Scholarships
A number of scholarships are available to support undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a degree in biology or a related discipline. Students are encouraged to apply for all scholarships. For questions about scholarships, please contact Dr. Emily Grman.
Applications for all Biology Department scholarships (except field studies and science education scholarships) are due on January 31, 2025.
Applications for field study and science education scholarships are due June 15, 2025 but application by January 31, 2025 is encouraged.
Undergraduate Scholarships
Scholarships for Students Interested in Research
2025 Application for Undergraduate Research Fellowships and Apprenticeships
- Don Brown and Meta Daniel Hellwig Undergraduate Research Fellowship for summer, fall, and/or winter. Undergraduate students continuing mentored research with a Biology Department faculty member can receive up to $2250 as salary support plus funds to purchase research supplies. Fellowships are intended for students with at least one semester of previous research experience; the primary selection criteria are quality of the proposal and feasibility of accomplishing the stated goals within the award period.
- Don Brown and Meta Daniel Hellwig Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship for summer, fall, and/or winter. Undergraduate students beginning mentored research with a Biology Department faculty member can receive up to $1250 as salary support plus funds to purchase research supplies. Apprenticeships are intended for applicants beginning research projects; the primary selection criterion is the apparent value of the learning experience to the student.
- Symposium Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) for next fall/winter. Undergraduate students wishing to participate in extended research with a Biology Department faculty member can receive $1000 annually (renewable; $500 for the fall term and $500 for the winter term) plus funds to purchase research supplies. Fellows will present the results of their research at EMU's annual Undergraduate Symposium. Priority will be given to applications from full-time students (12 credit hours or more in the upcoming semester) who are new to EMU (freshmen or transfer students).
Science Education, Biology, Botany, and Field Course Awards
2025 Application for EMU Biology Undergraduate Non-Research Awards
The Petra Brigette Angela Moessner Endowed Scholarship in Biology: Awarded to one undergraduate or graduate student annually. The student must be in good academic standing and majoring in biology.
The Bert Johnson Scholarship: Awarded to promising biology majors (sophomore, junior, or senior) with a minimum 3.0 overall GPA and a minimum 3.5 GPA in biology. Awardees must have completed at least 8 hours of college biology with at least 4 completed at EMU.
The Stephen and Christine Liu Scholarship: Awarded once annually to a promising undergraduate biology major with sophomore, junior or senior standing and a GPA ≥ 3.51. Funds are awarded to support tuition and textbook purchases.
The Minnie J. Neary Scholarship: Awarded to a promising graduate or undergraduate biology major.
The Grace E. Wertenberger Scholarship: Awarded to a promising undergraduate or graduate biology major with a minimum 3.0 GPA and demonstrated financial need.
The Dr. Shih-An Yu Memorial Endowed Scholarship: Awarded to a promising biology graduate or undergraduate student in good academic standing for tuition and/or research support.
The Mary A. Goddard Testimonial Endowed Scholarship: Awarded to undergraduate biology students who have earned at least 72 credits, 45 of which were earned at EMU and 18 hours of which were biology, with a minimum 3.2 GPA overall and 3.5 GPA in biology.
The Richard A. and Elizabeth V. Giles Botany Endowed Scholarship: Awarded to a biology major (sophomore, junior, or senior) intending to pursue a career in botany. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA overall and in biology, with at least eight hours of college biology courses completed including four completed hours of botany at EMU.
The Michigan Garden Club Scholarship: Awarded to sophomores, juniors, or MS students (with at least one year remaining at EMU) who are permanent residents of Michigan and US citizens. Successful applicants will need a minimum GPA of 3.25 and be studying botany, forestry, conservation, environmental science, horticulture, arboriculture, floriculture, landscape design, agronomy, plant pathology, or any related field of study. Additional application materials will be required after submission of the form and will likely be due in the December following award notification for an award to be received in January. The recipient must be willing to share a photograph for publication by the Garden Club. The recipient will be eligible for additional Garden Club scholarships (Central Region and National).
The Fred & Ford Bryan Undergraduate Endowed Scholarship: Awarded to undergraduates with a 3.0 minimum GPA and demonstrated financial need intending to teach physical science or natural science at the junior or senior high school level, or to a history major intending to teach high school.
The Suzanne J. Stevens Science Education Endowed Scholarship: Awarded to students in good standing, with preference for science education majors or minors who are intending to teach science at the elementary or middle school levels, or are currently teaching at those levels. Preference will be given to students returning to school after an absence or career change.
