Departmental Fellowships and Awards

Adam Ritchie Award - This award was established in remembrance of Adam Ritchie (UVA Ph.D., 1968) to provide financial assistance to an outstanding graduate student. The recipient receives $2000. Students in their 3rd, 4th or 5th year are eligible to apply. 

Hetch Fellowship - The Hecht Fellowship was established by Professor Sidney Hecht whose mid-career spanned 28 highly prolific and influential years in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Virginia. Currently at Arizona State University (https://www.biodesign.asu.edu/sidney-hecht), Professor Hecht is a leader in biological chemistry and a great friend and benefactor of our Department. The Hecht Fellowship secures one full year of living support with a $2000 additional award as well as the standard healthcare and tuition & fees support. The Hecht Fellowship is most likely to be awarded to a Ph.D. student beginning their 4th or 5th year of study in the Fall of the following academic year. Thus, current 3rd and 4th year graduate students are encouraged to apply. In the event there are equally meritorious students to consider, preference will be given to students in organic chemistry, biological chemistry, or the broad area described as chemical biology.

Hunt Fellowship - The Hunt Fellowship was established by former students and donors to honor of the accomplishments of Professor Donald F. Hunt who was a faculty member of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Virginia from 1968-2023. The Hunt Fellowship secures one full year of living support with a $2000 additional award as well as the standard healthcare and tuition & fees support. The Hunt Fellowship is most likely to be awarded to a Ph.D. student beginning their 4th or 5th year of study in the Fall. Thus, current 3rd and 4th year graduate students are encouraged to apply. In the event there are equally meritorious students to consider, preference will be given to students in the area of bioanalytical chemistry.

Service Awards

• Cumulative Service Award - This award is open to year 4+ graduate students, and students will be able to write about any service completed during their graduate school career. Limited to students who have completed at least 2 years of service.
• Newly Arrived Service Award - This award is open to only first- and second-year graduate students, and the students will be able to write about any service completed during the past academic year of graduate school.
• Stepped-Up service Award - This award is open to year 3+ graduate students. Students will be able to write about any service completed within the past academic year of graduate school.

Teaching Assistant Award Recognition - Nominees to the Provost TA award receive each a recognition and $500.

Third-Year Poster Award - Award provided to third-year graduate students who provided excellent psoter presentations during the departmental third-year poster session.

Travel Awards - The department provides travel awards to encourage and financially support students' attendance and presentation at professional conferences.

UVA Fellowships and Awards

Allan Talbott Gwathmey Memorial Award -  An honor reserved for the most accomplished graduate students in the physical sciences at the University of Virginia in recognition of a distinguished scholarly publication. The Allan T. Gwathmey Memorial Award is a $5,000 cash prize recognizing the best paper on a “fundamental problem in the physical sciences.” 

UVA graduate Teaching Award - Supported since 1990 by the Provost and the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs, the Graduate Teaching Awards considers all forms of teaching conducted by graduate students, whether it occurs in a classroom, a laboratory, or a studio.  Any currently enrolled graduate student who has served as a GTA or as instructor of record for at least two semesters is eligible to be nominated. 

Jefferson Scholars Foundation - The Jefferson Scholars Foundation supports world-class graduate students through two fellowship programs–the Jefferson Fellowship Program and the National Fellowship Program.

UVA Vice President for Research - List of fellowships opportunities for UVA graduate students

National and Regional Fellowships and Awards

Alpha Kappa Alpha Graduate Scholarships - Alpha Kappa Alpha provides merit and need based scholarships for graduate study

American Association of University Women American Dissertation Fellowships - Fellowship and grant recipients perform research in a wide range of disciplines and work to improve their schools and communities. Their intellect, dedication, imagination, and effort promise to forge new paths in scholarship, improve the quality of life for all, and tackle the educational and social barriers facing women in the United States and around […]

American Chemical Society Division of Analytical Chemistry Graduate Fellowship - The American Chemical Society Division of Analytical Chemistry Graduate Fellowship Program is designed to encourage basic research in the field of analytical chemistry, to promote the growth of analytical chemistry in academic institutions and industry, and to provide recognition of future leaders in the field of analytical chemistry.

American Chemical Society Division of Inorganic Chemistry Travel Award - The Inorganic Chemistry Division supports graduate and undergraduate students presenting research at ACS National Meetings.

American Chemical Society Division of Organic Chemistry Graduate Fellowship - The Division of Organic Chemistry annually awards fellowships to outstanding third and fourth year graduate students in organic chemistry.

Anna Louise Hoffman Award for Outstanding Achievement in Graduate Research - The Anna Louise Hoffman Award recognizes outstanding achievement in chemical research by a woman graduate student.

ARCS Metro Washington Chapter award - Founded in 1968 by women from the District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland, MWC is an integral part of a national organization committed to supporting the ARCS Foundation mission of advancing science and technology in the United States by providing financial awards to academically outstanding United States citizens studying to complete degrees in STEM fields. The ARCS Metro Washington Chapter will provide one $15,000 award to a regional science student.

Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program of the National Academies - The Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program within the Policy and Global Affairs Division of the National Academies is designed to engage its Fellows in the analytical process that informs U.S. science and technology policy.

Fellowship for Graduate Study in Medical Physics - Fellowship for the training of a doctoral candidate in the field of Medical Physics. Medical physics is a creative, expanding and rewarding profession for the young scientist about to choose a career.

Ford Foundation Fellowship Program - The Ford Foundation Fellowships are designed to increase the diversity of the nation's college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students. 

GEM Fellowships -The National GEM Consortium enables qualified students from underrepresented communities to pursue graduate education in applied science and engineering

Graduate Scholarships, Fellowships and Loans - Website collecting scholarships and fellowships relevant to graduate students

International Precious Metals Institute Student Awards - A $5000 award to graduate students.

