Student Awards and Honors
Undergraduate Student Awards and Scholarships
College of Science Alumni Summer Research Fellowship
Nediva Akand
Gabriella Smith
This award supports students working on a research project under the
supervision of a faculty member in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Ramdas Award
Boyle Chen
The Ramdas Award award was establish in 2018 by Anant K. Ramdas, the Lark-Horovitz Distinguished Professor of Physics and his wife, Vasanti Ramdas. The purpose of the Ramdas Award is to recognize an exceptional senior who has completed a unique project in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Spira Undergraduate Summer Research Award
Connor Siurek
This award supports one or more students working on a research project under the supervision of a faculty member in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and/or the Department of Mathematics. The Spira Summer Research Award is made possible thanks to the generosity of Dr. Joel S. (BS1948) and Mrs. Ruth R. Spira.
Lijuan Wang Memorial Award
Allison Loper
The Lijuan Wang Memorial award is given annually to one or more outstanding undergraduate physics majors who promote the gender diversity of the department through participation in Women in Physics. Lijuan Wang was a graduate student in the department from 1989 until her untimely death in 1992.
Ralph Lefler Memorial Award
Allison Loper
This award recognizes outstanding undergraduate students in the Department of Physics and Astronomy who have demonstrated interest or commitment in teaching K-12 programs after graduation. The award also recognizes students who significantly contribute to Physics and Astronomy outreach programs offered to K-12 students. Professor Ralph Lefler was a pioneer of physics education at Purdue and the Ralph Lefler Memorial Award is made possible due to the generosity of a group of his former students.
Frederik J. Belinfante Scholarship in Physics
Vincent Stavig
Matthew Young
This scholarship recognizes outstanding physics upperclassmen. The scholarship is possible due to the generosity of Dr. Robert Newcomb (BS 1955).
Shalim and Paula Sargis Memorial Scholarship
Hudson Michael Cox
Andrew Nilsson
The Sargis Scholarship recognizes a physics upperclassman from outside the state of Indiana who also graduated from a U.S. high school. This scholarship is made possible due to the generosity of Dr. James Sargis (BS 1958).
David G. Seiler Physics Scholarship
Zena Imam
Adina Margineantu
Yutika Sawant
The Seiler Scholarship recognizes an outstanding physics upperclassman who is involved in Women in Science or Women in Physics programs. This scholarship is possible due to the generosity of Dr. David G. Seiler (PhD 1969).
Arthur N. Pozner Memorial Scholarship
Olivia M. Gzamouranis
This scholarship recognizes outstanding physics upperclassmen. The scholarship is possible due to the generosity of the Arthur N. Pozner Trust.
Kenneth S. and Paula D. Krane Physics Scholarship
Mason Levere
Grace Michlitsh
Abhiansh Parwal
The Krane Scholarship recognizes outstanding physics upperclassmen. The scholarship is possible due to the generosity of Dr. Kenneth S. (PhD 1970) and Mrs. Paula D. Krane.
Robert L. Mieher Physics Scholarship
Kyle Ohlin
The Mieher Scholarship recognizes outstanding physics upperclassmen and is made possible through the generosity of Dr. Edward B. and Dr. Barbara A. Hale.
Margie and Don Bottorff Undergraduate Physics Scholarship
Hudson Michael Cox
Christopher Holmquist
Andrew Nilsson
Aidan Simmermaker
Malcolm Robert Wallace
The Bottorff Scholarship is made possible by a gift from Ms. Celeste Bottorff (MS 1975). The scholarship is a 1-year award made to outstanding physics upperclassmen.
College of Science Outstanding Student
- Garrett Elliott - Freshman
- Adina Margineantu - Sophomore
- Ishaan Singh - Junior
- Stephen Reeves - Senior
Complete list of undergraduate awards for the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Check out our 2026 Physics and Astronomy Awards recap website.
