Undergraduate Awards

Departmental Citations for Outstanding Graduating Seniors

Awarded to students with a GPA >3.6 with significant participation in undergraduate research and preference for students who have made other contributions to the department (e.g. service like tutoring or peer advisors; involvement in chemistry club; involvement in chemistry outreach, etc). Recipients are determined by appointed members of the Department's Undergraduate Awards Committee.

Award for Outstanding Graduating Senior in the Chemistry Department

Awarded to one senior student in the Chemistry Department, selected from students already chosen for Departmental Citations for Outstanding Graduating Seniors. Recipients are determined by appointed members of the Department's Undergraduate Awards Committee.

Scholarship for Outstanding Contribution in the Major

A $100 scholarship awarded to top students in each class of returning sophomores, juniors or seniors based on academic performance and participation in undergraduate research. Recipients are determined by appointed members of the Department's Undergraduate Awards Committee. Includes a monetary prize.

Francesca Miller Undergraduate Research Award

Awarded to a junior or senior undergraduate student performing research in areas relating to the biomedical or pharmaceutical sciences, especially (but not exclusively) synthetic organic chemistry and related fields. Requires participation in the annual R. Bryan Miller Symposium. Recipients of these awards are determined by the managing body (faculty, staff, and board members) of the annual R. Bryan Miller Symposium. More information about the conference can be found at https://chemistry.ucdavis.edu/seminars-events/miller-symposium.

Maureen Bellettini Undergraduate Research Award

In memory of Maureen Bellettini to further the excellent teaching and research in the chemistry department. Awarded to a continuing junior or senior undergraduate student. Includes a monetary prize.

To be eligible, applicants must:

  • Be enrolled as a full-time student at UC Davis
  • Major in chemistry and demonstrated involvement in undergraduate research
  • Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale
  • Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States
To apply, applicants must submit:
  • Resume or CV
  • 1-2 page essay describing your undergraduate research area
  • Up to 2 letters of recommendation from faculty or staff

Maureen Bellettini Memorial Book Award

In memory of Maureen Bellettini to further the excellent teaching and research in the chemistry department. Awarded to a continuing junior or senior undergraduate student. Includes a monetary prize.

To be eligible, applicants must:

  • Be enrolled as a full-time student at UC Davis
  • Major in chemistry and demonstrated involvement in both research and educational outreach
  • Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale
  • Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States
To apply, applicants must submit:
  • Resume or CV
  • 1-2 page essay describing your research area and involvement with educational outreach
  • Up to 2 letters of recommendation from faculty or staff

Susan M. Kauzlarich Undergraduate Award in Inorganic Chemistry

The Susan M. Kauzlarich Undergraduate Award in Inorganic Chemistry provides funds towards a summer research stipend for one or more chemistry majors (continuing student of junior or senior standing) whose research is focused on inorganic chemistry. Includes a monetary prize.

To be eligible, applicants must:
  • Be conducting research focused on inorganic chemistry
  • Demonstrate current and/or future potential for outstanding undergraduate research
  • Be in “good academic standing” with the chemistry department
  • Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale 
  • Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States 
To apply, applicants must submit:
  • Resume or CV
  • Personal statement
  • A one-half page summary of intended accomplishments for summer research.  
  • Two recommendation letters: one nomination letter from your research advisor and one additional supporting letter from another faculty

Richard Larock Undergraduate Research Awards

Three awards presented to the top three undergraduate student presenters at the annual Richard Larock Research Conference. Includes a monetary prize for each award. Recipients of these awards are determined by the managing body (faculty, staff, and board members) of the annual Richard Larock Research Conference. More information about the conference can be found at https://sites.google.com/site/larockconferenceatucdavis/.

ACS Hach Land Grant Undergraduate Scholarship

Awarded to continuing undergraduate chemistry majors who will be enrolled as a full time student and express an interest in teaching high school chemistry after graduation. Includes a monetary prize.

To be eligible, applicants must:

  • Be enrolled as a full-time student at UC Davis
  • Major in chemistry and demonstrated involvement with an educational program
  • Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States
  • Express the intention to teach high school chemistry after graduation
To apply, applicants must submit:
  • Resume or CV
  • 1-2 page essay describing your interest to teach high school chemistry and your involvement in educational programs such as MAST, COSMOS, Teach for America or similar
  • Up to 3 letters of recommendation from faculty or staff

Provost’s Undergraduate Fellowship Award

The Provost’s Undergraduate Fellowship (PUF) is an award to support undergraduate students doing research under the guidance of a UC Davis faculty member. The maximum award is $1,800 toward approved costs directly related to the project. For more information and application instructions, see: http://urc.ucdavis.edu/awards/puf.

ACS Undergraduate Award - Analytical

A distinction awarded by the American Chemical Society based on department nomination. The nominee must be a continuing junior or senior undergraduate student pursuing a bachelor's degree in the chemical sciences with a GPA of 3.5 or higher who has taken at least one of the CHE 105/115/125 series courses. Preference for participation in undergraduate research. Recipients are determined by appointed members of the Department's Undergraduate Awards Committee.

ACS Undergraduate Award - Inorganic

A distinction awarded by the American Chemical Society based on department nomination. The nominee must be a senior student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in the chemical sciences who has performed research in the lab of an active member of the Division of Inorganic Chemistry. Recipients are determined by appointed members of the Department's Undergraduate Awards Committee.

ACS Undergraduate Award - Organic

A distinction awarded by the American Chemical Society based on department nomination. The nominee must be a senior student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in the chemical sciences who has performed research in the lab of an active member of the Division of Organic Chemistry. Recipients are determined by appointed members of the Department's Undergraduate Awards Committee.

View recent awardees of these honors here: https://chemistry.ucdavis.edu/student-awards