The Don Brown and Meta Daniel Hellwig Field Study Scholarships: Awarded to students taking a field biology course away from the EMU campus (EMU field courses are given preference). Funds are intended to help defray expenses associated with enrollment and travel to the field course. Biology (graduate and undergraduate), Environmental Science & Society, and Secondary Education Biology students are given preference. Other majors will be considered as funds permit. The main selection criterion will be the apparent value of the learning experience to the student.
The William Fennel Biological Station Endowed Scholarships: Awarded to students enrolled in a course at a biological station (freshwater, marine, or terrestrial) outside Michigan. Funds are intended to help defray expenses associated with enrollment and travel to the field course. Biology (graduate and undergraduate), Environmental Science & Society, and Secondary Education Biology students are given preference. Other majors will be considered as funds permit. The main selection criterion will be the apparent value of the learning experience to the student.
Graduate Scholarships
Don Brown and Meta Hellwig Graduate Research Awards
Don Brown and Meta Daniel Hellwig Graduate Research Award for summer. Graduate students conducting mentored research with a Biology Department faculty member can receive up to $4500 as salary support plus funds to purchase research supplies. The primary selection criteria are the quality of the proposal and the feasibility of accomplishing the stated goals within the award period.
Science Education, Biology, Botany, and Field Course Awards
2025 Application for Science Education and Field Course Awards
- The Petra Brigette Angela Moessner Endowed Scholarship in Biology: Awarded to one undergraduate or graduate student annually. The student must be in good academic standing and majoring in biology.
- The Minnie J. Neary Scholarship: Awarded to a promising graduate or undergraduate biology major.
- The Grace E. Wertenberger Scholarship: Awarded to a promising undergraduate or graduate biology major with a minimum 3.0 GPA and demonstrated financial need.
- The Dr. Shih-An Yu Memorial Endowed Scholarship: Awarded to a promising biology graduate or undergraduate student in good academic standing for tuition and/or research support.
- The Michigan Garden Club Scholarship: Awarded to sophomores, juniors, or MS students (with at least one year remaining at EMU) who are permanent residents of Michigan and US citizens. Successful applicants will need a minimum GPA of 3.25 and be studying botany, forestry, conservation, environmental science, horticulture, arboriculture, floriculture, landscape design, agronomy, plant pathology, or any related field of study. Additional application materials will be required after submission of the form and will likely be due in the December following award notification for an award to be received in January. The recipient must be willing to share a photograph for publication by the Garden Club. The recipient will be eligible for additional Garden Club scholarships (Central Region and National).
- The Suzanne J. Stevens Science Education Endowed Scholarship: Awarded to students in good standing, with preference for science education majors or minors who are intending to teach science at the elementary or middle school levels, or are currently teaching at those levels. Preference will be given to students returning to school after an absence or career change.
- The Don Brown and Meta Daniel Hellwig Field Study Scholarships: Awarded to students taking a field biology course away from the EMU campus (EMU field courses are given preference). Funds are intended to help defray expenses associated with enrollment and travel to the field course. Biology (graduate and undergraduate), Environmental Science & Society, and Secondary Education Biology students are given preference. Other majors will be considered as funds permit. The main selection criterion will be the apparent value of the learning experience to the student.
- The William Fennel Biological Station Endowed Scholarships: Awarded to students enrolled in a course at a biological station (freshwater, marine, or terrestrial) outside Michigan. Funds are intended to help defray expenses associated with enrollment and travel to the field course. Biology (graduate and undergraduate), Environmental Science & Society, and Secondary Education Biology students are given preference. Other majors will be considered as funds permit. The main selection criterion will be the apparent value of the learning experience to the student.
Graduate Teaching Assistantships
Teaching assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis to highly qualified, graduate degree-seeking students in the Biology Department. These awards provide a stipend as well as 18 hours of tuition remission per year. Interest in a graduate teaching assistantship should be indicated upon application to the graduate program. Admission application should be completed by February 1st to ensure consideration for a fall semester assignment. Complete this Google Form to indicate your interest in a position. Two letters of recommendation are required. International students for whom English is a second language must be in residence in the United States for at least one year to be eligible to receive an assistantship.For questions about graduate teaching assistantships, contact Dr. Cara Shillington, biology graduate coordinator.