Awards & Scholarships (2023)

Established to assist undergraduate students who wish to travel to off-campus research laboratories, field research sites, or academic/scientific conference. Application deadlines: early October and late March.

Submit your application here

First awarded in 1928, this scholarship was established by Dr. Hyde to improve educational opportunities for women. Ida Henrietta Hyde was born in Davenport, Iowa, in 1857. Supporting herself by teaching school (her family opposed her college plans), Dr. Hyde graduated from Cornell University in 1891 with a bachelor's degree in biology. She was the first woman researcher at the Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory while a graduate student at Bryn Mawr. Her research so impressed Professor Goette of Strasbourg University in Germany that he offered to accept it for a doctoral dissertation. Strasbourg, under Prussian influence, would not allow a female to pursue a degree. With the recommendation of Dr. Goette, Dr. Hyde enrolled at Heidelberg University; she was not permitted to attend lectures or laboratories and had to study from lecture notes taken by lab assistants. In 1896, Dr. Hyde became the first American woman to graduate with a doctoral degree from Heidelberg. She wrote an article about her experiences called"Before Women Were Human Beings."Dr. Hyde became the first female researcher at Harvard Medical School and the first female member of the American Physiological Society. In 1899, at the request of Chancellor Francis H. Snow, she came to KU to help build up the University's medical school. At KU, she founded the Department of Physiology (now part of Molecular Biosciences) and served as Professor and Department Chair until retirement in 1920. You can read more about Dr. Hyde in anarticlein The Guardian.

The Ida H. Hyde Research Scholarship fund provides an annual award to an (upper-class or graduate) woman student in biology to provide an opportunity “…to study in the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, or any other marine laboratory, or any biological, chemical or physical research laboratory, offering environment and advantages different from those found in the University of Kansas….”

Submit your application here

Established by colleagues and former students in honor of Dr. Paul Kitos, Emeritus Professor of Molecular Biosciences. Dr. Kitos retired from the Department of Biochemistry (now part of Molecular Biosciences) in 1996 after 37 years of teaching. This award is used to enhance research opportunities for undergraduate students working in biochemistry. Application deadline: early October.

Submit your application here

Established through the generosity of the Peterson Family, this scholarship provides partial tuition for a pre-medicine student for the final semester of study at KU. The scholarship gives preference to a Genetics major from either Saline or McPherson County, Kansas. Application deadline: early October.

Submit your applicationhere

Established in 1989 through contributions received from family and friends of Lance S. Foster. Lance was a native of Stillwater, Oklahoma, and a transfer from Oklahoma State University. He earned his bachelor's degrees (granted posthumously in 1989) in Systematics and Ecology and Political Science from The University of Kansas. Lance lived in Stephenson Scholarship Hall for three years of his undergraduate studies and was actively involved in scholarship hall government; he also rose to the highest student position of program director at radio station KJHK. Lance supplemented his course work through his involvement with the KU Democrats and Biology Club. He was also voted a life member of Phi Beta Kappa. In his spare time, Lance enjoyed playing guitar, running, and intramural sports. He died on May 7, 1989, at the age of 23. Application deadline: late March.

Submit your application here

The Ken and Helen Nelson Opportunities in the Biosciences Award will be presented to an undergraduate student studying biological sciences at the University of Kansas. Priority is given to applicants with demonstrated financial need.

Application deadline: late March.

Submit application here

Established in memory of Professor R. T. Hersh to honor an outstanding graduating senior in the Human Biology program whose course of study best exemplifies the interdisciplinary nature of the scientific study of humans, their origins, development, biology, and behavior. The idea for a human-oriented biology curriculum grew from Dr. Hersh's interaction with undergraduate students and discussions with colleagues. Dr. Hersh was Director of the Human Biology Program until his retirement in 1995. During his tenure at KU, Dr. Hersh was chair of the Biochemistry Department (now part of Molecular Biosciences). His dedication to teaching earned him an Outstanding Educator Award in 1973 and the Chancellor's Career Teaching Award in 1991.

Submit your application here

Established to assist undergraduate students who wish to travel to off-campus research laboratories, field research sites, or academic/scientific conference. Application deadlines: early October and late March.

