Scholarships

Thanks to our generous donors and friends, we are able to offer a wide array of scholarships to incoming and current students in our department. Scholarships, and information about the application process for each scholarship, are listed below.

To apply for the incoming freshman and undergraduate scholarships, complete the UNI Scholarship Application. The UNI Scholarship Application is open every year starting July 1 and has a priority date of February 15.

Scroll further down this page to see scholarships that biology majors are eligible for.

Scholarships for Declared Biology Majors

Bear and Sandy Stevens Family Biology Education Scholarship

Students should use the UNI Scholarship Application to apply for this scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate student majoring in Biology Teaching, who has merit and financial need, and a GPA of 3.00 or higher. This scholarship is typically awarded to one student per academic year. The amount of the award ranges from $1,100-$1,200. The scholarship will be disbursed during the following fall and spring semesters after application.

Caroline Czarnecki Biological Sciences Scholarship

Students should use the UNI Scholarship Application to apply for this scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate student majoring in Biological Sciences, who has financial need, and a minimum GPA of 3.00. This scholarship is typically awarded to one student per academic year. The amount of the award ranges from $2,000-$4,000. The scholarship will be disbursed the following fall and spring semesters after application.

Dr. Timothy Greiner Undergraduate Biology Scholarship

Students should use the UNI Scholarship Application to apply for this scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate freshman majoring in Biology during their second semester of enrollment. This scholarship is typically awarded to one student per academic year. The amount of the award ranges from $1,400-$1,500. The scholarship will be disbursed during the spring semester it is awarded.

Floyd Scholarship in Biology

Students should use the UNI Scholarship Application to apply for this scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate junior or senior majoring in Biology, with an interest in Plant Biology, and a GPA of 3.00 or higher. First preference will be given to a student who is most likely to pursue a master’s degree and/or PhD to continue studies in the same area. Second preference will be given to a student who is most likely to go to medical school. This scholarship is typically awarded to one student per academic year. The amount of the award ranges from $4,000-$4,500. The scholarship will be disbursed the following fall and spring semesters after application.

John R. Miller & Mary Lou Mamminga Miller Biology Scholarship

Students should use the UNI Scholarship Application to apply for this scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate senior majoring in Biology, with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher. Preference given to students planning a career in Field Biology or Natural History. This scholarship is typically awarded to one student per academic year. The amount of the award is approximately $4,500. The scholarship will be disbursed the following fall and spring semesters after application.

John S. Latta Jr. Biology Scholarship

Students should use the UNI Scholarship Application to apply for this scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to incoming undergraduate freshmen with declared Biology majors. This scholarship may also be awarded to declared Biology major sophomores who have performed well in BIOL 2051 and BIOL 2052 (General Biology courses) with an average GPA of 3.50, or higher, in the two courses. This scholarship is typically awarded to several students per academic year. The amount of the award is approximately $1,000. The scholarship will be disbursed the following fall and spring semesters after application.

William F. Porter Biology Scholarship

Students should use the UNI Scholarship Application to apply for this scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to senior Biology majors with a GPA of 3.50 or higher. Preference is given to students who plan to attend graduate school. This scholarship is typically award to one student per academic year. The amount of the award is approximately $1,500. The scholarship will be disbursed the following fall and spring semesters after application.

Physical Therapy Scholarship

Janet K. Dunn Scholarship

This scholarship does NOT utilize the UNI Scholarship Application. Each year, the Biology Department will send an email with application information at the beginning of February. Award notifications will be made by the middle of March. This scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students who have been accepted into accredited schools of Physical Therapy. Second preference of awarding to undergraduate students majoring in Biology who have been accepted into any post-graduate degree programs. This scholarship is typically awarded to two students during their spring semesters prior to graduation. The amount of the award ranges from $2,300-$2,400. Students applying for this scholarship will need to provide documentation showing their acceptance into, and plan to attend, an accredited school of Physical Therapy or other post-graduate degree program.

Undergraduate Research Awards

Biology Department Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP)

Awarded to undergraduate Biology majors who partner with Biology Department Faculty members to complete a 10-week research project over the summer.

Along with summer research, students are required to enroll in BIOL 3185 during the spring semester prior to their research, BIOL 318R during the summer of their research, and BIOL 3189 and 3190 the fall semester after their research. BIOL 3185 is used to develop research plans prior to beginning research. BIOL 318R allows students to receive their stipends. BIOL 3189 allows students to learn how to present research findings. Finally, BIOL 3190 allows students to receive credit for the research they completed over the summer. There is also a poster presentation held at the end of the summer, where students can share their projects.

This opportunity is typically awarded to five students every summer and is funded by the College of Humanities, Arts, and Sciences. Each student receives a stipend of $4,000 ($2,000 disbursed in early June, and $2,000 disbursed in early July). The Biology Department sends out application materials in late September, and they are due in mid-October (specific deadline will be listed on application materials each year).

Dr. Alan R. Orr Research Award

Awarded to undergraduate Biology majors, completing research during the academic year, with a minimum GPA of 3.20, and having completed at least 60 credit hours toward their degree. Preference will be given to students whose research asks Botanical questions. The award must be used to fund costs related to a research project (excluding costs of travel or printing). The spending of this award will be supervised by the Biology Faculty member the student is completing research with. The amount of the award ranges from $500 - $1,000 depending on the number of students awarded. The Biology Department sends out application materials in August (for fall) and January (for spring), and they are due after the 2nd-3rd week of classes (specific deadline will be listed on application materials each year).

