Financial aid—whether in the form of loans, grants, work-study, grants, or scholarships—can be an important part of putting a Penn State degree within reach. Penn State and the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences have numerous resources and ways to help eligible students and their families help pay for a Penn State education. Through the generosity of our alumni and friends, the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences provides financial aid to our students in good academic standing and awards nearly 500 scholarships annually.
For the Annual Travel and Research Awards and the Shell Research Facilitation Awards, application materials must be submitted in a single pdf file that is named: AwardTitle_LastName_FirstName.pdf.
Applications for Annual Travel and Research Funds should include:
1. A copy of the abstract to be presented at the meeting, if you are requesting funds to attend a meeting.
2. All other information requested here http://www.geosc.psu.edu/gradprogram/GeoscGradTravelFundApplication.rtf
Please fill in the document and submit with your application.
*Note that we ask for only a simple acknowledgement of support from the academic advisor. Travel & Research fund applications do not require a letter of recommendation
Paul D. Krynine Scholarship: The Paul D. Krynine award started with funds provided by faculty members and alumni of the Department of Geosciences. Krynine awards provide financial aid for deserving graduate students in any program of the Geosciences. Funds can be used for any purpose. In Fall semester, awards are most typically made to support research-related travel or to attend conferences; in Spring semester, awards commonly support research related travel or other research costs. We anticipate that in 2019-20, Krynine funds will be used to support the majority of complete applications submitted by graduate students in good academic standing. The typical award amount is $400-500.
2019/2020 Application Deadlines are September 30, 2019 and February 15, 2020
Shell Research Travel Awards for AAPG: Supports travel costs for graduate students giving a talk or poster at the AAPG meeting. Statement should describe and document why travel cannot be supported by advisor and current research projects. Typical award amount is $1,000-$2,000.
Next Application Deadline is January 31, 2020
The Graduate Program Committee (GPC) invites nominations for the scholarships and awards listed below.
For departmental fellowships and scholarships, as well as the Chevron Graduate Student Scholarship, the file should simply be named: LastName_FirstName.pdf.
For example, if Albert Einstein were applying for a Krynine Award, his file would be called: Krynine_Einstein_Albert.pdf.
Evaluation
A rubric for evaluation of the applications is available online at: http://www.geosc.psu.edu/graduate-evaluation-rubric
Application Deadlines for all awards is March 31, 2020
Students should submit a single application (procedure and contents described below) for departmental fellowships and scholarships and the Chevron Graduate Student Scholarship (applications for the Shell Research Facilitation Awards should be submitted separately and will be considered in addition to your single application for the departmental awards). As part of the application, applicants should highlight the award(s) for which their application is best suited. The graduate program committee (GPC) will make decisions based on the strength of the application, following the rubric (http://www.geosc.psu.edu/graduate-evaluation-rubric), and will consider applications for each of the awards on the basis of the research description, purpose of the awards as described below, and/or eligibility. We anticipate that there will be one or in some cases two awardees for each of these competitive scholarships and fellowships.
In selecting awardees, the GPC will adhere to the wishes of the donors, as described below. Awards are open to graduate students enrolled in the Geosciences, unless otherwise noted.
Application Procedure
Nominations should include:
- A nomination letter from the faculty advisor. This should be sent separately to the Graduate Program Office.
- A statement by the student that includes: (a) indication of the scholarship(s) or fellowships(s) that you believe are most appropriate to your application; and (b) a summary of qualifications for the award and plans for proposed research, including a budget (~2 pages for statement and budget).
- A current C.V., transcript of PSU grades, and most recent progress report.
Scholarship and Fellowship Descriptions
Alley Family Graduate Scholarship in the Department of Geosciences
Purpose: Consideration for this scholarship shall be given to graduate students enrolled or planning to enroll in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, or successor academic unit, at The Pennsylvania State University who are studying a discipline related to climate science in the Department of Geoscience.
2018 Winners:
Allison Karp
Elisabeth Clyne
Richard Standish Good Graduate Scholarship in Geosciences
Purpose:To recognize and support research by outstanding graduate students in Geosciences. Preference will be given to students conducting research in geobiology, geochemistry, or astrobiology and the origin of life. Typical award is $1000-$2000.
