Fellowships and Prizes

Research Fellowships

The Department of Physics offers several opportunities for support of undergraduate research. Interested students should discuss potential research with a faculty mentor. Students who wish to work with a mentor who is not in the Physics department should find a Physics faculty member to be a co-mentor. For additional information and/or to discuss potential mentors, contact the undergraduate research coordinator.

Summer Fellowships

Apply by March 31, 2023

Greg Delos Summer Fellowship (1 award):

Greg Delos was an excellent student who died during his junior year. In his memory, the Delos family generously supports the annual stipend to support a student working with one of the research groups during the summer. This award is publicized each spring semester and the winner is selected based on performance in physics courses and possibly research thus far.

Undergraduate Physics Fellowship (4-6 awards):

This fellowship is for ten weeks in the upcoming summer and pays a total of $5,000 to provide a gateway for summer research in an on-campus laboratory with an appropriate faculty mentor. Nomination for this fellowship is made by a faculty member; we encourage you to discuss potential nominations with faculty members who are doing research that interests you.

DEI Summer Research Fellowship for Undergraduates

The Department of Physics offers the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Summer Research Fellowship to support undergraduate students from underrepresented and minoritized groups* in Physics. Interested students should discuss potential research with a Physics faculty who will act as a mentor or co-mentor.

* American Indian or Native Alaskan, Black, Hispanic, Multi-Racial Minority, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander

McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowships (5 awards)

This fellowship is geared toward undergraduate students who may be considering graduate school.  McDonnell Center faculty fellows guide the student on a specific space-science-related research project during the summer.  Students interested in applying should discuss potential research with a McDonnell Center faculty member and apply below through the Department of Physics. The term is for ten weeks in the upcoming summer and pays a total of $5,000. 

We request that summer award recipients not participate in any summer employment or summer school. If you are awarded funding from other sources (e.g. Pfizer, HHMI, Mellon Mays) you may accept the funding of only one source. Students who receive an award must also present their work at the Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Fall.

Selections for fellowships will be announced in March.

Academic Year Fellowships

This fellowship, funded by Professor and Mrs. Randall D. Knight, is for the Fall and/or Spring semester. This Fellowship provides a gateway to begin or continue existing research in an on-campus laboratory with an appropriate faculty mentor. Nomination for this fellowship is made by a faculty member; we encourage you to discuss potential nominations with faculty members who are doing research that interests you.

Students may apply for support for one or both academic semesters. Full academic year support is contingent upon a positive review by the faculty member. 

Apply for Research Fellowships

To apply for a summer research fellowship, please complete the appropriate application:

Academic Year Research Fellowship Application

OR

Summer Research Fellowship Application

In addition to completing the application, please do the following: 

  1. Email your unofficial transcript (student record printout) to ugresearch@physics.wustl.edu
  2. Request that your advisor fill out the Mentor Nomination Form

Please direct any questions to the undergraduate research coordinator.

 

Summer Research Fellowships for High School Students

The Department of Physics offers the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Summer Research Fellowship to support high school students from underrepresented and minoritized groups* in Physics. Interested students should contact the program coordinator. The program coordinator will inform the students about available scientific projects and put them in contact with a Physics faculty member who will act as a mentor or co-mentor. More information.

* American Indian or Native Alaskan, Black, Hispanic, Multi-Racial Minority, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander

To apply for a summer research fellowship as a high school student, please complete the application:

SUMMER RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION for High School Students 

 

Prizes

The Department of Physics awards prizes to students who have excelled in various ways.

Robert N. Varney Prize

This prize is awarded each fall to the best student in the introductory courses (Physics I & II) the previous year. Professor Varney was a member of the faculty for many years, carrying out research in gaseous electronics. This prize was established to commemorate his deep and long-time interest in physics instruction. 

Nishi Luthra Senior Prize

Selection for the Nishi Luthra Senior Prize is based on performance in physics courses and is made by the department's major advisors. The prize is awarded in a ceremony in the department after Commencement.