Departmental Scholarships

The physics department has a limited number of scholarships for outstanding undergraduate candidates who commit to major in physics. Incoming freshmen are eligible to apply.

The physics scholarship application deadline is March 31. Complete the application form using the Google Form linked below or complete the downloadable PDF form and return it to Haidong Zhou at hzhou10@utk.edu.

What Other Aid is Available?

• UT Scholarships for Entering First-Year Students
• UT Scholarships for Transfer Students
• UT Scholarships for Continuing Undergraduate Students
• Federal Pell Grants
• HOPE Scholarships
• UT Volunteer Scholarship
• UT Tri-Star Scholarship Program 
• UT Provost Scholarship
• Carl Cowan Scholarship
• Society of Physics Students Scholarships

More information on financial aid is available from One Stop.

Summer Research Fellowships

The physics department offers financial support for students in the form of fellowships and part-time employment. The Science Alliance Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship program is designed to give outstanding undergraduate students the opportunity to gain experience in physics research. Students learn research procedures and techniques while exchanging ideas and experiences with other program participants, graduate students, and physics faculty. Each research fellow spends 10 weeks working on a full-time research project supervised by a physics faculty member. Dr. Marianne Breinig is the contact person for the program.

The Nuclear Physics in Eastern TN (NPET) Fellowship

The Nuclear Physics in Eastern TN (NPET) Fellowship is an undergraduate internship program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). NPET Fellows will participate in a virtual 15-hour/week commitment during the academic school year followed by an in-person, full-time, 10-week summer program, and will be provided learning opportunities in nuclear physics.

Learn More about the NPET Fellowship

Department Employment

Undergraduate physics majors have the opportunity to earn extra money and professional experience by working for the physics department. Responsibilities range from helping with the setup of physics labs to assisting office staff.

Awards

Each spring, the department awards distinctive honors to deserving undergraduates: the Outstanding First Year Physics Student, the Douglas V. Roseberry Distinguished Upper Class Major Award, the James W. McConnell Awards, and the Robert Talley Awards for Outstanding Undergraduate Research and Outstanding Undergraduate Leadership. The faculty selects the winners based on student dedication to scholarship, leadership, and excellence.