2018 Winners:
Allison Fox
Kirsten Stephens
Michael Loudin Family Graduate Scholarship
Purpose: To provide financial assistance to a graduate student who is a candidate from a graduate degree in the Department of Geosciences. First preference will be given to students who demonstrate financial need.
Charles E. Knopf, Sr., Memorial Scholarship
Purpose:To provide recognition and financial assistance for research by outstanding first-year graduate students. Preference shall be given to students interested in pursuing an academic career in Geology. Typical award is $4000-$7000.
2018 Winners:
Troy Ferland
Judit Gonzalez Santana
Gabriella Rossetto
Elena Stiles
Damaris Wyatt
Hiroshi and Koya Ohmoto Graduate Fellowship in Geosciences
Purpose:To recognize and support graduate students exhibiting academic excellence. Scholarships shall be awarded for one academic year and may be renewed for subsequent years providing the recipient continues to meet the conditions of eligibility. Typical award is $4000-$7000.
2018 Winners:
Claire Cleveland
Erica Pitcavage
Richard R. Parizek Graduate Fellowship
Purpose:To recognize and support research by graduate students exhibiting academic excellence. Preference will be given to students studying hydrogeology. Typical award is $4000-$7000.
2018 Winners:
Kalle Jahn
Joanmarie DelVecchio
Scholten-Williams-Wright Scholarship in Field Geology
Purpose:PhD students involved in summer field studies in geology that involve a significant component of geologic mapping. Preference to students with superior academic records and who have the ability to express ideas concisely, lucidly, and logically in speech and writing. Typical award is $1000-$3000.
2018 Winners:
Julia Carr
Alex Neely
Judi Sclafani
Elisabeth Clyne
Donald B. and Mary E. Tait Scholarship in Microbial Biogeochemistry
Purpose: Scholarships are awarded to graduate students who have demonstrated outstanding ability, or potential, in research on the role of bacteria in geological processes, including microbial biogeochemistry. This scholarship is offered to graduates every other year when the beginning year is even. (e.g. 2016-2017).
2018 Winners:
Beth Hoagland
Adriana Rizzo
Chloe Stanton
Barry Voight Volcano Hazards Endowment
Purpose:Graduate students or professionals representing foreign volcanological organizations engaged in research or education to mitigate volcano hazards. Preference will be given to international students or foreign professionals currently engaged in hazards-reduction activities. A demonstrated financial need may also be a consideration. Funds for graduate research, academic travel for students or visiting professionals, study abroad opportunities, etc. Typical award is $1000-$2000.
2018 Winners:
Judit Gonzalez-Santana
The Department of Geosciences is committed to a high-quality educational experience for our undergraduate students. In addition, we wish to develop the teaching skills of our graduate students. Toward these ends, the Department is pleased to offer a $1,000 Teaching Assistant Award each semester to recognize superior graduate student teaching assistants (TAs).
Department of Geosciences graduate students who are teaching within our curriculum in a given semester are encouraged to submit their own nomination. The nomination materials should include a teaching statement outlining their philosophy, a recommendation letter from a faculty member who has observed them in the classroom, and an optional TA portfolio. The TA portfolio can take several forms.
To facilitate interaction and coordination between the TA and her or his faculty recommender, we suggest that the faculty member observe the TA in the classroom at least twice per semester. TA's may also find that gathering feedback from students is beneficial. Examples of student assessment forms can be found below.
TA Mid-semester Evaluation
TA End-semester Evaluation
TA Faculty Evaluation
2017 Winner:
Erica Pitcavage
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
Fellowships are intended for individuals in the early stages of their graduate study.
Applicants must be United States citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States by the application deadline. The term "national" designates a native resident of a commonwealth or territory of the United States, such as American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, or the Northern Mariana Islands. It does not refer to a citizen of another country who has applied for U.S. citizenship.
Individuals are typically eligible to apply: during the senior year of college; after graduating from college and prior to entering graduate school; during the first year of graduate school; prior to completing the fall term of the second year of graduate school.
Deadline is typically mid November.
