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Scholarships & Awards

Physics Award Descriptions

Defunct Awards:

See also Award Recipients.

Andersen Scholarship

​​The Gregory Lynn Andersen Scholarship is dedicated to the memory of Gregory Lynn Andersen, who graduated with great promise from the department. Gregory Andersen received the Bachelor of Science in Physics cum laude from the University of Washington in December 1980. He died tragically in an automobile-bicycle accident only a month later. Gregory Andersen had been an outstanding physics student. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and of the Physics Honors Program. He received the Emilie Peaslee Scholarship for high academic achievement. As a student, he participated in the research program of the University of Washington Nuclear Physics Laboratory. At the time of his death he was engaged in the design and construction of a magnetic spectrometer for the laboratory. The Scholarship Fund was established in 1983 as a memorial to him by his parents, the Norman L. Andersen family, and friends. It is awarded each year to a Physics Major for academic excellence and provides a multi-quarter tuition scholarship.

Boas Scholarship

After her illustrious career, Dr. Mary L. Boas generously offered an endowed gift to the department where she got her start and encourage other women to be theoretical physicists. Dr. Boas received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the University of Washington in 1938 and 1940, and her Ph.D. from M.I.T. Dr. Boas spent 30 years on the faculty of the Physics Department at DePaul University in Chicago and continued to teach, learn and write in the field of mathematical and theoretical physics. She is the author of Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences which is widely used across the country, including in the UW undergraduate Mathematical Methods courses. The Mary L. Boas Scholarship recognizes deserving undergraduate students in the Department of Physics with a preference for those from underrepresented groups, and provides three quarters of in-state tuition.

Cox Scholarship

The Daniel Lee Cox Scholarship is funded by a generous gift from Daniel Lee Cox, a 1979 alumni of UW Physics.  It provides one quarter of in-state undergraduate tuition to a deserving student with a preference for those who are first-generation to college or from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Dehmelt Prize

​The Hans G. Dehmelt Prize was established by the distinguished Nobel Laureate Professor Emeritus Hans G. Dehmelt. Dr. Dehmelt completed his Master’s thesis in 1948 and his Ph.D. in 1950, both from University of Göttingen. Dr. Dehmelt was invited to Duke University as a postdoctoral associate in 1952, later accepting an assistant professor position at the University of Washington in 1955. He conducted his research work on ion traps, receiving the Davisson Germer Prize in 1970, elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1978, awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1989 and the National Medal of Science in 1995. In September 2002, after a brilliant career, Dr. Dehmelt retired from the University of Washington as Professor Emeritus. The purpose of this award is to recognize students in the Department of Physics for outstanding achievements in the area of “table-top” experimental physics. This award is given to an undergraduate or graduate student based on academic merit.

Dehmelt Scholarship

The Hans G. Dehmelt Scholarship is also funded by the generous endowment of Nobel Laureate and Professor Emeritus Hans G. Dehmelt.  It provides one quarter of in-state tuition to a deserving student engaged in experimental research.

Henderson Prize

​​The Henderson Family Prize commemorates Professor Joseph Henderson and his wife Evelyn. Prof. Henderson joined the faculty of the University of Washington in 1929. Mrs. Henderson was precluded from regular faculty appointment by the anti-nepotism rules in effect, although she taught occasional courses. The first Ph.D. awarded by the Department of Physics was earned by one of Professor Henderson's students in 1934, and in all 25 students received Ph.D.'s under Prof. Henderson's guidance. Research in nuclear physics here began when he and his students undertook to build a high voltage x-ray source for the Swedish Hospital to use in cancer therapy. Prof. Henderson contributed substantially to the physics war effort in World War II and he established the Applied Physics Laboratory here afterwards. He served as Director of the Laboratory until 1969. The Prize is financed by the Henderson Family Fund, established in 1983 by the gifts from Prof. and Mrs. Henderson, their family, friends, colleagues, and former students. It is awarded for an outstanding Ph.D. thesis.

Karrer Prize

The Sabastian Karrer Prize was established from a gift from Annie May Hurd Karrer in memory of her husband Dr. Sebastian Karrer. Dr. Karrer received his undergraduate and master's degrees in Physics at the University of Washington in 1911 and 1913, and his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in 1918. Dr. Karrer had a distinguished career in thermoelectricity, refrigeration and solid state physics at several universities, government laboratories and industries. He was consultant to the office of Scientific Research and received the National Defense Research Award of the Office of Naval Ordinance. The Karrer Prize was first awarded in 1947. It is given to an outstanding student in the first three years of graduate study. The Award is made to a senior or graduate student on the basis of need, scholarship, and good character.

Miller Scholarship

​​The Miller Physics Scholarship award honors the memory of Eugene Kenneth Miller, who was a graduate student in the Department of Physics at the time of his death. It is made possible through a bequest from Mr. John M. Miller.

Pitzel Scholarship

The Guy D. Pitzel Scholarship is dedicated to Guy Pitzel, who had a lifelong interest in physics and astronomy. At the age of 12 he built his first of many telescopes. He later enrolled in the University of Washington where he earned his degree in Physics. After graduating. Guy imparted his love of science to his children, grandchildren and anyone else who showed an interest. He felt strongly that everyone should have an opportunity to learn and receive a quality education.  A generous endowment by his family created the Guy D. Pitzel Scholarship which is awarded to a deserving undergraduate Physics major and provides one quarter of in-state tuition.

Weis Prize

​​The Joseph H. Weis Prize honors the memory of an outstanding young theoretical physicist and former member of this Department, who died in a mountain climbing accident in 1978. Joseph Weis was known for his enthusiasm and dedication to physics and for his concern for teaching. This award was established in accordance with these commitments. It provides for a travel grant each year to support a graduate student's trip to a conference, a workshop, or a visit to a laboratory.

Faculty Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring

This award was established in 2004 to honor excellence in teaching or mentoring by a Professor.

Graduate Student Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring

​​This award, established in 2004, recognizes outstanding service as a graduate student teaching assistant or mentor. Award winners are nominated by students or faculty.​

First Year Excellence in Teaching

This award, established in 2011, recognizes exceptional performance by first year graduate student teaching assistants.

General (Exam) Excellence

The General Excellence award, begun in 2021, recognizes exceptional performance in a Ph.D. General Exam.  The award provides a stipend supplement plus a travel allowance.

Physics Department Staff Excellence Award

This award was established in 2021 to honor outstanding contributions by department staff. The awardees are selected based on nominations from all department members: students, faculty and staff.

The following awards are no longer active:

Higgs/Osborn Prize

​​The Prize commemorates two early faculty members of the Department. Professor Higgs earned a degree from the Department in 1919 and he taught here from then until his retirement in 1966. He was outstanding for his talent as an experimentalist and for his many contributions to teaching, particularly in bringing physics alive through the design, construction, demonstration and use of laboratory equipment. Professor Osborn came to the University in 1902 as the first Professor of Physics and Director of the Physics Laboratories.He served as department head until his death in 1942. The Prize is awarded to undergraduate students who have shown exceptional ability in laboratory courses. This award closed in Spring 2011.

The Dahlstrom Prize

​​This award was established in 1993 in the name of Robert K. Dahlstrom who in 1934 received the first Ph.D. in Physics awarded by the University of Washington. His thesis work was directed by Professor Joe Henderson, founder of the Applied Physics Laboratory at the UW. He left Eastern Washington State College to do defense work during World War II. After the war, he worked for the APL in Silver Spring, MD, applying his physics to various defense problems. In his memory we honored outstanding graduate students who passed the General Examination in experimental physics. This award closed in 2000.

For a list of awardees, see Award Recipients.

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