Awards and Fellowships

Department Fellowships and Awards

Astrophysics majors can be eligible for a number of small fellowships and awards that are given by the Department of Physics and Astronomy. These include:

Hantel Fellowship: Given to physics or astrophysics majors at the sophomore level or higher who are doing research with a faculty member during the academic semester. Nominations are made by department faculty each fall.

VerWest Award: Given to an outstanding physics or astrophysics major at the end of their junior year. Nominations are made by department faculty each spring.

Osgood Award: Given to an outstanding physics or astrophysics major at the end of their senior year. Nominations are made by department faculty each spring.

Foiles Award: Given to an outstanding physics or astrophysics major intending to pursue a career in (astro)physics at the end of their senior year. Nominations are made by department faculty each spring.

Department Travel Award: A small number of travel awards may be available to partially cover the cost of travel to a meeting where a student is presenting the results of their research. . Nominations are made by department faculty each fall.

 

National Fellowships

Barry M. Goldwater Fellowship:  The Goldwater Award is considered to be one of the most prestigious awards for outstanding undergraduate students who are engaged in research and are planning future graduate studies. Sophomores and juniors are eligible to apply, with an internal application deadline of November 1 each year. It covers all natural science, math, and engineering fields, and MSU can nominate around 4-5 students total per year. More information can be found here: Several previous MSU undergraduates in our department have won this award.

 

Hertz Foundation Fellowship: This is an exceptionally competitve fellowship that covers five years of graduate PhD funding; undergraduate seniors are eligible to apply, with an application deadline of November 1 each year. More information here.

 

There may be other relevant awards or fellowships; see the MSU list.