Awards & Fellowships

Find support for your studies and research

IU Biology is proud to offer our graduate students 30+ departmental awards and fellowships to aid your academic pursuits. In addition, the College of Arts and Sciences and the University Graduate School administer a number of fellowships and awards for graduate students. Scroll down to find information on research-based awards and fellowships, funds for graduate student groups and organizations, travel awards, emergency funding and loans, and external research-based grant and fellowship programs.

Student awards ceremony

Award recipients will be recognized at a student awards ceremony to be held on Friday, April 26, 2024, at 3 p.m. in Biology Bldg. A100.

Departmental awards and fellowships

Ralph Alston Genetics Fellowship Fund

Open to genetics doctoral candidates, providing either year-long or summer support.


Blatchley Nature Study Club Graduate Fellowship

Open to IUB Department of Biology graduate students in plant biology or evolution, ecology, and behavior who are in good academic standing and have financial need. First preference is given to Indiana residents. Recipient MUST be willing to prepare and present a program to the club at a mutually agreed upon time, usually the following spring. See the Rules Determining Resident and Nonresident Student Status on the Registrar’s website.

Learn more about the Blatchley Nature Study Club Scholarship and view recent recipient(s) of the award.

Award info + recent recipients


George W. Brackenridge Fellowship

Open to any graduate student earning a degree from the IUB Department of Biology and who is engaged in field work. This is a competitive award disbursed during the summer. Your letter of recommendation must be submitted by your major research professor. Additional application materials: Include in your research statement details about your career goals, how the field work experience will help you achieve those goals, and the expenses involved in the field project.

Learn more about the George W. Brackenridge Fellowship and view recent recipient(s) of the award.

Award info + recent recipients


Robert W. Briggs Graduate Fellowship in Developmental Biology

Open to any senior graduate student (G901 eligible) in an IUB Department of Biology graduate program whose research focuses on developmental biology. The award is based on scientific merit and research potential.

Learn more about the Robert W. Briggs Graduate Fellowship in Developmental Biology and view recent recipient(s) of the award.

Award info + recent recipients


Sears Crowell Scholarship

Open to any graduate student earning a degree from the IUB Department of Biology who is enrolling in an internship program or course at a marine lab or field station. To receive funds, the recipient must present a formal invitation showing acceptance into the internship program or course. Your letter of recommendation must be submitted by your major research professor. Additional application materials: Include in your research statement: details of your career goals, how the summer marine lab or field station experience will help you achieve those goals, and all expenses involved in this experience.

Learn more about the Sears Crowell Scholarship and view recent recipient(s) of the award.

Award info + recent recipients


Carl H. Eigenmann Biology Graduate Scholarship

Open to any graduate student earning a degree from the IUB Department of Biology.

Learn more about the Carl H. Eigenmann Undergraduate Scholarship and view recent recipient(s) of the award.

Award info + recent recipients


Colonel Bayard Franklin Floyd Memorial Fund in Microbiology

Open to any Ph.D. student performing research in microbiology, who is in good standing, and in years 2-5 of graduate studies. Must be engaged full-time in dissertation- or thesis-related activities during the summer. Additional application materials: When applying, students will be asked to provide a description of current research, summer research plan and timeline, progress report from previous Floyd funding (if applicable). The student’s faculty advisor must submit a letter of endorsement separately, assess the student’s intellectual prowess, independence as a researcher, ownership of the project, and productivity on project as well as committee meetings (has the student met with the thesis committee; is the committee supportive of the current research plan?), progress toward degree, and the projected completion date.

Learn more about Colonel Bayard Franklin Floyd and the Floyd Memorial Fund in Microbiology.

Award info


Colonel Bayard Franklin Floyd Memorial Fund in Plant Sciences

Provides support for summer fellowships to students conducting thesis research related to plant or fungal biology in IUB Department of Biology faculty labs. Doctoral students may be from any IUB graduate program; master’s students must be from an IUB Department of Biology graduate program. Additional application materials: Submit a statement with the date of your last dissertation committee meeting, projected date of degree completion, a brief description of your dissertation research project and results (taking care to make the connections to plant or fungal biology explicit). A recommendation letter is not required for this award. In place of the recommendation letter, ask your advisor to submit a short assessment of your progress, indicating whether your advisor agrees with your projected date of degree completion and whether your advisor supports your request for Floyd summer stipend support.

Learn more about Colonel Bayard Franklin Floyd and the Floyd Memorial Fund in Plant Sciences.

Award info


Floyd Award for Outstanding Publication in Microbiology

Open to any graduate student performing research in microbiology. Publication must have been accepted for publication within the last year and must be in a peer-reviewed journal. (Student does not need to remain enrolled to receive this award.) Not open for applications; nominations will be sought from faculty advisors.

Learn more about the Floyd Award for Outstanding Publication in Microbiology and view recent recipient(s) of the award.

