Ralph B. Bodine Scholarship
The University of Michigan Physics Department invites undergraduate physics students at the University of Michigan to apply
for the Ralph B. Bodine Scholarship. The scholarship is made possible by a gift from Norman R. Bodine and United
Technologies. It is named in honor of Ralph B. Bodine, a 1936 University of Michigan graduate.
The Scholarship provides annual scholarship support to a 3rd-year student with proven academic ability in the Department
of Physics. The recipient must be a citizen of the United States and need financial assistance. If no undergraduates in physics meet the qualifications, the scholarship is to be given to an undergraduate in
electrical engineering or to a first- or second-year graduate student in physics, in order of preference. Each recipient
will receive scholarship support for two years, contingent on satisfactory academic performance.
Award Amount: Provides scholarship support for two years up to $10,000 per academic year
Number Awarded: One fellowship every two years (last awarded in 2004)
Scholarship Criteria: Prospective students must be citizens of the United States and need financial
assistance.
Deadline: This scholarship is awarded every two years. It was last awarded in 2004. All materials must be submitted by the third Friday in March. The scholarship is awarded in the month of
April.
Download: Bodine Application and Bodine Recommendation Form
The 2004 Ralph B. Bodine Scholarship was awarded to Benjamin Sonday.
Wirt & Mary Cornwell Prize
Funded by a bequest from the Cornwell family, the Wirt and Mary Cornwell Prize is awarded soley on the basis of merit.
The Prize is distributed to a uniquely qualified graduate student who, during the four previous years, shall have demonstrated
greatest intellectual curiosity [and] given most promise of original study and creative work in one of six disciplines—one being
physics.
Award Amount: $10,000
Number Awarded: One student per year
Award Criteria: Eligible students will be drawn from the pool of those who have passed the Qualifying
Examination within the past 42 months.
Other factors include:
1) Grades in graduate courses
2) Score on Qualifying Examination
3) Independent study
4) Research experience and accomplishments
5) Demonstations of intellectual initiative and originality
6) Any other evidence of creative activity and potential shall be a factor, such as reports or papers written, apparatus
designed or constructed, experiments carried out, and other notable citations received or academic competitions won.
Deadline: Faculty must submit their nominations to the Student Services Director by the second Friday in March.
The prize is awarded in the month of April.
The Wirt & Mary Cornwell Prize was awarded to Wouter Deconinck in 2005.
The Franken Award
Peter Franken was a leading member of the Michigan physics faculty for two decades whose contributions include pioneering
discoveries in non-linear optics, novel developments in spectroscopy, and detailed studies of physical symmetries.
Award Criteria: The Franken Award is presented every year to honor outstanding work by a first- or second-year
Physics graduate student.
Award Amount: $1,500-$2,000
Number Awarded: One student per year
Deadline: There is no application needed. This prize is awarded by a faculty committee each April.
Vladimir Dergachev was the 2005 recipient of the Peter Franken Award
Parkinson Travel Funds
Award Criteria: Awards are available to Physics Ph.D. students who are presenting either a paper or poster at a
conference. Students must be studying experimental physics (not high energy or theory).
To be considered for funds, a student must:
1) Complete the application.
2) Attach a copy of the program or letter of invitation (e-mail acceptable) with the applicant's name clearly stated
verifying participation in the conference.
Award Amount: A student may receive only one domestic or international travel grant award per fiscal year
(July 1- June 30).
1) Domestic- up to $250 for travel in the continental United States, and up to $500 for transcontinental travel, including
Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.
2) International- up to $500 for conferences in Canada, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and Europe, and up to $900
for conferences in Africa, Asia, South America and Australia.
Number Awarded: 10-20 per year
Deadline: Applications must be received at least three weeks prior to the conference. Applications
will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis.
Please Note: No application will be considered for funding retroactively.
Funding is Limited and May
Expire Without Notice
Download: Parkinson Application
Notification: Applicants will be notified of the results in writing. Please note: All awards are taxable;
international students will have taxes withheld prior to receiving funds so actual award amount will be
less than indicated above.
