Scholarships and Awards
Undergraduate Physics and Astronomy Scholarships and Awards
There are many scholarship and award opportunities available to undergraduate students in WVU’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, including some specifically for students with financial need and/or for students from West Virginia. In the spring semester, all undergraduate Physics majors will be emailed a link to an electronic application form. Submitting the form will apply a student for all Department scholarships for which they are eligible. The CPHYS scholarship is administrated separately and requires a separate application form; see below. For inquiries about the application process or any other questions, please email Physics-Scholarships@mail.wvu.edu .
The deadline for applications was April 9, 2024 – applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
The list below gives the scholarship names, descriptions, and eligibility requirements. Unless otherwise noted, every scholarship has some shared eligibility requirements :
- Must be a currently enrolled student majoring in physics.
- Must be enrolled full-time in the following fall semester.
Outstanding Senior Award
Description: Given to an outstanding undergraduate majoring in physics who will graduate this year. The recipient's name will be inscribed on a plaque in the main office of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Students will be considered by nomination from Physics and Astronomy faculty only.
Eligibility: Must be a graduating senior majoring in physics.
CPHYS Scholarship
(note: available to current WVU students
and
high school seniors
)
Description: [ See this webpage for the details] The West Virginia University Department of Physics and Astronomy, with the support of the National Science Foundation, is pleased to announce the CPHYS Computational Physics Scholarship Program to support individuals pursuing a Physics degree with a Computational Physics Area of Emphasis. The CPHYS Scholarship is a scholarship program that provides up to $10,000 per year to physics students at West Virginia University. The scholarship may be awarded to high school seniors applying to WVU and to current physics students at WVU. The goal of the program is to increase the number of West Virginians pursuing high tech careers in physics and computer science.
Eligibility : (1) Must have financial need as evidenced by the student's FAFSA Expected Family Contribution. (2) Must have a Computational Physics area of emphasis. (3) Must submit the CPHYS application form following the directions found here .
Research Trust Fund Bruhn Physics Research Award
Description: This endowment shall provide funds to support the research effort of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Specifically, this endowment will advance WVU Research Initiatives approved for WV Research Trust Fund matching gifts in nanotechnology and materials science.
Eligibility: Must have a faculty research adviser and be participating in research in the fields of nanotechnology or materials science.
William E. & Bonniegail Kucan Coleman Research Scholarship
Description: This endowment shall provide undergraduate scholarships for students participating in ongoing research with a faculty member in one of the University designated Research Trust Fund initiatives outlined below. Recipients shall demonstrate academic promise and financial need. Preference will be given to West Virginia residents. A student who is a recipient one year is eligible for consideration any other year. This endowment shall provide scholarships for qualified students who are advancing research in any of the following fields: energy and environmental sciences; nanotechnology and material science; or biological, biotechnological, and biomedical sciences.
Eligibility: (1) Must have financial need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid. (2) Must have a faculty research adviser and be participating in research in one of the scientific fields listed in the description. (3) Preference will be given to WV residents, but non-residents are eligible.
O. Rex Ford Scholarship in Physics
Description: This endowment shall provide undergraduate or graduate scholarships for majors in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Recipients shall demonstrate good academic standing by maintaining a GPA of 3.5. A student who is a recipient one year is eligible for consideration in any other year provided they continue to meet the selection criteria.
Eligibility: Must have a GPA of 3.5 or greater.
Benjamin James Galford Research Scholarship
and
the Research Trust Fund Galford Memorial Scholarship
Description: This endowment shall provide scholarship funds for students in the Department of Physics and Astronomy who are participating in ongoing research with a member of the faculty. First preference shall be given to residents of Lewis County, WV. Recipients shall demonstrate good academic standing as defined by WVU and have United States citizenship, as allowed by law. Recipients shall be students who are advancing research in energy and environmental sciences, nanotechnology and material science, or biological, biotechnological, and biomedical sciences.
Eligibility: (1) Must be a U.S. citizen. (2) Must have a faculty research adviser and be participating in research in one of the scientific fields listed in the description. (3) Preference will be given to Lewis County, WV, residents, but non-residents are eligible.
Oleg D. and Valentina P. Jefimenko Physics Scholarship
Description: This endowment shall provide scholarships for qualified students who are advancing research in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Specifically, this endowment will advance research in the following fields: energy and environmental sciences; and nanotechnology and material sciences.
Eligibility: Must have a faculty research adviser and be participating in research in one of the scientific fields listed in the description.
Sita and Sheo G. Misra Physics Scholarship
Description: This endowment shall provide scholarships for Physics majors in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. Recipients shall be making satisfactory academic progress. Recipients shall demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA and the WVU Office of Financial Aid. A student who is the recipient one year is eligible for consideration in any other year. This scholarship was created in memory of his wife, Sita Misra, by Sheo G. Misra.
Eligibility: Must have financial need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid.
Ratna and Vaman Naik Endowed Physics Scholarship
Description: This endowment shall provide scholarships for undergraduate students who are majors in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Recipients shall be of sophomore, junior, or senior class rank and be making satisfactory academic progress as defined by the WVU Office of Financial Aid. A student who is a recipient one year is eligible for consideration in any other year provided they continue to meet the selection criteria. Students must be full-time status to receive this award. It is the Donor's intent that this scholarship provide the maximum amount of aid to as many students as feasible annually (with a minimum award of $500).
Eligibility: (1) Must be a full-time student. (2) Must be a rising sophomore, junior, or senior.
Dr. Padmanabha S. Pillai Physics Scholarship
Description: This Endowment shall provide scholarships for physics majors in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. Recipients shall be making satisfactory academic progress and demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA and/or the WVU Office of Financial Aid. A student who is the recipient one year is eligible for consideration in any other year.
Eligibility: Must have financial need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid.
Ramana, Sumitra & Shampa Reddy Scholarship in honor of Philip Stark
Description: Endowment income is to be used to support the Ramana, Sumitra and Shampa Reddy and Philip Stark Scholarship in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Recipients shall be undergraduate majors in physics and selected based on academic merit and financial need. First preference will normally be given to West Virginia residents who are rising juniors; however, rising sophomores may also receive consideration.
Eligibility: (1) Must have financial need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid. (2) Must be a rising sophomore or junior, with preference given to rising juniors. (3) Preference will be given to WV residents, but non-residents are eligible.
Edmund A. & Rose C. Rotter Endowed Scholarship
Description: All recipients shall be regularly enrolled students at WVU. Scholarship recipients shall be selected on the basis of financial need and progress in their academic program as determined by the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. The recipients shall be rising juniors or rising seniors who are either majors in the Department of Physics or are pursing the Physics Education program at WVU. The scholarship award will alternate, when possible, between a major in the Department of Physics and a Physics Education student pursuing a baccalaureate degree in Multidisciplinary Studies. Preference shall be given to West Virginian students.
Eligibility: (1) Must have financial need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid. (2) Must be a rising sophomore or junior. (3) Preference will be given to WV residents, but non-residents are eligible.