Undergraduate Student Scholarships

DEPARTMENT AWARDS

NETZER-BROUCHOUD SCHOLARSHIP

Description: This scholarship was established by Lanore A. Netzer and her husband Glen G. Eye to honor Lanore’s father, Henry Nathan Netzer, a farmer and lumberjack who loved the outdoors, and Lanore and Glen’s nephew, Bernard Netzer Brouchoud, a naturalist with a special interest in birds. The scholarship provides up to $1,500 in tuition assistance for the upcoming fall semester.

Eligibility: Students must 1. be an undergraduate or graduate student actively working with a faculty member with at least a 50%-time appointment in the Department of Integrative Biology, and 2. be studying wild bird life. Consideration will be given to need, extracurricular activities, and academic standing of student. Students graduating in the spring or summer of the award year are not eligible.

Application process: Applicants should submit a brief personal statement regarding their suitability for the scholarship, a resume, and a copy of their UW-Madison student record (unofficial transcript) by March 1 at 11:59 pm. Applications should be emailed to irviola@wisc.edu as a single PDF file. Award decisions will be made by late March.

EUGENE JORGENS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Description: This scholarship was established by Gaylard & Norma Jorgens in honor of their son, Eugene C. Jorgens. The scholarship is intended for a well-deserving, meritorious sophomore, junior, or senior student majoring in zoology. The scholarship provides up to $2,000 in tuition assistance for the upcoming fall semester.

Eligibility: Students must be a zoology major, in good academic standing, and have completed their freshman year. Preference will be given to Wisconsin residents. Graduating seniors are not eligible.

Application process: Applicants should submit a brief personal statement regarding their suitability for the scholarship, a resume, and a copy of their UW-Madison student record (unofficial transcript) by March 1 at 11:59 pm. Applications should be emailed to irviola@wisc.edu as a single PDF file. Award decisions will be made by late March.

Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship Application Instructions

Description: Several awards in the range of $1,500-$4,000 are given to students each May in order to support summer research. The funds can be applied to research-related expenses, such as lab
equipment or travel, or to stipends that support students during the research period.

Eligibility and Expectations: Students must be actively working with a faculty member with at least a 50%-time appointment in the Department of Integrative Biology. Also, with input from the mentor, the awardee is expected to write a summary of the work they accomplished at the end of their award. Support for a second summer is possible if funds are available.

Application process: Applicants should submit a research proposal, a research budget, a list of current
and pending financial support, a copy of their UW-Madison student record (unofficial transcript), and a
letter of support from the faculty sponsor by March 1 at 11:59 pm. Applications should be emailed to
cauger@wisc.edu as a single PDF file. Award decisions will be made by late March.

JOHN T. CURTIS ECOLOGY SCHOLARSHIP

Description: John T. Curtis was a renowned ecologist and Professor of Botany at UW-Madison. Curtis’s two sons established the scholarship in 2014 to honor him. The scholarship provides $1,000 in tuition assistance for the upcoming fall semester.

Eligibility: Students must be declared in an undergraduate major in the Department of Botany or Department of Integrative Biology. Students in the following majors are eligible to apply: Botany, Biology (L&S), Conservation Biology, Neurobiology, Molecular and Cell Biology, and Zoology. Students must be in good academic standing and have an interest in ecology. Graduating seniors are not eligible.

Application process: Applicants should submit a brief personal statement regarding their suitability for the scholarship, a resume, and a copy of their UW-Madison student record (unofficial transcript) by March 1 at 11:59 pm. Applications should be emailed to vjackson4@wisc.edu as a single PDF file. Award decisions will be made by late March.

Richard P. and Mary Bartlett Bunge Scholarship in Neurobiology

Description: This scholarship was established by the Bunge’s to celebrate the transformative experience of their education at UW-Madison, which provided a firm basis for their development into productive and successful scientists. Dr. Mary Bunge earned her MS in 1955 and her PhD in 1960 and Dr. Richard Bunge earned his BA in 1954, MS in 1956, and MD in 1960. This scholarship is intended for a meritorious undergraduate neurobiology major. The scholarship provides $10,000 in tuition assistance for the upcoming fall semester.

Eligibility: Eligible applicants must be a declared undergraduate Neurobiology major, in good academic standing, have financial need documented with a completed FAFSA form on file with UW-Madison, and be from a rural area. Graduating seniors are not eligible.

Application process: Applications should be submitted through WISH by March 1. Award decisions will be made by late March.

Simons Family Diversity in Science Research Fellowship

Description: The goal of this research support award is to expose students to research early within their bachelor degree and increase the attainment of Ph.D. degrees by students not over-represented in Research. This fellowship provides support of up to $6000 for a summer (for 400 hours). We expect that the fellowships will allow an immersive experience in research without distractions from other academic or work commitments. There will also be weekly meetings for fellows to exchange experiences and learn about the broader endeavor of scientific research. Specific arrangements (start and end dates, research hours per week, etc.) and expectations will be developed by the recipient and faculty project advisor.

Eligibility: Undergraduates should have completed at least one but no more than four semesters of coursework at the UW-Madison (or another academic institution for transfer students) at the time of application. (Advanced Placement credits do not count in this total.) The award is open to undergraduates regardless of their major. Past research experience is not a criterion that will be weighed in the selection process, although applicants will explain their interests in science and career goals in their application. Selection will be based on the recipient’s potential to do scientific research and their ability to foster diversity in science. Support will be provided for summer research, with the possibility of support for a second summer if funds are available. 

Application Process: To make the application process as easy as possible, we would be happy
to talk to you about it; don’t hesitate to contact Tony Ives (arives@wisc.edu) or Cathy Auger
(cauger@wisc.edu) to set up a short meeting. Successful applicants will be matched with iBio
faculty project advisor in one of two routes. (i) The applicant can contact faculty before the
application deadline and discuss possible research project ideas. In this case, one or more
faculty can be listed on the application. (ii) The applicant can apply without first contacting
faculty. In this case, iBio faculty will evaluate the application and contact the applicant if they
are able to serve as research project advisors. Success of the application does not depend on
whether route (i) or route (ii) is taken, although success will depend on getting a good match
between the scientific interests of student and faculty project advisor. Applications should be
submitted through WISH. Award
decisions will be made by late March.

UNIVERSITY AWARDS

There are numerous other awards and scholarships available on campus. Below are just a few opportunities that support undergraduate research, and that are especially suited for zoology students. For a more exhaustive list of awards and scholarships, see the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH) or Undergraduate Academic Awards.

  • Hilldale Research Fellowships support undergraduate research done in collaboration with a faculty mentor. Students receive $3,000, while mentors receive $1,000.
  • The Undergraduate Research Scholars (URS) program provides first- and second-year students with opportunities to do research with faculty for academic credit. URS fellows also participate in a class as well as seminars aimed at supporting their research experience.
  • Wisconsin Idea Fellowships are awarded annually for long-term projects that seek to solve crucial community issues either locally or internationally. Students work collaboratively with a community organization and a faculty mentor, and can receive up to $7,000 in funding as well as academic credit for their project.