Kent M. Terwilliger Memorial Thesis Prize
A member of the Michigan physics faculty for more than three decades, Kent Terwilliger was internationally recognized
for his leadership and achievements in particle physics. This annual award is given to a graduate student for the most
outstanding Ph.D. thesis in physics.
Award Criteria: The selection criteria for this prize are the scholarship and importance of the research and its
presentation in the doctoral dissertation. The timely completion of graduate studies is an important consideration as well.
In addition:
1) The doctoral chair or co-chair must be a faculty member of the Physics Department
2) The doctoral degree must be either in Physics or in a joint program that includes Physics
3) The oral thesis must be defended by the end of the current winter term
4) The thesis must have been completed and submitted the previous year
Award Amount: $3,000
Number Awarded: One student per year
Deadline: There is no application needed. Students can nominate their own thesis but must have recommendation letters
from faculty. This prize is awarded by a faculty committee each April.
Almut Mecke was awarded the Kent M. Terwilliger Memorial Thesis Prize for 2005.
The Wiedenbeck Award
The family of Marcellus Lee "Marc" Wiedenbeck established this award to honor Marc Wiedenbeck's 40 years of service on the
Michigan faculty. The Wiedenbeck Award is presented to a graduate student that exemplifies outstanding teaching abilities.
Award Criteria:
1) Teaching evaluation scores
2) Student comments on teaching evaluations
3) Feedback from faculty supervisors
4) Feedback from lab supervisors
5) Portfolio submitted by student containing: a) class materials (handouts, quizzes etc.) developed by student b) a brief
overview written by the student of the instructional materials used in the course c) any additional material the student
wishes to submit
Award Amount: $1,500
Number Awarded: One graduate student per year
Deadline: Students can self nominate by emailing the Director of Student Services by the third Friday in March.
The faculty committee will review the cases of all nominated students. They will narrow the field to between 3 and 5
candidates. Each finalist will be asked to discuss her/her portfolio in a 20 minute interview with the committee. A winner
will be selected following these presentations and the award is presented at the Departmental Undergraduate Awards Ceremony
the day before graduation.
Christopher Savage was the 2005 recipient of the Wiedenbeck Award.
Wiley Book Award
Established in 1996, the Wiley Book Award is presented for outstanding achievement by an undergraduate physicist.
Award Criteria: The award is given to a graduating senior with a high G.P.A. who is going to graduate school.
Number Awarded: One student per year
Deadline: There is no application needed. The prize is awarded by a faculty committee in April.
Alexander Povilus was the 2005 recipient of the Wiley Book Award for outstanding academics and/or research.
The William L. Williams Award
This award is established in memory of Professor William L. Williams to honor an outstanding undergraduate thesis. The award
recognizes a student who exhibits excellence in posing a question, conducting independent investigation, and determining an
answer.
Award Criteria: You must be a University of Michigan student receiving a bachelor's degree with a concentration
in physics in the current academic year.
Award Amount: $3,000
Number Awarded: One student per year
How to proceed: Provide three copies of the thesis. A supporting letter by the thesis advisor is required;
additional supporting letters are optional, but encouraged. As part of the judging process, the committe may choose to interview students
regarding thesis content. The committee would appreciate it if the thesis could be submitted in print and also in electronic
form (if available).
Deadline: Submit materials to the Undergraduate Secretary, Office of Student Services, 2464 Randall Lab, by the
first Friday in April. The award is presented at the Departmental Undergraduate Awards Ceremony the day before graduation.
The 2005 recipient of the William L. Williams Award is Phillip Killewald.
For more information on any of these prizes, contact the Undergraduate Secretary in the Student Services Office,
2464 Randall Lab, (734) 936-0659, physics.sso@umich.edu.
Ten students were honored at the Physics Department’s 2004-2005 Student Awards Ceremony in April.
A record twenty-four undergraduates were also inducted into 