SEG Foundation Scholarships
SEG Foundation scholarships are intended to encourage the study of the geophysics and related geosciences and to recognize students demonstrating outstanding academic merit.
Deadline is typically March 1.
http://www.seg.org/scholarships
Contact:
Bernadette Ward
SEG Foundation
Grant Programs Administrator
PO Box 702740
AAPG Foundation Grants
Grants-in-Aid Graduate Grants
Grants are made to provide financial assistance to graduate students (currently enrolled in Masters or Ph.D. program) whose thesis research has application to the search for and development of petroleum and energy mineral resources, and/or to related environmental geology issues.
Grants available range from $500 to $3,000.
http://foundation.aapg.org/students/graduate/giaprogram.cfm
Harriet Evelyn Wallace Scholarship for Women
The scholarship will be awarded to a full time female student pursuing a Doctoral degree in the geosciences, and must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
The Harriet Evelyn Wallace Scholar will receive $5,000 for her first scholarship year, and will be eligible for a second year scholarship of $5,000 upon successful completion of her first year. Application deadline is January 4th, 2016. For more information or to submit an application, please visit:
http://www.americangeosciences.org/workforce/harriet-evelyn-wallace-scho...
If you have any questions regarding the scholarship, or while submitting your application, please contact the scholarship coordinator Heather Haoulton at:
wallacescholarship@americangeosciences.org
Society of Petrophysicists and Core Analyst's (SPWLA)
https://www.spwla.org/SPWLA/Foundation/Grant_and_Scholarship_Applications
Unconventional Resources Special Interest Group Scholarship Award
Student scholarships (in the amount of $2,000) to both encourage and support projects related to reservoir characterization of petroleum systems with an emphasis on unconventional resources.
ELIGIBILITY outline (see details here): (1) full-time student focused on the science of oil or gas. (2) Undergraduate or graduate student with GPA of at least 3.0.
National Research Council of the National Academies Research Associateship Program
The National Research Council of the National Academies sponsors a number of awards for graduate, postdoctoral and senior researchers at participating federal laboratories and affiliated institutions. Graduate entry level stipends begin at $30,000. These awards provide the opportunity for recipients to do independent research in some of the best-equipped and staffed laboratories in the U.S. Research opportunities are open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and for some of the laboratories, foreign nationals.
Application Deadline for Fall awards is March 31.
College Awards include:
Anne C. Wilson Graduate Fellowship
The Anne C. Wilson Graduate Fellowship is given to select highly-ranked incoming graduate students. This award has evolved over the years, but has been used for the same purpose overall--to recognize outstanding students enrolled in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Consideration for this fellowship shall be given to all full-time graduate students exhibiting academic excellence. Preference will be given to students who receive honorable mention in the NSF Fellowship competition.
Arnulf I. Muan Graduate Fellowship in Earth and Mineral Sciences
The Arnulf I. Muan Graduate Fellowship in Earth and Mineral Sciences is given to select students who exhibit academic excellence and who are currently enrolled full-time within the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.
Carl H. and Helen H. Chelius Graduate Fellowship in Earth Sciences
The Carl H. and Helen H. Chelius Graduate Fellowship in Earth Sciences is given in recognition and support of outstanding graduate students enrolled or planning to enroll in the College of Earth and Mineral sciences who exhibit academic excellence in the area of Earth Sciences.
EMS Centennial Graduate Research Travel Award
The EMS Centennial Research Award is given to exceptional graduate students in recognition of their outstanding research while enrolled in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.
John Meacham Hunt Graduate Student Award in Petroleum Geochemistry
The John Meacham Hunt Graduate Student Award in Petroleum and Geochemistry recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students majoring in Geosciences or Energy and Mineral Engineering within the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at the Pennsylvania State University and who have made notable progress on research in the field of geochemistry or associated fields.
Marathon Alumni Centennial Graduate Fellowship in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
The Marathon Alumni Centennial Graduate Fellowship in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences recognizes and supports outstanding U.S. citizens who have been admitted to the Pennsylvania State University as candidates for a graduate degree in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences in Petroleum or Natural Gas Engineering, Geology, Geophysics or similar disciplines vital to a strong oil and gas industry in the United States, and who have exhibited academic excellence.