K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award - This award recognizes graduate students who show exemplary promise as future leaders of higher education; who demonstrate a commitment to developing academic and civic responsibility in themselves and others; and whose work reflects a strong emphasis on teaching and learning. The K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Awards provide financial support for graduate students to attend […]

Link Foundation Energy Fellowships - The Link Foundation provides two-year fellowships for graduate energy-related research.

Mesothelioma Help Essay Contest - Mesothelioma Help sponsors an annual scholarship essay contest to assist with educational efforts and raise awareness of Mesothelioma. The top award is $2500.

Mid-Atlantic Affiliate Predoctoral Fellowship Program - To help students initiate careers in cardiovascular and stroke research by providing research assistance and training.

NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship Program - Available to students pursuing graduate study in Earth or space sciences or related disciplines. Students may apply at any point in their degree program and the program is open to all students enrolled at US universities, although preference may be given to US citizens or permanent residents.

NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program - The NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program (GSRP) is an Agency-wide fellowship program (also called GSRP Training Grants in what follows) for graduate study leading to masters or doctoral degrees in the fields of science, mathematics, and engineering related to NASA research and development.

NASA Space Technology Research Fellowships (NSTRF) - This fellowship supports graduate student researchers pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree related to space technology. Doctoral students must have completed less than three years of work toward the degree. Applicants must be US citizens, nationals or permanent residents.

National Defense Science and Engineering (NDSEG) Fellowship Program - NDSEG Fellowships are intended for students at or near the beginning of their graduate studies in science or engineering and is for three years.

National Physical Science Consortium - The National Physical Science Consortium is a partnership between government agencies and laboratories, industry, and higher education. NPSC’s goal is to increase the number of American citizens with graduate degrees in the physical sciences and related engineering fields, emphasizing recruitment of a diverse applicant pool including women and minorities.

NSF Graduate Research Fellowships - The National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) helps ensure the vitality of the human resource base of science and engineering in the United States and reinforces its diversity.

Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowship Program - This program is designed to foster the education of highly trained personnel to meet the hiring needs of the United States Departments of Defense and Homeland Security (DoD/DHS) for research and development in areas related to ongoing DoD/DHS sponsored programs in nuclear forensics.

Nuclear Forensics Graduate Fellowship Program- Department of Homeland Security - This fellowship program supports graduate students pursuing a degree in nuclear, geochemical and other nuclear forensics related disciplines. Applicants must be US citizens.

Oak Ridge Institute for Science Education - The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) provides research experiences that help graduate students develop knowledge and experience beyond the classroom.

PathwaystoScience.org - Use this website to find programs such as undergraduate summer research opportunities, graduate fellowships, postdoctoral positions, as well as resources and materials pertaining to recruitment, retention, and mentoring.

Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans - This fellowship supports up to two years of graduate study for new Americans- naturalized citizen, green card holder or DACA recipient or a child of a naturalized citizens.

PhRMA Foundation Pre Doctoral Fellowships - Pharmacology/toxicology awards support career-development activities of scientists prepared to engage in research that integrates information on molecular or cellular mechanisms of action with information on the effects of an agent observed in an intact organism, either in experimental animal or clinical studies or both.

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Predoctoral Fellows - The purpose of this individual predoctoral research training fellowship is to provide support for promising doctoral candidates who will be performing dissertation research and training in scientific health-related fields relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) during the tenure of the award.

SMART Scholarship - The Science, Mathematics And Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program is an opportunity for students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines to receive a full scholarship and be gainfully employed upon degree completion.

The Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship - Fellows in the Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (DOE CSGF) program are using high performance computing to better understand fundamental properties of the world and universe around us, and to solve complex problems in areas of national importance, such as climate change and sustainable energy sources.

The Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Cellulose or Renewable Materials Research - Every year the Cellulose and Renewable Materials Division of the ACS in collaboration with the Eastman Chemical Company recognizes graduate student achievement in its field.

The Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowship - Provides fellowships to exceptionally talented individuals studying in the applied physical, biological and engineering sciences.

The National Academies - Offer several different fellowships in science, engineering and medicine. Information on eligibility guidelines and application deadlines is available on specific programs’ Web sites.

The National GEM Consortium Ph.D. Science Fellowship Program - The National GEM Consortium’s primary focus is to administer and award full fellowships with paid internships to highly qualified under-represented students who wish to pursue graduate studies in engineering or science.

The Reaxys PhD Prize - The Reaxys PhD Prize is awarded for original and innovative research in organic, organometallic and inorganic chemistry, which demonstrates excellence in methodology and approach by a candidate currently studying for a PhD or having completed a PhD by a certain date.

The Rowland Institute at Harvard University - The Rowland Junior Fellows program provides young scientists the opportunity to perform independent experimental research for five years with full institutional support and access to the Institute’s outstanding technical and scientific resources.

U.S. Department of Energy-The Office of Science Graduate Fellowship Program - The goal of the Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) program is to prepare graduate students for science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) careers critically important to the DOE Office of Science mission, by providing graduate thesis research opportunities at DOE laboratories. 

UNCF Merck Graduate Science Research Dissertation Fellowships - UNCF • Merck Graduate Science Research Dissertation Fellowships will help African American graduate students complete coursework, conduct research, and prepare the dissertation required for a doctoral degree in the biomedically relevant life or physical sciences.

Virginia Space Grant Consortium Graduate Fellowships - Virginia Space Grant Consortium graduate fellowships are available.

WCC/Eli Lilly Travel Award - The ACS Women Chemists Committee (WCC) and Eli Lilly and Company sponsor a program to provide funding for undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral female chemists to travel to meetings to present the results of their research.