Awards & Fellowships

During your time as a graduate student in the Psychology Department, you will be eligible for multiple awards and fellowships. Some of these awards and fellowships are administered by the Psychology Department; others are administered by UW-Madison; yet others come from external sources (e.g., professional societies, the Federal Government). See each tab for more information and contact the Graduate Coordinator and/or Associate Chair for Graduate Studies with questions.

Departmental Awards & Fellowships

Hertz Travel Awards

Deadline: Ongoing

Description: The Psychology Department provides travel awards for graduate students who are presenting as first author at a conference. Travel awards are $750 for domestic travel and $1,000 for international travel. A donation from the Hertz Foundation and generous private donors to our Department help to make these awards possible.

Eligibility: You must be presenting as first author at a conference. You may only receive one award per calendar year (Jan 1 – Dec 31); the date of the award is dictated by the conference date.

How to apply: Submit materials for this award once your presentation has been accepted and you have incurred at least $750 ($1000 for international travel) in expenses. Send the Graduate Coordinator (gradinfo@psych.wisc.edu) the following pieces of information: (1) conference title; (2) conference date; (3) presentation title; (4) proof of conference presentation acceptance(s); and (5) receipts for items for which you are seeking reimbursement. Recent recipients: Each year, many students receive Hertz Travel Awards.  

Menzies And Royalty Research Awards

Deadline: Ongoing

Description: Awards of $500 are given to fund independent research by graduate students. These awards are supported by Menzies and Royalty Research funds.

Eligibility: A maximum of one application per student per calendar year may be submitted.

How to apply: To apply for the award, submit a one-page (single spacing, 12-point standard font) document summarizing your proposed research (conceptual background and research plan). One another page, list your references. On yet another page indicate how you plan to use the award (i.e., a budget). Submit all these documents as a single PDF to the Graduate Coordinator (gradinfo@psych.wisc.edu).

Proposals will be evaluated by members of the Graduate Committee, so your proposal should be written to be understood by psychologists from many area groups.

Recent recipients: Each year, many students receive Menzies and Royalty Research Awards.

Schwartz Fellowship

Deadline: February 1

Description: The family of Marian Schwartz established the Marian S. Schwartz Fund to support graduate student research in cognitive and experimental psychology. The total amount awarded for the fellowship is $5000. The Graduate Committee reviews applications and may decide to award more than one fellowship each year. The person (or persons) awarded the fellowship will be designated a Schwartz Fellow. The Schwartz Fellow will have control over how to spend this money in support of their research. For example, it may be used for summer salary support, travel to meetings, purchase of supplies and equipment, etc.

Eligibility: Priority is normally given to more advanced students, but all graduate students are eligible to apply. Students may receive this fellowship only once during their time in the program.

How to apply: The application is a two-part process:

Part I – By February 1, submit a one-page (single spacing; 12-point standard font) description of your proposed research (conceptual background and research plan); as part of the description, indicate how your research is relevant to the goals of the Schwartz Fund (i.e., to support research in cognitive and experimental psychology). On a second page, provide a reference list. Submit a PDF containing both pages to the Graduate Coordinator (gradinfo@psych.wisc.edu). The Graduate Committee will review all proposals that are received by the deadline and select finalists to move to Part II.

Part II – Finalists will be asked to submit: (1) a full paper, no more than 5 pages (double spacing; 12-point standard font) containing specific aims, background and significance, a brief description of the methodology for the research, expected results, and information about how these results will be interpreted; (2) a reference list (these do not count toward the 5-page limit); (3) a budget detailing how the $5,000 fellowship will be used; (4) a current CV; (5) two letters of recommendation addressing the quality of the application and evaluating the proposed research. Send (1)-(4) as a single PDF to the Graduate Coordinator (gradinfo@psych.wisc.edu); recommenders may send their letters directly to the Graduate Coordinator.

Because the Graduate Committee will be evaluating applications for the Schwartz Fellowship, your proposal should be written to be understood by psychologists from many different area groups.

