Graduate Fellowships and Awards

Selection Criteria:

• Recipients shall be, at the time of the award, graduate students pursuing a Ph.D. in the Department of Chemistry who have demonstrated excellence in the following areas:
  • Research: Demonstrated potential for significant contributions to the field through publications, presentations, or innovative research.
  • Academics: Strong coursework performance, awards, or recognitions in chemistry or related fields.
  • Teaching: Strong teaching record, including going above and beyond in their assigned teaching duties.
  • Leadership & Service: Engagement in mentoring, outreach, teaching, or service activities within the department or scientific community.

Nominations should include:

• Letters of Recommendation: Two letters of support - one from the research advisor (or committee member) and one from the Instructor of Record for a teaching assignment or the Supervisor of Services performed within the Community
• Nominee's updated CV, including publication and presentation list
• Virginia Tech transcript (unofficial – can be printed from Hokie SPA)

Submission Deadline: Tuesday, April 1, 2025

The Jean Ann Russe Skiles, Ph.D. '87 Graduate Fellowship has been established to annually honor a student enrolled in the College of Science who demonstrates exceptional academic merit. Each department and school within the college may nominate one graduate student for this award. The fellowship carries an award of at least $4,000.

Selection Criteria:

• Nominees must be in their second or third year of graduate study, and must embody academic excellence in coursework, research, and related activities.

Nominations should include:

• One letter of support not more than two pages in length from the applicant's advisor, department head/chair, or a professor in their academic unit
• CV in NSF-style format (two pages in length)
• Virginia Tech transcript (unofficial – can be printed from Hokie SPA)

Submission Deadline: Wednesday, March 19, 2025

This fellowship recognizes outstanding academic achievement by a graduate student in chemistry. The fellowship recipient will receive a summer Graduate Research Assistantship.

Selection Criteria:

• Recipients shall be, at the time of the award, graduate students pursuing a Ph.D. in the Department of Chemistry who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement.
• Preference will be for a student who is interested in physical chemistry or physical polymer chemistry, including MACRO students working with chemistry faculty.

Nominations should include:

• A letter of support from the nominating faculty
• Nominee's updated CV, including publication list
• Virginia Tech transcript (unofficial – can be printed from Hokie SPA)

Submission Deadline: Tuesday, April 1, 2025

This endowed fellowship recognizes outstanding research achievement by a graduate student in chemistry. The fellowship carries an award of $2,000.

Selection Criteria:

• Strong, visible evidence of research productivity (especially publications and presentations)
• Specific evidence presented in the nomination materials of leadership, creativity, and independence

Nominations should include:

• A letter of support from the nominating faculty
• Nominee's updated CV, including publication list
• Virginia Tech transcript (unofficial – can be printed from Hokie SPA)

Submission Deadline: Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Each academic year, the Graduate School, through the College of Science, provides AY Assistantships (tuition and stipend) through the GSDA program. The Department of Chemistry awards these assistantships to graduate students on a competitive basis each semester. Nominations for awards are sought from research advisors for consideration at the biannual meeting of the Department of Chemistry Advisory Council. All graduate students whose major is Chemistry or whose committee chair is a Chemistry faculty member are eligible. Announcement of awardees will be made within four weeks following the nomination deadlines.

Selection Criteria:

• Strong, externally visible evidence of research productivity (especially publications and presentations)
• Specific evidence presented in the nomination materials of leadership, creativity, and independence
• Excellent academic performance in the core and foundation requirements

Nominations should include:

• A letter of reccomendation from the student's current research advisor
• Nominee's updated CV including publication list
• A current annual review from the student's advisor (provided by research advisor)

Submission Deadline: Tuesday, April 1, 2025