachelor's degree with a concentration in physics in the current academic year.

Award Amount: $5,000

Number Awarded: One student per year

How to Proceed: Please send your completed thesis in PDF format to physics.sso@umich.edu. A supporting letter by the thesis advisor is required. Among other things, the letter should include a description of the specific, independent contributions of the student to the thesis. Additional supporting letters are optional, but encouraged. 

Deadline: Submit materials to the Student Services Office (physics.sso@umich.edu) by 5 p.m. on the second Monday in March. The award is presented in the month of April.

The 2017 recipient of the William L. Williams Award was Wenli Zhao.

The Pearson Book Award is presented for outstanding contributions to the life of the Physics Department. 

The 2017 recipient of the Pearson Book Award was Jared Dziurgot.

Established in 1996, the Wiley Book Award is presented for outstanding achievement by an undergraduate physicist.

Award Criteria: The award is given to a graduating senior with a high G.P.A. who is going to graduate school.

Number Awarded: One student per year

Deadline: There is no application needed. The prize is awarded by a faculty committee in April.

The 2017 recipient of the Wiley Book Award was Michael Ausilio.

This prize is for non-graduating physics students who we would like to encourage to continue their great academic efforts. This award is given to students based on faculty nominations and the deliberation of the Undergraduate Awards Committee.

Award Criteria: You must be a University of Michigan student working towards a bachelor's degree with a concentration in physics in the current academic year.

Award Amount: $1,000 - $3,000

Number Awarded: Depends on deliberations of committee.

The 2017 recipient of the Otho Lyle Tiffany & Mary Lois Tiffany Fellowship was Alec Josaitis.

This award was created to recognize outstanding achievements by an undergraduate student.

The 2017 recipient of the George Eugene Uhlenbeck Award was Shangnan Zhou.

This scholarship is for non-graduating undergraduate physics students deserving of encouragement and recognition for their great academic efforts and contributions to the Department.

The 2011 recipient of the Walter W. Wada Award was Michael Norman.

This award was created in recognition of continuing research in Gravitational Wave Physics in the Univerisity of Michigan Physics Department. 

The 2017 recipient of the Michael La Marca Gravitational Wave Summer Research Award was Peng-Huan Huang.

This award was created to recognize exemplary undergraduate service to the University of Michigan Physics Department.