Recent Schwartz Fellows:  Andrea Donovan (2023); Sounak Mohanta (2022); Naomi Isenberg (2022); Duncan Cleveland (2021); David Menendez (2021); Odile Rodrick (2021);

Lyn Abramson Award

Deadline: November 1

Description: A donor to the Psychology Department established the Lyn Abramson Award for Cognitive Approaches to Psychopathology. This is a $1000 annual award for a paper on a topic related to cognitive approaches to psychopathology by a graduate student in our department.

Eligibility: Proposals do not qualify. The paper can either be published or unpublished. Papers can fall into any of the following categories: empirical report, theoretical work, or a review paper. Papers on any cognitive approaches to any form of psychopathology are welcome. The cognitive perspective may (but need not) be integrated with another perspective (e.g., neuroscience, developmental, etc.). The student must be the first author, but it is fine for a faculty member to be a co-author. A format appropriate for publication in a journal should be used. There are no restrictions on page length.

How to apply: Applications are due November 1. Submit a PDF of your paper to the Graduate Coordinator (gradinfo@psych.wisc.edu).

Recent recipients: Talia Cohen (2020)

Mamie and Kenneth Clark Award

One incoming student each year will be selected for the Mamie and Kenneth Clark Award, with preference being given to students from underrepresented groups and/or first-generation college students. There is no application process. Recipients are selected by members of the Graduate Committee. The $2500 award is intended to provide support at the beginning of the academic year until the student receives their first paycheck.

Psychology Department Distinguished Service Award

Description: Many of our graduate students make significant service* contributions. The Psychology Department Distinguished Service Award recognizes noteworthy service by graduate students. The award is for $1000. Beginning in 2021, the Department will support multiple awards annually.

Eligibility: Students must be nominated by peers for this award. Students may not receive the award more than once during their time in our program.

Process: The Associate Chair for Graduate Studies will put out a call for award nominations in the spring. Those who are nominated will be asked to submit a description of their service. All graduate students will be asked to rank the nominees. The top 3 nominees will be recommended to receive the award.

Recent recipients: Ellie Breitfeld (2023); Ben Douglas (2023); Brooke Sasia (2023); Haley Weaver (2023);  Lauren Anthony (2022); Patrick Monari (2022); Katie Pereira (2022); Desia Bacon (2021); Naomi Isenberg (2021); Katharine Scott (2021); Sasha Sommerfeldt (2021);

* By service, we mean activities that fall outside of your regular research, teaching, and mentoring responsibilities. Examples include (but are not limited to): committee work; helping with prospective student visiting day activities; providing support for the FYP Symposium (e.g., taking charge of the skit); making contributions to diversity, equity, inclusion, & climate; hosting/organizing presenters; leading professional development activities for undergraduate or graduate students; and assisting students with their research and coursework (outside what would be expected in your role as a TA).

Psychology Department Awards for Outstanding Teaching

Deadline: The deadline for these awards matches the deadline the Psychology Department sets for Campus-Wide TA Award nominations. Typically, this deadline is in the middle of the Fall semester.

Description: The Psychology Department gives up to 3 awards each year for outstanding teaching by graduate students. The award amount is $500.

Eligibility:  In order to be considered for a Psychology Department teaching award, students must go through the Psychology Department’s Campus-Wide TA Award nomination process. Students cannot receive a Campus-Wide TA Award and a Psychology Department Award for Outstanding Teaching in the same academic year.

How to apply:  Students interested in Psychology Department Awards for Outstanding Teaching should respond to the Psychology Department’s call for candidates for Campus-Wide TA Awards.

Recent Recipients: Benjamin Douglas (2024), Katherine Swerbenski (2024), Nicholas Vest (2024)

 

University Awards and Fellowships

Award For Mentoring Undergraduates In Research, Scholarly & Creative Activities

Deadline: The application for this award is typically due in the fall; check the award website each year.

Description: The Office of the Provost offers awards to recognize the important role mentors play in fostering undergraduates’ intellectual, personal and professional growth through participation in high-impact practices including research, scholarly and creative endeavors. These awards provide faculty members, groups of mentors, academic staff, post-doctoral fellows and graduate students with recognition for their excellence in mentoring undergraduates and their contribution to our students’ Wisconsin Experience.