Award info + recent recipients


Dean Fraser Fellowship

Open to any graduate student from the IUB Department of Biology who is in good academic standing. Preference is given to students in the Microbiology Graduate Program.

Learn more about the Dean Fraser Fellowship and view recent recipient(s) of the award.

Award info + recent recipients


Sarah Elizabeth Frey Indiana Daffodil, Inc. Scholarship

Must be a graduate student obtaining a degree from the IUB Department of Biology, with an emphasis of study in botany—preferably ornamental crops. Must have a GPA of 2.8 or better. The group is opposed to supporting genetic modification of plants that bypass natural selection. Acceptable areas of interest include plant breeding (providing any deliberate genetic crosses use naturally isolated alleles); genetics; ecology (natural culture conditions); and plant evolution. Preference will be given to an applicant with a strong interest or experience in the growing, breeding, and/or showing of daffodils. Students in the field of plant molecular biology or biochemistry can apply if work in these fields does not directly produce or optimize strains that would be used in the field. The recipient must attend one of the Indiana Daffodil Society events held at Holliday Park in Indianapolis, IN, or at the Bloomington Farmers’ Market during the year following receipt of the award. Additional application materials: Include in your research statement your detailed qualifications for the award, including any extracurricular or volunteer work. Two letters of recommendation are required; one must be from a science faculty member or postdoc.

Learn more about the Sarah Elizabeth Frey Indiana Daffodil, Inc. Scholarship and view recent recipient(s) of the award.

Award info + recent recipients


Dona G. Graam Fellowship

Open to female graduate students who are in the IUB Department of Biology’s Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior; Genome, Cell, and Developmental Biology; or Zoology Graduate Program and are engaged in research or teaching work in zoology. Letter of recommendation must be submitted by your major research professor. Additional application materials: Include in your research statement when you will be eligible to enroll in G901.

Learn more about the Dona G. Graam Fellowship and view recent recipient(s) of the award.

Award info + recent recipients


Charles Heiser Fellowship

Open to any IUB Department of Biology graduate student in plant evolution.

Learn more about the Charles Heiser Fellowship and view recent recipient(s) of the award.

Award info + recent recipients


Elvin H. and Evelyn Hewins Scholarship in Avian, Wildlife, and Habitat Studies

Must be a graduate student earning a degree from the IUB Department of Biology who is involved in avian and wildlife research and/or related endeavors such as habitat protection and development and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. (Letter of recommendation should come from applicant’s faculty or postdoc research mentor.)

Learn more about the Hewins Scholarship in Avian, Wildlife, and Habitat Studies and view recent recipient(s) of the award.

Award info + recent recipients


James Holland Graduate Fellowship in Biology

Presented to a first-year Ph.D. student from a group that is underrepresented in the life sciences. Underrepresented groups are as defined by the National Science Foundation. The award is not open to applications.

Learn more about the James Holland Graduate Fellowship in Biology and view recent recipient(s) of the award.

Award info + recent recipients


Louise Constable Hoover Graduate Research Fellowship

Open to senior graduate students in at least their third year of graduate school. Student recipients should be engaged in research in an underfunded area as determined by a faculty committee in consultation with the department chair.

Learn more about the Louise Constable Hoover Graduate Research Fellowship and view recent recipient(s) of the award.

Award info + recent recipients


George Hudock Biology Fellowship Fund

Open to any IUB Department of Biology graduate student in good academic standing with preference given to qualified master’s candidates and students seeking financial assistance for special seminars or training.

Learn more about the George Hudock Biology Fellowship Fund and view recent recipient(s) of the award.

Award info + recent recipients


Walter A. Konetzka Fellowship Fund

Open to any graduate student in IUB Microbiology, GCDB, Genetics, or Biochemistry Graduate Program who has superb teaching abilities and strong research skills. First preference given to Microbiology students. Second preference given to GCDB or Genetics graduate students if their research is in microbiology. The fellowship may also be used for summer support while the student writes a Ph.D. thesis. Additional application materials: One letter of recommendation must be submitted by the applicant’s major research professor and one letter submitted by the instructor who oversaw the applicant’s teaching. If a candidate has been an AI for the PI, the PI has the option to either submit one letter of recommendation addressing both the candidate’s research and teaching abilities OR submit a separate letter that addresses each area separately. If the PI is serving as the recommender for the candidate’s application for additional awards, submitting two separate letters is preferred.

Learn more about the Walter A. Konetzka Fellowship Fund and view recent recipient(s) of the award.

Award info + recent recipients


Gerald J. Kurlander and Shirley Prince Kurlander Graduate Fellowship

To be used for first-year fellowships to recruit outstanding students to any IUB Department of Biology graduate programs.


Carlos O. Miller Fellowship

Support for graduate students and/or postdoctoral students whose research focuses on the biochemical aspects of growth and development in plants. Not open to applications.


Alfred Parson Mower Fellowship

Open to any graduate student with a declared major from the IUB Department of Biology and who is in good academic standing.

Learn more about the Alfred Parson Mower Scholarship and view recent recipient(s) of the award.

Award info + recent recipients


Hermann J. Muller Memorial Fellowship

Open to graduate students in the IUB Department of Biology. Special consideration will be given to underrepresented populations, including but not limited to financially challenged students and/or students with diverse cultural experiences. Preference is given to women and/or students from underrepresented populations.


William R. Ogg Fellowship

Open to Botany (Plant Sciences) doctoral students in G901 status. Ask your advisor to clearly describe in the recommendation letter your contributions to plant and fungal biology as a doctoral student at IU. The letter should also include a projected date of your degree completion.

Learn more about the William R. Ogg Fellowship and view recent recipient(s) of the award.

Award info + recent recipients


Frank W. Putnam Research Fellowship

Advanced-level graduate students pursuing a Ph.D. in cell biology or biochemistry in the IUB Department of Biology or the IUB Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry whose research emphasizes immunology, protein chemistry, or human oncology are eligible for this summer fellowship. Must have successfully passed qualifying examinations as required for the Ph.D. degree.

Learn more about the Frank W. Putnam Research Fellowship and view recent recipient(s) of the award.

Award info + recent recipients


William G. Roessler Microbiology Fellowship

Must be a graduate student earning a degree in microbiology from the IUB Department of Biology. Letter of recommendation must be submitted by your major research professor.

Learn more about the William G. Roessler Microbiology Scholarship and view recent recipient(s) of the award.

Award info + recent recipients


Albert Ruesink Outstanding Associate Instructor Teaching Award in Biology

Candidates must be graduate students earning degrees from the IUB Department of Biology nominated because of their excellent teaching within the department. Not open to applications; nominations will be sought from faculty who are teaching courses for the IUB Department of Biology.

Faculty/Postdoc Fellows: Deadline for nominations is usually in early April. Submit nominations via the Undergraduate Advising Office “dropbox.”

Learn more about the Albert Ruesink Outstanding Associate Instructor Teaching Award in Biology and view recent recipient(s) of the award.

Award info + recent recipients


Drew Schwartz Fellowship in Genetics

Given to an IUB Department of Biology graduate student who is pursuing a Ph.D. in Genome, Cell, and Developmental Biology. To be considered, the nominee's dissertation research interests or current research MUST be on fundamental genetic phenomena. Not open to student applications; the GCDB admissions committee will be asked to identify a qualified student from the applicant pool when funds are available.

Learn more about the Drew Schwartz Fellowship in Genetics and view recent recipient(s) of the award.

Award info + recent recipients


Fred Seward Award

Open to any graduate student in good academic standing who is earning a degree from the IUB Department of Biology and who works in ecology, environmental biology, or in sustainable forestry or gardening through curricula, research, or outreach. Letter of recommendation must be submitted by your major research professor. Additional application materials: Include in your research statement a brief description of your work in ecology, environmental biology, or in sustainable forestry or gardening through curricula, research, or outreach.

Learn more about the Fred Seward Award and view recent recipient(s) of the award.

Award info + recent recipients


James N. and Mary Dunn Siedow Fellowship in Biology

Open to doctoral students earning a degree in the IUB Department of Biology.


Theodore J.B. Stier Graduate Fellowship in Biology

Open to doctoral students earning a degree from the IUB Department of Biology. Must be working on research in either cellular biology, biochemistry, or the mechanistic studies of physiological processes.

Award info + recent recipients


Milton Taylor Fellowship in Virology

Given to an IUB graduate student in biology or biochemistry who is engaged in virology research. Not open to applications. When funds are available, the chairs of both departments and their delegates will determine a recipient.

Learn more about the Milton Taylor Fellowship in Virology and view recent recipient(s) of the award.

Award info + recent recipients


Charles F. and Karen M. Thompson Summer Research Fellowship

Any IUB Department of Biology graduate student is eligible for this summer research fellowship. First preference to students conducting research in the fields of behavior, ecology, or evolution. Second preference to students conducting field and experimental studies.


Don C. Warren Biology Fellowship Fund

Open to IUB Department of Biology graduate students, with preference given to students working in the field of genetics. Not open to applications; awarded by invitation only.

Learn more about the Don C. Warren Biology Fellowship Fund and view recent recipient(s) of the award.

Award info + recent recipients


William and Joan Whitaker Fellowship in Biology

Open to Ph.D. students earning a degree from the IUB Department of Biology.

Miscellaneous departmental funding opportunity

Graduate Program Funding
Graduate students with a declared major from the IUB Department of Biology or Department of Biology graduate student groups or organizations may apply for graduate program funds.

Apply for grad program funding