Submit your application here

First awarded in 1928, this scholarship was established by Dr. Hyde to improve educational opportunities for women. Ida Henrietta Hyde was born in Davenport, Iowa, in 1857. Supporting herself by teaching school (her family opposed her college plans), Dr. Hyde graduated from Cornell University in 1891 with a bachelor's degree in biology. She was the first woman researcher at the Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory while a graduate student at Bryn Mawr. Her research so impressed Professor Goette of Strasbourg University in Germany that he offered to accept it for a doctoral dissertation. Strasbourg, under Prussian influence, would not allow a female to pursue a degree. With the recommendation of Dr. Goette, Dr. Hyde enrolled at Heidelberg University; she was not permitted to attend lectures or laboratories and had to study from lecture notes taken by lab assistants. In 1896, Dr. Hyde became the first American woman to graduate with a doctoral degree from Heidelberg. She wrote an article about her experiences called"Before Women Were Human Beings."Dr. Hyde became the first female researcher at Harvard Medical School and the first female member of the American Physiological Society. In 1899, at the request of Chancellor Francis H. Snow, she came to KU to help build up the University's medical school. At KU, she founded the Department of Physiology (now part of Molecular Biosciences) and served as Professor and Department Chair until retirement in 1920.

The Ida H. Hyde Research Scholarship fund provides an annual award to an (upper-class or graduate) woman student in biology to provide an opportunity “…to study in the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, or any other marine laboratory, or any biological, chemical or physical research laboratory, offering environment and advantages different from those found in the University of Kansas….”

Submit your application here

Established through a gift from Dr. Pauline Kimball Skinner of Newark, Delaware. Dr. Kimball graduated from KU in 1919; she studied for three years and served as an assistant instructor at the University of Iowa. She received her doctorate in 1928 from New York University, after which she became head of the department of biology at Women's College, University of Delaware. Following her marriage to Dr. Glenn S. Skinner in 1930, she retired from teaching and developed an interest in the work of patriotic societies. Application deadline: late March.

Submit your application here

This award was established in memory of Nathan B. Parker, Ph.D., through the generosity of his family and friends. Dr. Parker earned his bachelor’s and Ph.D. in microbiology at KU, after which he began a biology teaching career at Austin Community College in Austin, Texas. This award gives preference to graduating biology seniors who are pursuing acceptance to a master’s or Ph.D. program in biology or a related field. Award funds are meant to help alleviate financial costs associated with program application fees and travel.

Submit your application here

The Jenna Robinson Scholarship has been made possible through the generosity of the family of Jenna Robinson. Jenna was an undergraduate student in the Division of Biological Sciences working in the laboratory of Dr. Robert E. Palazzo. She was a dedicated student and promising young researcher when her career tragically ended as a result of a fatal automobile accident. Jenna was an intelligent, highly disciplined, and extremely devoted young scientist. Her quiet diligence, together with her sense of commitment to her work, served as inspiration to fellow students. Jenna Robinson represented the very best of Kansas youth. To commemorate her commitment to education and research, the Robinson family established an endowment to celebrate the spirit of Jenna Robinson. Application deadline: late March.

Submit your application here

Provides renewable scholarships to outstanding undergraduate students in the Biological Sciences. In addition to the scholarship, this program provides opportunities such as undergraduate research experiences, mentoring from faculty and graduate students, travel to scientific meetings and presentation of the undergraduate research project.Bioscholars Program Brochure (pdf)

Submit application here

This fund will present $1500 to an undergraduate student studying biological sciences at the University of Kansas. Priority is given to applicants with demonstrated financial need.

TO APPLY

• One page essay describing why you deserve the award, any past accomplishments and describe your future career aspirations.
• 1 Letter of Recommendation

DUE: March 31

Submit your application Here

The KU Academic Works Site only shows active scholarships, so make sure to check back often to see if new scholarships have become available.

Look for scholarships on KU Academic Works

Undergraduate Research Awards (UGRAs) are $1,000 scholarships provided to undergraduate students pursuing original research or creative projects under the general guidance of a research mentor. The deadline to apply for an UGRA is in October for spring awards and in March for summer or fall awards.

Find out more about the Undergraduate Research Awards

Critical Language Scholarships cover all costs of attending Intensive Summer Institutes through the United States Department of State.

Languages offered include: Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bangla/Bengali, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Turkish, and Urdu.

Students in all fields are eligible to apply after two semesters of college; additional criteria depend on the language being studied.
• National deadline in mid-November

The Greater Kansas City Community Foundation offers over 250 different scholarships for students in and around Kansas City.

Check the GKCCF site for Scholarship Opportunities

The University Women's Club Scholarship helps to financially assist academically meritorious undergraduate and graduate women students at The University of Kansas.

Open to all women undergradsat KUwith 3.5 GPA, $1500-$2500 peryear

Application:

University Women’s Club ScholarshipApplication

The Center for Sexuality and Gender Diversity is honored to be the steward of four QT-centered scholarships which range between $1,000 and $5,000 in non-renewable awards.

• LGBTQ Community Leadership Scholarship
• Chad A. Leat Scholarship
• Damon Kiley Meeker Scholarship
• Mark G. Noller Scholarship
• J.L. Cleland GLBTQIA Non-Discrimination Scholarship (for Incoming Freshmen)

For more information check out the Center for Sexual & Gender Diversity Scholarship Page.