University Awards include:
Alumni Association Dissertation Award
The Alumni Association Dissertation Award provides funding and recognition to outstanding full-time doctoral students who have passed their comprehensive exams and have received approval of the dissertation topic. This award is considered to be among the most prestigious available to Penn State graduate students and recognizes outstanding achievement in scholarship and professional accomplishment. Nominations for this award must be submitted from the student's academic program to the Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Research no later than the third week of October.
Guidelines and Nomination Form
Academic Computing Fellowship
In 1987, Penn State established an innovative fellowship program in computing applications. The Academic Computing Fellowship Program is for doctoral students who are U.S. Citizens or permanent residents and who have a background and strong interest in computing applications within their disciplines. Through participation in the program and the use of computers, students will help develop and disseminate new methods for problem solving within their disciplines. Nominations for this award must be submitted from the student's academic program to the Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Research no later than the third week of October.
Guidelines and Nomination Form
AT&T Graduate Fellowship
The AT&T Wireless Graduate Fellowship is designed to recognize and provide financial assistance to outstanding graduate students who are conducting research in wireless data applications and have been admitted to Penn State as graduate degree candidates. Nominations for this award must be submitted from the student's academic program to the Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Research no later than the third week of October.for one $5,000 scholarship to be disbursed the following fall semester.
Guidelines and Nomination Form
Bunton Waller Graduate Awards Program
Bunton-Waller Graduate Awards are assistantships granted to incoming students as part of the University's comprehensive educational opportunity program. The graduate admission application serves as the Bunton-Waller Graduate Awards application. Students must be nominated by their program. The Bunton-Waller Graduate Awards Program competition is open to incoming graduate degree candidates who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Awards from the Bunton-Waller Graduate Awards Program include one-year awards, two-year awards, four-year awards for doctoral students, and top-up awards. Applications will be evaluated on scholarly promise and upon receiving a commitment from the student's graduate major program to support the student. Departments should work with the Director of Diversity Enhancement Programs in Earth and Mineral Sciences.
Harold F. Martin Graduate Assistant Outstanding Teaching Award
The Graduate Student Oustanding Teaching Award recognizes a graduate assistant for outstanding teaching performance and is open to graduate students who have served as graduate assistants for at least two semesters within the last two years. Nominations for this award must be submitted from the student's academic program to the Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Research no later than the third week of October.
Guidelines and Nomination Form
Graham Endowment Fellowship Program
The Graham Endowed Fellowship will be used to give Penn State a competitive advantage in recruiting outstanding graduate students. The fund will provide supplementation awards of up to $4,000 per year to highly recruited students who are given assistantships, departmental fellowships, or who are recipients of external assistantships or fellowships. If justification is provided awards will be made up to two years. The Graduate School's University Graduate Fellowships and Bunton-Waller Graduate Awards Program and the GEM master's program are not eligible for the Graham Endowed Fellowship funds.
Guidelines and Nomination Form
Distinguished Graduate Fellowship
The Distinguished Graduate Fellowship is a prestigious fellowship program available to incoming graduate students which provides payment of tuition and a base stipend. Our college has currently been awarded 2 of the 17 university fellowships. In addition to the fellowship, Earth and Mineral Sciences also awards to these students the college's Anne C. Wilson Graduate Fellowship award. Some Departments may also increase the stipend with their own departmental funding.
Funds for Excellence in Graduate Recruitment Assistantships
The FEGR Assistantships are a prestigious assistantship program available to incoming graduate students which provides payment of tuition and a base stipend. Our college has currently been awarded 3 assistantships. In addition to the assistantship, Earth and Mineral Sciences also awards to these students the college's Anne C. Wilson Graduate Fellowship award. Some Departments may also increase the stipend with their own departmental funding.
University Graduate Fellowship
The University Graduate Fellowship is a prestigious fellowship program available to incoming graduate students which provides payment of tuition and a base stipend. Our college has currently been awarded 4 of the 80 university fellowships. In addition to the fellowship, Earth and Mineral Sciences also awards to these students the college's Anne C. Wilson Graduate Fellowship award. Some Departments may also increase the stipend with their own departmental funding.