Scholarships and Awards
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
- Chemistry Alumni Undergraduate Endowed Scholarship application (PDF): Based on academic performance; must have one year remaining in the program.
- Deadline: April 1.
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Undergraduate Scholarship: Based on financial need; one must be a chemistry major with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and plan to graduate in December or May.
- Submit a one-paragraph discussion of how you are financially supporting your education and a half- to one-page discussion of your goals for a chemistry career.
- Deadline: April 1.
- NIU Chemistry Club Edwin Hyland Memorial Fund: Based on academic merit; you must be a chemistry major. Preference is first given to veterans, active service, and ROTC participants, then to pre-med students and Chemistry Club members.
- Submit a 500-word essay on why you're studying chemistry and how you plan to use that knowledge after graduation.
- Deadline: April 1.
- Rock River ACS Introductory Chemistry Award: Based on 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 CHEM 325, 425 or 498/499.
- Undergraduate ACS Award in Inorganic Chemistry: Based on performance in CHEM 460, 461.
- Undergraduate ACS Award in Organic Chemistry: Based on performance in CHEM 336, 337, 338 and 339.
- Van Acker-Duminy-Kovarik Endowed Scholarship: Provides scholarship support for incoming undergraduate students planning to study inorganic chemistry or preparing for licensure in chemistry.
- American Institute of Chemists Award: For outstanding GPA.
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean's Award: For outstanding contributions; must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- John and Lili La Tourette Student Research Award: Must be conducting chemistry research.
- Submit a research paper in the journal format used in CHEM 498/499. If available, include a copy of any submitted, accepted or published manuscript 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; a research poster presentation is required.
- Submit a letter of application, a short description of the work you performed, and a recommendation letter from your research adviser. Post your research 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: Requires at least one semester in CHEM 498, 499 or URAP; a research poster presentation is required.
- Submit a letter of application, a short description of your work, and a recommendation letter from your research adviser. Post your work on a department bulletin board in poster form.
- Deadline: April 1.
- BELONG in STEM Scholars Program: Must be majoring in biological sciences, chemistry/biochemistry, physics, geology/environmental geosciences, mathematics or computer science.
- Deadline: March 1, 2020.
- John and Lili La Tourette Student Research Award: Must be conducting chemistry research.
- Submit a research paper in the journal format used in CHEM 498/499. If available, also include any submitted, accepted or published manuscript you co-authored.
- Deadline: April 1.
- NIU Chemistry Club Edwards-Hyland Award: Must be a chemistry major with 72–90 credit hours, a minimum 3.0 GPA, and be active in the 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 performance in Physical Chemistry (CHEM 440, 441, 442 or 443).
- Outstanding Sophomore Award: Based on academic performance in Organic Chemistry (CHEM 336, 337, 338, 339).
- Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award and Honorable Mention: Based on academic performance in General Chemistry (CHEM 210, 211).
Graduate Scholarships and Awards
- 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: Recognizes excellent classroom performance and research productivity.
- Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award: Awarded to one master’s student and one doctoral student per department.
- Van Acker-Duminy-Kovarik Endowed Scholarship: Provides scholarship support for incoming graduate students planning to study inorganic chemistry or preparing for licensure in chemistry.
Contact Us
Northern Illinois University
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Faraday Hall, Room 319
DeKalb, IL 60115
