Department of Physics at the U of I

This fund recognizes a graduate student who has demonstrated significant ability in research. The fund is named for Harry G. Drickamer, professor of physics, chemistry, and chemical engineering at Illinois and was established by his former students.  This must be given to a student who has completed all coursework and prelim and qual exams but it cannot be given to someone beyond their 5th year of graduate work.   A student may not receive this more than once.

This fund recognizes outstanding work by a Physics graduate student in the area of nuclear physics or nuclear engineering.  Professor Adler held a joint appointment in Physics and Nuclear Engineering from 1958 until his retirement.

This fund supports outstanding work by a graduate student in experimental high energy physics. Giulio Ascoli served the department with distinction from 1950 until his retirement in 1986.  The same student may receive the award for not more than three years. 

This fund supports outstanding work by a graduate student in condensed matter physics or the physics of electronic devices. John Bardeen served as faculty in Physics and Electrical and Computer Engineering from 1951 to 1975. Bardeen is the first person to ever receive two Nobel Prizes in the same field.

This fund shall provide an annual graduate fellowship for an exceptional student in Biological Physics (Experiment or Theory).  This Fellowship was established through a generous gift from Illinois alumni, Lonnie and Susan Edelheit.

This award recognizes a Physics graduate student who has demonstrated academic excellence and is a citizen of Italy, however, if there is no Italian citizen to receive award then the award may be given to a student who is a citizen of any other European country.  This award was created in memory of alumnus Renato Bobone.  The award shall be for one academic year and shall be nonrenewable.

This award recognizes the year's outstanding Physics teaching or research assistants, and is named after alumnus Dr. Scott Anderson who founded Anderson Physics Laboratories in Urbana in 1944. It was through his initiative as president of our Physics Alumni Association and his generous philanthropy that the Anderson Award was endowed.   Historically this has been given to a TA for outstanding teaching but the award may also be used for an outstanding Research Assistant.

This prize recognizes the year's outstanding nuclear physics graduate student. Professor Pandharipande served with great distinction on our faculty for 34 years.

This fund supports undergraduate students majoring in physics, preferably in summer research activities, and was established in honor of A. C. Anderson on the occasion of his retirement in the fall of 1992.

This fund provides academic merit based scholarships to freshman or sophomore students, with preference given to female students in Physics (LAS or  COE), and was established in memory of alumnus Beryl Bristow.

This award recognizes an outstanding undergraduate Physics major and is named for Professor Ernest M. Lyman, a distinguished researcher and teacher who served on our faculty for 36 years.

This fund supports an outstanding woman Physics student. The award is named for Professor Laura B. Eisenstein, a distinguished biological physicist who served our department and the biological physics community with distinction from 1969 until her untimely death in 1985.

Historically this has been given to an undergraduate female student but it may also be used for a graduate student if the department desires. 

This fund provides scholarships to the Departments of Physics and Math at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

This fellowship supports a summer research position for an outstanding Physics undergraduate student and is named for Professor Lorella M. Jones, a theoretical high energy physicist who served our Department with distinction from 1968 until her untimely death in 1995.

The Anthony Award is made possible by gifts from Physics Illinois alumnus Philip J. Anthony to support summer undergraduate research.

This scholarship recognizes an undergraduate engineering physics student at the end of his or her sophomore and was established in memory of alumnus Richard Cook.   A student may receive the award both in their junior and senior year if desired.  The award is to be used for books, tuition and lab fees only -- not room and board or personal expenses. 

This fund supports the recruitment of outstanding undergraduate Physics majors. It should go to a student who graduated from a Chicago Public High School if at all possible.  The award was established in memory of alumnus Robert A. Stein by a group of Mr. Stein's family and friends after his untimely death in 1998.

This fund supports an award for teaching excellence for faculty or lecturers in the Department of Physics and was endowed by family in memory of Arnold T. Nordsieck, a distinguished member of the faculty from 1947-1961.

For the purposes of this award, teaching will be applied broadly and may include classroom instruction, textbook writing and course material preparation, advising, and research work with students.

This fund provides unrestricted support of graduate education and graduate students, and was created in memory of Gerald Almy, Department Head from 1964-1970.  While it can be given as an award or fellowship it typically has not been.  Rather,  the Associate Head for Graduate studies has used these discretionary funds to assist students with travel expenses and other one-time needs for the advancement of the graduate mission.   

Gifts to this fund will be used to help renovate the space formerly known as the Physics Library including computer terminals, videoconferencing equipment, furniture and other renovation costs. Learn more about the Physics Interaction Room Project.

This fund supports an annual lecture as part of the colloquium series and was established in honor of Ralph O. Simmons, Physics Department Head from 1970-1986.

Expenses to be defrayed may include, but not limited to, travel, lodging, meals for the speaker as well as promotional materials for the lecture.  The preferred subject matter of the lectures shall be principally, but not exclusively, condensed matter physics and the lecture shall be administered by the department.

In the event the Fund becomes large enough to support a Visiting Position in the department, shall support the advanced postdoctoral or faculty level in condensed matter physics and the position shall be known as the "Simmons Fellow".

This fund supports an award presented annually to a condensed matter physicist for distinguished research performed within five years of receiving the PhD degree. The awardees give a lecture as part of the colloquium series. The fund was established in memory of Illinois alumnus and faculty member Bill McMillan.