How to apply:  https://teachlearn.provost.wisc.edu/awards-for-mentoring-undergraduates/

Recent recipients:  Liza Chang (2021); Sasha Sommerfeldt (2021); Elise Hopman (2020); Katharine Scott (2019)

 

L&S Teaching Fellow Awards

Deadline: The application for this award is typically due in the spring; check the award website each year.

Description: The Teaching Fellow Award is granted to TAs from the College of Letters and Science who have achieved outstanding success as students and teachers. Winners of this award are named L&S Teaching Fellows and serve as instructors at the L&S Fall TA Training, which takes place at the start of the fall semester and welcomes 300-400 new and experienced TAs from across campus. This document contains information about the Teaching Fellow Award, including nomination materials and procedures.

How to apply: https://kb.wisc.edu/ls/page.php?id=45365

Recent recipients:  Megan Bruun (2023)

Graduate Peer Mentor Awards

Deadline: The application for this award is typically due in the spring; check the award website each year.

Description: The Graduate Student Peer Mentor Awards recognize graduate students who exhibit stellar mentorship qualities. These graduate students are selected based on their ability to mentor undergraduate and/or graduate students, on or off campus.

How to apply: https://grad.wisc.edu/diversity/peer-mentor-awards/

Recent recipients:  Naomi Isenberg (2023)

 

CAMPUS-WIDE Teaching assistant awards

Deadline: The application for this award is typically due in the fall; check the award website each year.

Description: In order to recognize excellence on the part of TAs across campus, each year the College of Letters & Science, with support from the Graduate School, administers awards for exceptional teaching by graduate students.

How to apply: https://grad.wisc.edu/teaching-assistant-awards/

Recent recipients:  Brooke Sasia (2024), Melissa Schoenlein (2024)

 

Genevieve Gorst Herfurth Award

Deadline: December 15

Description: The Genevieve Gorst Herfurth Award recognizes a currently enrolled doctoral student in the social sciences who has demonstrated outstanding research and scholarly writing accomplishments while a graduate student at UW-Madison. One recipient, selected by the Social Sciences Divisional Committee, will receive a $1,000 cash prize. The award requires that the candidate’s work be excellent and demonstrate “outstanding research in the social sciences.” The work must be sole-authored and may be a book, manuscript, seminar paper, course paper, or paper submitted for presentation at a professional conference or to a scholarly journal. Publication may already have occurred or may be the student’s ultimate goal, but prior publication or acceptance for publication is not a prerequisite for the award.

How to apply: https://secfac.wisc.edu/awards-lectures/genevieve-gorst-herfurth-award/

 

Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society

Deadline: The application for this award is typically due in January; check the award website each year.

Description: The Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society commemorates the first African American to earn a doctorate degree from an American university (Physics, Yale University, 1876). The Bouchet Society seeks to develop a network of scholars who exemplify academic and personal excellence, foster environments of support, and serve as examples of scholarship, leadership, character, service, and advocacy for students who have been traditionally underrepresented in the academy—exemplifying the spirit and example of Dr. Bouchet.

How to apply: https://grad.wisc.edu/diversity/bouchet/

 

Graduate Student Service Scholarship

Deadline: This is a new award opportunity; the first deadline was March 2021.

Description: To recognize the service that graduate students often provide to UW-Madison, including, but not limited to supporting: formal search and screen committees for staff and faculty, new student recruitment and orientation, graduation planning committees, diversity and inclusion working groups, policy review committees, etc. Service should be defined as contributions beyond the student’s course of academic study/research and not expected as part of any existing paid appointments.

How to apply: Contact the Fellowships Office (offr@grad.wisc.edu).

Recent recipients: Talia Cohen (2021); David Menendez (2021)

Student Research Grants Competition (SRGC) Award

Deadline: Ongoing

Description: Have you been invited to present your research at a conference, or do you need additional funds to support upcoming research travel in preparation for your final exhibition or thesis? If so, you should consider applying for a Student Research Grants Competition (SRGC) Award. Award levels are $1,200 to $1,500 for Research Travel and $1,200 for Conference Presentation funds. Funding for these awards generously comes from the Vilas Trust.

How to apply: https://grad.wisc.edu/funding/grants-competition/

External Awards & Fellowships

To support your research at UW-Madison, you can also apply for funding from external organizations. Both NSF and NIH offer fellowships that cover your salary: