NIU Department of
Chemistry & Biochemistry Where the study of matter...matters!
| Undergraduate Awards | Eligibility | Application/Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Van Acker-Duminy-Kovarik Scholarship | Incoming undergraduate student; preference to females, those planning to pursue inorganic chemisty and/or teaching | Selected by committee; no application |
| Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award | Based on academic performance in CHEM 210 and 211 | Selected by committee; no application |
| Freshman Chem Achievement Awards Honorable Mention | Based on academic performance in CHEM 210 and 211 | Selected by committee; no application |
| Outstanding Sophmore Award | Based on performance in organic chemistry (CHEM 336, 337, 338) | Selected by committee; no application |
| George L. and Lillian Traister Scholarship | Recipients of the Outstanding Sophomore and Junior Awards | Selected by committee; no application |
| Outstanding Junior Award | Based on performance in physical chemistry (CHEM 440, 441, 442 and 443) | Selected by committee; no application |
| American Chemical Society (ACS) Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry | Based on perfomance in analytical chemistry (CHEM 325, 425 and/or 498/499) | Selected by committee; no application |
| NIU Chem Club Edwards-Hyland Award | A second semester junior (72-90 credit hours) chemistry major with at least a 3.0 GPA and who is active in the Chem Club | April 1 Click for application |
| Chemistry Alumni Undergraduate Scholarship (CAUS) | 1 year remaing in undergraduate program; based on academic excellence | April 1 Click for application |
| NIU Chem Club Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award | Graduating senior with at least 1 semester in CHEM 398, 498, 399H, 499H, or URAP | April 1 Click for application |
| Rosalie Reynolds Memorial Teaching Scholarship | Junior or senior in chemistry teacher certification program | Selected by committee; no application |
| Outstanding Senior Award | Graduating senior; based on highest cumulative GPA | Selected by committee; no application |
| Dean's Award | Senior who has made outstanding contributions with at least 3.0 GPA | Selected by committee; no application |
| American Institute of Chemists (AIC) Award | Senior with outstanding GPA | Selected by committee; no application |
| Graduate Awards | Eligibility | Application/Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Van Acker-Duminy-Kovarik Scholarship | Incoming graduate chemistry student; preference to females, those planning to pursue inorganic chemisty and/or teaching | Selected by committee; no application |
| Rhoten A. Smith Assistantship Program | Minority student with departmental teaching or research assistantship | Nominated by faculty; no application |
| Jeffrey Lunsford Fellowship | Underrepresented graduate student working toward M.S. degree | Nominated by faculty; no application |
| Kevin Cull Memorial Teaching Awards | Outstanding teaching performance in upper- and lower-level courses | Selected by committee; no application |
| Joe W. Vaughn Teaching Award | Outstanding teaching performance | Selected by committee; no application |
| John D. Graham Scholarship | Passed the Ph.D. qualifying exam; outstanding classroom performance and research productivity | April 1 Click for application |
| Carter G. Woodson Scholars Program | Minority student with admission to a doctoral program by June 1; and must be planning to seek a teaching or administrative position in higher education | Nominated by faculty; no application |
| Dissertation Completion Award | Doctoral candidate approaching final year of study; 5 page research proposal required | January 31 Click for application |
| Outstanding Graduate Student Award | Outstanding classroom performance and research productivity | Nominated by faculty; no application |
| Dissertation Facilitation Award | Ph.D. student in last summer of program | Nominated by faculty; no application |
| Distinguished Dissertation Award | Outstanding completed Ph.D. dissertation | Nominated by faculty; no application |
| Additional NIU Awards | Eligibility | Application/Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| NIU Scholarship Search | Varied | Varied |
| Alumni Association Merit Scholarship Program | Currently enrolled, transfer or re-entering undergraduate, or graduate student | Usually early Feb. |
| Leadership Awards Program | Undergraduate and/or graduate students who have shown outstanding participation and leadership in student organizations | Usually late Feb. |
| External Scholarship Awards | Eligibility | Application/Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Iota Sigma Pi - National Honor Society for Women in Chemistry | Nominated by departmental faculty; woman undergraduate or graduate student | Usually early Feb. |
| American Chemical Society (ACS) Scholars Program | Underepresented minority undergraduate student with financial need | Usually early March |
| Chemical Industry Council of Illinois Scholarship | Undergraduate chemistry student who is an Illinois resident; based on academic performance and undergraduate research | Usually early March |
| Chicago Chromatography Discussion Group Scholarship | Undergraduate or master's student performing research in separation science or using separation techniques in their work | Usually early April |
| ACS Organic Division Fellowship | Ph.D. student (organic chemistry) to be held during their third or fourth year of study | Usually early May |
| ACS Analytical Division Fellowship | Full-time Ph.D. student (analytical chemistry) with 2 years of graduate study completed at start of fellowship | Usually early Dec. |
Isabelle Duminy-Kovarik graduated from NIU with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1980 and a Master of Science in Education degree in Secondary Education in 1987. This endowed scholarship fund has been established in memory of her parents, who instilled in her a great regard and high value for education.
