The 2023-2024 Scholarship application is now available.
Due Date: January 20, 2023
The Department of Integrative Biology has a long history of proudly honoring its outstanding students with undergraduate awards. The Department is pleased to offer these awards annually to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors majoring in Biology, Physiology, or Zoology at OSU. The awards provide recognition and financial support to students. Currently the Department of Integrative Biology offers 12 awards to our undergraduate students.
Eligibility is based on graduation year. Students graduating in Fall 2023 or after are eligible to apply for 2023-2024 Awards.
Applications for these awards are available at the end of the fall semester and due in January each year. Applicants are required to complete the application (with 2 short responses) and submit the name and email of a science faculty who may be contacted for a reference. Letters of Recommendation are no longer required.
More information can be found on the application form.
We encourage you to read the information below before completing the application. Once you start the application, you must finish it before closing the browser.
Prepare for the application:
Before you start the application, we encourage you to prepare your essays. (300 word limit for each response).
Response #1: Describe your collegiate accomplishments including research, volunteer, leadership, and work experiences. You may include any honors and awards you have received during college as well as any relevant qualifications for the award you have applied for.
Response #2: Describe your career goals and aspirations and how your educational experiences in and outside of the department have prepared you to meet those goals.
Selection Criteria
Recipients are selected using the criteria as described below, listed in order of importance, number one being most influential. Keep in mind that the most competitive applicants will also address how they are exceptionally qualified for the particular award(s) for which they are applying.
1) Academic Excellence - Indicated by GPA and completion of Integrative Biology’s most challenging courses
2) Participation in the Scholarship of Discovery - Involvement in meaningful and productive research experiences and/or recommendation from faculty input.
3) Service - Involvement/leadership in scientifically or educationally related organizations, service to the department, and professional service to the community
4) Professional Maturity - Indicated by an essay showing evidence of reflection about accomplishments and goals
FAQs
Who should I ask to be my reference? The Selection committe prefers your reference be a full-time faculty member in a science discipline. Make sure to ask if they would be willing to servce as a reference. No letter is required, only an email address. The committee will contact faculty on behalf of the student.
Do I need to request a letter of recommendation? The Selection Committee will contact faculty for an informal reference/recommendation. No letter is required.
What do I gain from applying? These awards are competitive and prestigious. Receiving an award is an acknowledgement and record of strong academic and professional performance that will bolster your CV considerably, regardless of your career goals (e.g., medical school, vet school, graduate school, STEM career). In addition, you will receive anywhere between $150 and $1,500!
Should I apply for an award based on my number of earned hours or by the years I’ve attended college? Apply based on expected graduation date instead of earned hours. The Selection Committee reserves the right to move your application to the appropriate category if you do apply based on these instructions. Awardees must be enrolled in Fall 2023 in order to receive their scholarship funds.
Can I receive the same award twice? Most awards are offered as one time honors.
Additional questions should be sent to ibioscholarships@okstate.edu.