Scholarships and Awards
The following scholarships are available to students in the Chemistry graduate program (subject to confirmation of funding availability). The Scholarship Chair will notify graduate students of the call for applications via email.
ASPIRE
Awarded to full-time graduate students in Chemistry based on academic excellence to support research-related travel. Application information is available through the Department of Chemistry. Students will be asked to provide information about their research accomplishments and the nature of activities that will be funded by this award.
This award was established to support research-related travel for graduate students in Chemistry, through A Special International Research Experience (ASPIRE). Value: Number and value to be determined annually based on funds available
Christian Sivertz Scholarships
The Christian Sivertz Scholarship Fund was established in the memory of Christian Sivertz, Professor Emeritus of Physical Chemistry, by his family and interested friends for the purpose of awarding monies yearly to outstanding students pursuing graduate studies in the area of Physical Chemistry. The awardees will be selected by the Department of Chemistry from among the incoming graduate students.
Value: 2 at $3,500
CSC Travel Award
These awards were established from the proceeds of the Chemical Institute of Canada - 2004 Canadian Society for Chemistry Conference held in London. Awarded to full-time graduate students in the Chemistry Graduate program based on academic achievement (minimum 78% average) and research merit to enable recipients to attend and present their research at a conference (oral or poster presentation).
Dr. Peter R. Norton Memorial Award in Chemistry
Awarded to full-time graduate students in the Faculty of Science based on academic (including ressearch)achievement. Preference will be given to PhD students in the Department of Chemistry or Physics and Astronomy, studying surface chemistry and dynamics, nanoscale materials or interface science. A committee in the Department of Chemistry will select recipients. At least one representative of the committee must hold membership in the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Value: 1 at $1,500, awarded annually Dr. Peter Norton joined the Chemistry Department as a faculty member in 1986 when he left Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories to found Interface Science Western (ISW) an interdisciplinary research group at Western. His work focused on nanoscale material designs and properties as well as surface chemistry and dynamics. He remained in the Department until his retirement in 2011. Dr. Norton was a distinguished scientist and lecturer. He was named as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and received numerous awards including the Parravano Catalysis Award, the Hellmuth Prize and the Polanyi Lecture Award. However, he was most passionate about his mentorship of graduate students and young post-Doctoral professionals and received great satisfaction from watching their career development and success.
Hadis Hayatdavoudi Graduate Scholarship in Chemistry
Awarded annually to a full-time graduate student enrolled in a Master’s or Doctoral program in Chemistry, based on academic achievement and research merit. The recipient will be selected by a committee in the Graduate Department of Chemistry. At least one member of the committee must hold membership in the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. This scholarship was established by Dr. Nasim Hadj-Bagheri in honour of Hadis Hayatdavoudi who was a PhD student in Chemistry.
Hadis Hayatdavoudi came to Western from the city of Shiraz, south of Tehran. She was devoted to her family, science and her community. During her time at Western, she volunteered weekly as a tutor for people with disabilities at Hutton House in London. Hadis was considered a brilliant researcher. She was working on researching corrosion in metal, specifically the interaction of hydrogen within copper/steel canisters planned to safeguard Canada’s supply of used nuclear fuel. Hadis was killed in January of 2020 when the Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 was shot down near Tehran by an Iranian surface-to-air missile.
Value: 1 at $3,000
Effective May 2020 to April 2030 inclusive
Lipson-Baines Award in Chemistry
Former Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry and an advocate, leader, and life- long supporter of Western University, Rob Lipson established the Lipson-Baines Award in Chemistry. The award will be given annually to two full-time Masters or Doctoral students in Chemistry who have achieved the best performance in the Chemistry 9657/8 “Seminar” course, also considering attendance and participation in discussion Q & A.
Rob Lipson established the award in appreciation of what he considers to be one of the finest Chemistry departments in Canada. The scholarship also honors his lasting friendship with Professor Kim M. Baines and acknowledges the contributions she made as Chair from 2005-2014.
For more than a quarter of a century Lipson and Baines, through their respective research and management efforts, catalyzed growth, research productivity and training excellence in the Department of Chemistry. The Lipson-Baines Award will serve to further encourage excellence among Western Chemistry graduates and is an enduring reminder of the devotion of Western faculty to their students.
