Scholarships and Awards

freshman-achievement

The department, the Graduate School and other external sources offer scholarships and awards throughout the year. Most committee decisions regarding these awards are made in April. Recipients are recognized at the annual Chemistry Club Awards Banquet.

Bring applications for undergraduate awards to the main office, Faraday 319, by the indicated deadline.

Application materials for graduate awards are due to Lee Sunderlin, director of graduate studies, by the indicated deadline.

You can also check MyScholarships for scholarships in areas that interest you.

Undergraduate Scholarships and Awards

General

  • Chemistry Alumni Undergraduate Endowed Scholarship application (PDF): Based on academic performance. Must have one year remaining in program.
    • Deadline: April 1.
  • Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Undergraduate Scholarship: Based on financial need. Must be chemistry major with GPA of 3.0 or higher and anticipated graduation in December or May.
    • Submit a one-paragraph discussion of what you're doing to economically support your education and a one-half to one-page discussion of your goals for your chemistry career.
    • Deadline: April 1.
  • NIU Chemistry Club Edwin Hyland Memorial Fund: Based on academic merit. Must be chemistry major. Preference given first to veterans, those in active service and ROTC participants, then to pre-med students and those in Chemistry Club.
    • Submit a 500-word essay on why you're studying chemistry and your plans for using that knowledge after graduation.
    • Deadline: April 1.
  • Rock River ACS Introductory Chemistry Award: Based on academic performance in Introductory Chemistry (CHEM 110).
  • Rosalie Reynolds Endowed Memorial Scholarship: Must be in a chemistry educator licensure program.
  • Undergraduate ACS Award in Analytical Chemistry: Based on academic performance in Analytical Chemistry (CHEM 325, 425 and/or 498/499).
  • Undergraduate ACS Award in Inorganic Chemistry: Based on academic performance in Inorganic Chemistry (CHEM 460, 461).
  • Undergraduate ACS Award in Organic Chemistry: Based on academic performance in Organic Chemistry (CHEM 336, 337, 338 and 339).
  • Van Acker-Duminy-Kovarik Endowed Scholarship: Must be pursuing teaching or inorganic chemistry. Preference given to female students.
  • Winifred Halsey Endowed Scholarship: Must be an outstanding female student in biological sciences.

Seniors

  • American Institute of Chemists Award: For outstanding GPA.
  • College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean's Award: For outstanding contributions. Must have GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • John and Lili La Tourette Student Research Award: Must be conducting research in chemistry.
    • Submit a research paper in journal format used in Chem 498/499. If available, also submit a copy of a submitted, accepted or published manuscript that you co-authored.
    • Deadline: April 1.
  • NIU Chemistry Club Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award: Must have at least one semester in CHEM 498, 499 or URAP. Research poster presentation required.
    • Submit a letter of application and short description of the work you performed, as well as a letter of recommendation from your research adviser. Present your work in poster form on a department bulletin board.
    • Deadline: April 1.
  • Outstanding Senior Award: Based on highest cumulative GPA.
  • Rock River ACS Undergraduate Research Award: Must have at least one semester in CHEM 498, 499 or URAP. Research poster presentation required.
    • Submit a letter of application and short description of the work you performed, as well as a letter of recommendation from your research adviser. Present your work in poster form on a department bulletin board.
    • Deadline: April 1.

Juniors

  • BELONG in STEM Scholars Program: Must be majoring in biological sciences, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, geology and environmental geosciences, mathematics, or computer science.
    • Deadline: March 1, 2020.
  • John and Lili La Tourette Student Research Award: Must be conducting research in chemistry.
    • Submit a research paper in journal format used in Chem 498/499. If available, also submit a copy of a submitted, accepted or published manuscript that you co-authored.
    • Deadline: April 1.
  • NIU Chemistry Club Edwards-Hyland Award: Must be chemistry major with 72-90 credit hours. Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and be active in Chemistry Club.
    • Submit a letter of application, two letters of recommendation from chemistry faculty, and an essay on what influenced you to major in chemistry.
    • Deadline: April 1.
  • Outstanding Junior Award: Based on academic performance in Physical Chemistry (CHEM 440, 441, 442 and 443).

Sophomores

  • Outstanding Sophomore Award: Based on academic performance in Organic Chemistry (CHEM 336, 337, 338 and 339).

Freshman

  • Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award and Honorable Mention: Based on academic performance in General Chemistry (CHEM 210, 211).

Graduate Scholarships and Awards

  • Carter G. Woodson Scholars Program: Must be minority student admitted to a doctoral program by June 1. Must be planning to seek teaching or administrative position in higher education.
  • Dissertation Completion Fellowship: Must be doctoral candidate approaching final year of study. Five-page research proposal required.
  • Great Journeys Graduate Assistantship
  • Jeffrey Lunsford Fellowship: Must be underrepresented student working toward M.S. degree.
  • John D. Graham Scholarship: For outstanding classroom performance and research productivity. Must have passed the Ph.D. qualifying exam.
    • Deadline: April 1.
  • Kevin Cull Memorial Teaching Awards: For outstanding teaching performance in upper- and lower-level courses.
    • Deadline: April 1.
  • Outstanding Graduate Student Award: For outstanding classroom performance and research productivity.
  • Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award: Awarded to one master's student and one doctoral student per department.
  • Rhoten A. Smith Assistantship Program: Must be minority student with departmental teaching or research assistantship. Must be U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
  • Rosalie Reynolds Memorial Scholarship in Chemistry: Must be full-time student.
    • Deadline: April 1.
  • University Fellowship Award: Must be pursuing your first graduate degree. Must not be in a doctoral program.
  • Van Acker-Duminy-Kovarik Endowed Scholarship: Must be pursuing teaching or inorganic chemistry. Preference given to female students.

Contact Us

Northern Illinois University
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Faraday Hall, Room 319
DeKalb, IL  60115

815‐753‐1131