Students Awards

2011 Award Winners

2011 Department of Physics Scholarship & Award Winners (PDF file)

Application Process

The deadline for student applications for all awards will be March 11. All application materials will need to be submitted to Department Office by 4:00 pm on or before March 11. No late applications will be accepted.

To Apply

Please submit a statement of interest and how this award would help your education. If it is an award that is for financial need (Crabtree and Firminhac) you need to emphasize what the need is. If the award you are applying for also has a merit requirement, we will run a transcript.

For More information

Contact the department of Physics, info@physics.wisc.edu 262-4526 for more information.

Undergraduate Awards

Fay Ajzenberg-Selove Scholarship Fund
This fund will support undergraduate women majoring in or planning to major in astronomy, physics, or astrophysics. A committee with representation from Physics and Astronomy will determine the recipient of this award. WOMEN majors only.

Dr. Maritza Irene Stapanian Crabtree Undergraduate Scholarship
This fund was created in honor of the late Maritza Stapanian Crabtree, a former graduate of the UW–Madison (BS '71) to offer other talented young people a chance to follow their dreams.  Maritza worked as an undergraduate research assistant in the UW Space Physics Lab when attending UW and went on to be one of the first women admitted to the graduate program in planetary science at CIT.  This scholarship is awarded based on MERIT and NEED.

Bernice Durand Undergraduate Research Scholarship
Established in 2003, this undergraduate research scholarship will be giving preference to women or to ethnic minorities in Physics and Astronomy. Women & Ethnic minorities only in Physics and Astronomy.

Henry & Eleanor Firminhac Physics Scholarship Fund
Former UW graduate, the late Ralph Firminhac (BS '41, MS '42), created this scholarship in memory of his parents, Henry & Eleanor Firminhac. This endowed fund has financial need as the primary consideration, followed by a genuine interest in physics and ability to obtain a degree. Based on financial need and good student standing.

Liebenberg Family Research Scholarship Fund in Physics
This scholarship will be awarded annually based on merit to a junior majoring in Physics, AMEP, or Astronomy, with preference given to a student interested in Condensed Matter Physics. This scholarship opportunity is for the purpose of promoting undergraduate summer research opportunities. This scholarship may continue through his/her senior year with support for research and travel.

Ingersoll Prize for best coursework
Prizes to be awarded to students who have done the best work in the undergraduate courses chosen by the department.

Radtke Prize
For one or more scholarships to undergraduate junior or senior students in theoretical physics or electrical engineering.

Graduate Awards

Phyllis Jane Fleming Graduate Student Support Fund
The donor and Dr. Fleming wish to provide support for a female doctoral
candidate in any year of training in physics at the UW‐Madison. The purpose of the award is to provide support for such things as equipment purchases required in research, travel expenses to conferences or research sites, books and supplies, or other research related expenses. Each year the Awards Committee in the Department of Physics will select a recipient for the Fleming Award that will be renewable for the duration of the student’s graduate training.

Elizabeth S. Hirschfelder Endowment for Physics
The purpose of this fund to assist women graduate students in Physics at UW-Madison. Please send me a statement describing what you would use the award monies for. The award has been given in the past for travel to professional conferences, assistance with childcare expenses or other expenses that would benefit your education.


Henry & Eleanor Firminhac Physics Scholarship Fund
Former UW graduate, the late Ralph Firminhac (BS '41, MS '42), created this scholarship in memory of his parents, Henry & Eleanor Firminhac. This endowed fund has financial need as the primary consideration, followed by a genuine interest in physics and ability to obtain a degree. Based on financial need and good student standing.

Piore Award
The fund was established September 30, 1983 with a gift from Emanuel and Nora Piore. Both Emanuel and Nora Piore received degrees from the UW. Emanuel received his BA in 1930 and Ph.D. in 1936, both in Physics. Nora received her BA (1933) and MA (1934) in Economics. This award is to fund research for current projects in the Physics Department.

Joseph R. Dillinger Teaching Award
The purpose of the fund is to provide an annual award to an outstanding teaching assistant in the Department of Physics. This fund was established by the family of Professor Joseph R. Dillinger who was a physics professor at the University of Wisconsin.

Karl Guthe Jansky & Alice Knapp Jansky Fellowship for Physics & Astronomy
The award alternates annually between an outstanding student in the Physics Department and an outstanding student in the Astronomy Department who is pursuing an advanced degree. Preference will be given to a student particularly interested in astrophysics/radio astronomy.

Charles E. Mendenhall Fellowship
This award is to be used for the support of a graduate student(s) in experimental physics who will be designated from time to time by the physics department committee.

Van Vleck Fellowship
The fund benefits the Department of Physics for graduate student financial support.

Cornelius P. and Cynthia C. Browne Fellowship Fund
Cornelius received his BA in 1946 in Physics and Ph.D. in 1951 in Physics and Math from the University of Wisconsin. The fund supports graduate students pursuing degrees in the Department of Physics.

Questions? Contact the Department of Physics at info at physics.wisc.edu