Value: 2 at $1,000
Effective: May 2015
The Lumsden Fellowship/Award
Awarded to full-time students registered in the Faculty of Graduate Studies and enrolled in any of the following graduate programs: Applied Mathematics, Astronomy, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geology, Geophysics, Mathematics, Physics, Plant Sciences, Statistics and Actuarial Sciences, Zoology. Candidates must demonstrate financial need and academic achievement (minimum 78% average). Recipients will be selected by the Dean of Science in consultation with a faculty committee. Recipients must meet OSOTF eligibility requirements. Fellowships have been made possible through a bequest from the late Ruth V. Lumsden and Robert O. Lumsden. Each fellowship is valued at $1000 and all graduate students in programs of Departments in the Faculty of Science are eligible for consideration.
Two awards have been made possible through a bequest from the late Ruth V. Lumsden and Robert O. Lumsden. Each award is valued at $1,000 and will be awarded to graduate students in any Ph.D. graduate program based on financial need and academic achievement. Nominees must be either a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident and must have resided in the Province of Ontario for at least two years.
G. Michael and Joan Bancroft Graduate Research Award
Awarded to a full-time doctoral student in Chemistry based on research excellence demonstrated by quality and quantity of peer-reviewed publications since registrations as a graduate student at Western, and up to a maximum of seven terms.
Value: $1,450
Effective: May 2019
The Paul de Mayo Award
Paul de Mayo was a dedicated teacher-scholar at Western for 35 years. After his death in 1994, contributions for a fund to commemorate his life and work came from around the world, reflecting the high respect, admiration, and affection of his former collaborators and colleagues. This fund now honors one of Western’s top graduate students each year. The award consists of a medal and a cash award that covers travel and an honorarium to deliver a research lecture at UWO.
Peter Guthrie Conference Travel Award
Awarded annually to full-time graduate students in the MSc or Ph.D. program in Chemistry based on academic achievement (minimum 78% average). Students are eligible to hold the award once during their program. This award will enable recipients to present their work at a recognized scientific conference. The applicant’s research presentation and the proposed conference must broadly be recognized as being in the field of Organic Chemistry. Preference will be given to oral abstracts and students who are advanced in their program.
Value: Number and value will vary, up to $10,000 available annually, the maximum individual award is $2,000
Effective: May 2018 to April 2023 academic years inclusive
How to Apply: Applications should be submitted to the Graduate Coordinator and are due on March 31; additional deadlines may be added during the year. Applications must include:
- applicant's C.V.
- conference prospectus
- draft budget of expenses
- copy of their abstract
- letter of support from their supervisor
Roy Young Chemistry Graduate Scholarship
This award was made possible by a generous donation by Western alumnus Roy Young (BSc 1947) and will be distributed to one full-time graduate student (MSc or PhD) in the Department of Chemistry during the Fall term each year. All graduate students registered in the Department of Chemistry with academic averages above 80% are eligible to apply and the winner will be selected by the Scholarships Committee in the Department of Chemistry based on their research record and accomplishments originating from their time at Western. The value of the award will be $2000. Students may only apply to either this award or the Roy Young Chemistry Graduate Scholarship for International Students in a given year and may only hold this award once during their tenure/time at Western.
Roy Young Chemistry Graduate Scholarship for International Students
This award was made possible by a generous donation by Western alumnus Roy Young (BSc 1947) and will be distributed to one full-time international graduate student (MSc or PhD) in the Department of Chemistry during the Fall term each year. International graduate students (i.e., those who are not eligible to apply for NSERC awards) registered in the Department of Chemistry with academic averages above 80% are eligible to apply and the winner will be selected by the Scholarships Committee in the Department of Chemistry based on their research record and accomplishments originating from their time at Western. The value of the award will be $2000. Students may only apply to either this award or the Roy Young Chemistry Graduate Scholarship in a given year and may only hold this award once during their tenure/time at Western.
Award winners will give a seminar in the year of the award.
Science International Engagement Fund
The new SIEF fund will support student research collaborations with international partners. Please see the SIEF instructions and application form. More details will be coming. 2020 Deadline: TBA.
Soltys Award
Awarded to a full-time graduate student in the MSc or Ph.D. program in Chemistry based on academic achievement (minimum 78% average) and financial need. Preference will be given to a married student. Candidates must also meet OSOTF financial need and residency requirements. Applications are available through the Department of Chemistry. The Department of Chemistry will select the recipient in consultation with at least one Chemistry faculty member who is also a member of the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. This award was established by Mrs. Judith Soltys and others, in memory of Dr. Joe Soltys (BSc '63, Ph.D. '69), through Foundation Western.