Dr. Alan Orr & Karen Orr Undergraduate Research Award

Awarded to undergraduate Biology majors, completing research during the academic year, with a minimum GPA of 3.20, and having completed at least 60 credit hours toward their degree. Preference will be given to students participating in hypothesis-driven investigations. The award must be used to fund costs related to a research project (excluding costs of travel). A brief, student-authored research proposal summarizing the project is required and a final report written in scientific journal style is encouraged. The spending of this award will be supervised by the Biology Faculty member the student is completing research with. The amount of the award ranges from $500 - $750 depending on the number of students awarded. The Biology Department sends out application materials in August (for fall) and January (for spring), and they are due after the 2nd-3rd week of classes (specific deadline will be listed on application materials each year).

Dr. Dave Swanson Genetics Research Award

Awarded to undergraduate Biology majors who are completing research during the academic year. Preference will be given to students whose research involves Genetics. The award must be used to fund costs related to a research project (excluding costs of travel or printing). The spending of this award will be supervised by the Biology Faculty member the student is completing research with. The amount of the award ranges from $500-$1,000 depending on the number of students awarded. The Biology Department sends out application materials in August (for fall) and January (for spring), and they are due after the 2nd-3rd week of classes (specific deadline will be listed on application materials each year).

Helscher Undergraduate Research Award

Awarded to undergraduate Biology majors who are completing research during the academic year. The award provides scholarships to students, and additional money may be provided to fund costs related to research projects. The amount of the scholarship is approximately $1,000. The scholarship will be disbursed during the semester it is awarded. If funds are awarded for research supply costs, the spending is supervised by the Biology Faculty member the student is completing research with. The Biology Department sends out application materials in August (for fall) and January (for spring), and they are due after the 2nd-3rd week of classes (specific deadline will be listed on application materials each year).

Myrna and Gary Floyd Undergraduate Research Assistantship

Myrna and Gary Floyd’s generous support allows the Biology Department to award scholarships, fund supplies related to student research projects, as well as an additional 1-2 spots for students interested in participating in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (as described above). Additional money may be provided to fund costs related to research projects as well.

Scholarships are awarded to undergraduate Biology majors who are completing research during the academic year. The amount of the award is approximately $1,000. The scholarship will be disbursed during the semester it is awarded. If funds are awarded for research supply costs, the spending is supervised by the Biology Faculty member the student is completing research with. The Biology Department sends out application materials in August (for fall) and January (for spring), and they are due after the 2nd-3rd week of classes (specific deadline will be listed on application materials each year).

The student who is chosen to participate in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program through the support of Myrna and Gary Floyd will receive the same amount of funding as described above in the SURP information, be required to enroll in the same classes, and follow the same application procedure that is due in mid-October.

Dr. Robert and Brenda Good Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Biology

Dr. Robert and Brenda Good’s generous support allows the Biology Department to offer an additional spot to a student interested in participating in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (as described above). Preference will be given to a Biology major with an emphasis in Physiology, who is in the Honors Program, and is likely to complete an Undergraduate Thesis following their participation in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program. The student who is chosen to participate in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program through the support of Dr. Robert and Brenda Good will receive the same amount of funding as described above in the SURP information, be required to enroll in the same classes, and follow the same application procedure that is due in mid-October.

Student Opportunities for Academic Research (SOAR) Awards

Please go to the College of Humanities, Arts, and Sciences Undergraduate Research Funding page for more information about SOAR Awards.

Wiens-Cook Biomedical Undergraduate Research Award

Awarded as a scholarship to an undergraduate Biology major completing research during the academic year. First preference will be given to students completing research in Cellular or Developmental Biology or Physiology. Second preference will be given to students completing research in Genetics, Molecular, or Biological Chemistry. This scholarship is typically awarded to one student each spring semester. The amount of the award is approximately $1,000. The scholarship will be disbursed during the spring semester it is awarded. The Biology Department sends out application materials in January, and they are due after the 2nd-3rd week of classes (specific deadline will be listed on application materials each year).

Floyd Fellowship

The Department of Biology’s Floyd Fellowship is a competitive program, with applications due each spring (April 15th). Students selected for the Floyd Fellowship are paired with a faculty mentor to complete research over a span of 2.5 years. The Floyd Fellowship also requires the student to complete one summer of research. Due to the length of this fellowship, it is designed for second-semester freshmen to apply and begin their fellowship during the fall semester of their sophomore year. Over the course of the fellowship, the student will enroll in a total of 5 credits of Undergraduate Research (BIOL 3190) and 1 credit of Senior Thesis (BIOL 3191). During the last semester of the fellowship, the student is expected to write a thesis with the results of their research. A Floyd Fellow will receive a $2,000 scholarship each semester as well as a $4,000 stipend during their summer of research = $14,000 total in scholarship as long as they maintain the fellowship criteria. Floyd Fellows will also be awarded $2,500 to procure research supplies. Supply funding will be spread evenly across the entire length of the fellowship and will be coordinated by the faculty mentor the Floyd Fellow is working with.