Selected by committee; no application
This fund was established to honor the memory of Lillian and George L. Traister. Mr. Traister graduated from NIU with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1970 and a Master of Science in Chemistry in 1976. His graduate research was published in 1976 in the professional journal Analytical Chemistry. Mr. Traister also worked as a teaching assistant in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
Selected by committee; no application
This endowed scholarship has been established by the NIU Chemistry Club for the purpose of awarding academically talented and involved NIU undergraduate chemistry majors. The award is named in recognition of departmental glassblowers Ed Hyland, who retired in 1990, and Dan Edwards, who had planned to retire in July 2008, but died suddenly in a motorcycle accident in April 2008. Both Edwards and Hyland have generously supported the NIU Chemistry Club by donating their time and talents to its annual Holiday Glassblowing Demonstration and Glass Sale, helping to raise funds for the various Chem Club activities throughout the year.
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry has established an endowed Chemistry Alumni Undergraduate Scholarship (CAUS). Funded through the generous support of chemistry alumni and friends for the purpose of providing an award for academic achievement.
This endowed scholarship fund has been established to honor the life and memory of Rosalie Dean Reynolds, the first woman granted tenure in the Department and a member of its faculty from 1961 to 1981. It has been established in honor of her long service to the University and to the Department, and in recognition of her devotion to the profession of teaching.
Selected by committee; no application
Established in 1970 by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to give recognition to senior students who have made outstanding contributions to their major departments. These students are expected to have displayed leadership, conspicuous service, and an excellent scholastic record. Each department may submit one nominee to the college, from which the Dean selects award recipients.
Selected by committee; no application
This endowed scholarship fund has been established by the family and friends of Kevin Cull. Kevin completed his Bachelor of Science (1986) and Master of Science (1988) degrees in Chemistry at NIU. Kevin was an outstanding teaching assistant, and this award is given in his honor and memory.
Selected by committee; no application
Established by an anonymous donor in honor of Joe W. Vaughn, a long time department chair, faculty member, and friend. The award is given to a graduate student in recognition of his/her outstanding teaching performance.
Selected by committee; no application
This endowed scholarship fund has been established by family and friends to honor and memorialize Professor John D. Graham. Jack was a long time faculty member in the NIU Chemistry Department and made considerable contributions to both the undergraduate and graduate programs.
This fellowship is available by application through the NIU Graduate School and includes a tuition waiver (plus stipend for full-time fellowships), and up to $500 for research, for the academic year. The principal goal of Dissertation Completion Fellowships is to assist some of NIU's most promising doctoral students to complete their dissertations. A student receiving one of these fellowships must have achieved doctoral candidacy, identified a dissertation topic, obtained an approved dissertation director, and developed an approved dissertation proposal. A student may receive only one dissertation completion fellowship.