Graduate Student Awards and Scholarships
Karl Lark-Horovitz Award
Xuanying Lai - nominated by Prof. Du
Our Department’s most prestigious graduate student honor, the Lark-Horovitz Award recognizes outstanding research accomplishments. The award is possible through the generosity of the faculty as well as the family, friends, and associates of Prof. Lark-Horovitz in memory of his great contribution to the growth and development of the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Ramdas Prize in Honor of Professor CV Raman
Xinchao Zhou - nominated by Chen-Lung Hung
The Ramdas Prize in Honor of Professor CV Ramane recognizes a Ph.D. student or recent alumni for an outstanding dissertation. The Ramdas Prize was established in 2018 by Anant K. Ramdas, the Lark-Horovitz Distinguished Professor (Emeritus) of Physics and Astronomy, and his wife Vasanti Ramdas, to honor Anant's teacher, Nobel Laureate Sir C. V. Raman.
Gabriele F. Giuliani Award
Juan Sebastian Aguiar-Castrillon - nominated by Lucy Nelson
Established in 2013 in memory of Prof. Gabriele F. Giuliani, this award honors excellence in teaching by first- or second-year graduate students. These graduate students show dedication and dependability, and, like Professor Giuliani, demonstrate a passion for physics that contributes to a rich learning environment.
George W. Tautfest Award
Dillon Hasenour - nominated by Prof. Duffell
Husheng Guan - nominated by Prof. Lang
Kwing Lam Leung - nominated by Prof. Lashkari
Zhao-Feng Wu - nominated by Prof. Giannios
This award honors outstanding physics graduate students in high energy particle physics, high energy nuclear physics, or astrophysics. Prof. Tautfest was the leader of the Purdue High Energy Physics group until his death in 1967 at age 41. The award was established in 1969 by his colleagues and the Purdue Alumni Foundation.
H. Y. Fan Award
Tatiana de Picoli - nominated by Prof. Vayrynen
The Fan Award recognizes outstanding graduate research in condensed matter physics, biological physics, or AMO physics. The award was established in recognition of Prof. Fan’s many contributions to condensed matter physics, particularly in the area of infrared studies of semiconductors, and to the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Charlotte Ida Litman Tubis Award
A.J. Wildridge - advised by Prof. Jung
Aanal Shah - advised by Prof. Alaeian
The Charlotte Ida Litman Tubis Award was established in her memory by her husband, Prof. Emeritus Arnold Tubis, to promote clear and concise communication of scientific ideas beyond the physics and astronomy community.
Dr. Warner Black Award
Xinghan Wang - nominated by Prof. Liang
The Black Award recognizes graduate students whose research has the potential to bring physics to the people and to help them improve their lives by using a deep knowledge of fundamental and applied physics to make practical and useful inventions that have a real and lasting impact.
Edward S. Akeley Award
Kwing Lam Leung - nominated by Prof. Lashkari
This award recognizes outstanding physics graduate students in theoretical physicists. The Akeley Award is made possible through the generosity of Instructor Emeritus Anna M. Akeley.
Akeley-Mandler Award for Teaching Excellence
Ziwei Ding - nominated by Prof. Milisavljevic
The Akeley-Mandler Award recognizes exceptional graduate student teaching assistants who excel beyond the mere requirements of the job, investing their effort to ensure that they provide the best education possible to their students. This award is made possible thanks to a gift made by Instructor Emeritus Anna Akeley in memory of her husband, Prof. Edward S. Akeley, and brother, Kurt Mandler.
Lijuan Wang Memorial Awards
Winter Allen - nominated by Prof. Rebello
The Lijuan Wang Memorial award is given annually to one or more outstanding graduate student majors who promote the gender diversity of the department through participation in Women in Physics. Lijuan Wang was a graduate student in the department from 1989 until her untimely death in 1992.
Rolf Scharenberg Graduate Summer Research Fellowship
Shishir Sudhaman - nominated by Prof. Ma
Shreya Satya - nominated by Prof. Hung
Kyung Lee - nominated by Prof. Zhu
Gopika S.M. - nominated by Prof. Duffell
Juan Alvarez - nominated by Prof. Jung
Daniel Nestares - nominated by Prof. Xia
This Fellowship was established in 2017 through the generosity of Wendell and Nancy Lutz and allows 1st- or 2nd-year graduate students to work with a research advisor for a summer prior to joining a research group permanently.
Complete list of graduate awards for the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Check out our 2026 Physics and Astronomy Awards recap website.