Department of Chemistry
Criteria for Prizes, Fellowships and Honors and Awards
Bestowed at Honors Day
The Chemistry Department selects students to receive the following awards at Honors Day at the end of the spring semester.
The American Institute of Chemists Award is presented to a senior majoring in chemistry and a senior majoring in biochemistry who have demonstrated scholastic achievement, leadership, ability and character. Preference is given to students who will pursue employment or graduate study in chemistry or biochemistry after graduation.
The Louis Aronne, Class of 1977, Prize in Biochemistry is awarded to a senior or a junior biochemistry major (with preference being given to a senior) who, in addition to being an outstanding student in biochemistry, has demonstrated interest in general scholarship and campus activities.
The Lisa P. Nestor Chemical Rubber Company Awards are awarded to first-year chemistry students for outstanding achievement in general chemistry. Eligible students must show outstanding achievement in both Introductory Chemistry I (Chem-111) and Introductory Chemistry II (Chem-112).
The Lisa P. Nestor Award for Excellence in Student Teaching in Sciences is given in memory of Lisa Nestor, a beloved teacher in the Chemistry Department. The recipient will be a student, who, through dedication and passion as a student teacher in the Chemistry department, has made a positive and lasting contribution to the education of fellow students. Preference is given to seniors in the selection of this award.
The Connecticut Valley Section of the American Chemical Society Award is given to a senior Chemistry major and a senior Biochemistry major in recognition for outstanding accomplishment in the study of chemistry and biochemistry, respectively. Preference is given to students who will pursue employment or graduate study in chemistry or biochemistry after graduation, and who attend and present their research at the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium hosted by the Connecticut Valley Section of the American Chemical Society.
The Division of Analytical Chemistry of the American Chemical Society Award is given to a student who has completed the third undergraduate year and who displays interest in, and aptitude for, a career in analytical chemistry. Preference is given to students to take both Analytical Chemistry (Chem-311) and Instrumental Methods of Analysis (Chem-312).
The Division of Inorganic Chemistry of the American Chemical Society Award is given to a student for outstanding achievement in the study of inorganic chemistry. Preference is given to students who take both Principles of Inorganic Chemistry (Chem-313) and Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry (Chem-314).
The Division of Organic Chemistry of the American Chemical Society Award is given to a graduating senior for outstanding achievement in the study of organic chemistry. Preference is given to students who have undertaken a research project in organic chemistry and who plan to pursue graduate study in organic chemistry.
The Division of Physical Chemistry of the American Chemical Society Award is awarded to recognize outstanding achievement by undergraduate students in physical chemistry and to encourage further pursuits in the field.
The Division of Environmental Chemistry of the American Chemical Society Award is awarded for recognition of excellence in course work and research focusing on and benefiting the environmental chemistry field.
The Jessica Alisa Owens Memorial Award is given in memory of Jessica Owens ’05 by the faculty members of the Chemistry Department for academic achievement in chemistry or biochemistry and outstanding contributions to community service.
President’s Fellows
Annually, the Chemistry Department selects a senior Chemistry major and a senior Biochemistry major to be President’s Fellows. The students selected for this honor demonstrate outstanding achievement within their major, along with evidence of wide-ranging intellectual interests, and an ability to engage with faculty and fellow students on current issues facing the College, our country and the wider world.
Summer Research Fellowships
The Chemistry Department has received gifts from alumni that support students wanting to stay on campus during their summer months to pursue a research project under the direction of a faculty member.
James N. Frank Fellowships
These fellowships are funded by a gift to the College and the Chemistry Department by Bruce Frank ’60, in honor of his father, James N. Frank.
Rising seniors majoring in Chemistry and Biochemistry are eligible to receive this fellowship. All eligible students will receive application information by email from the department chair in the spring of their junior year. The application will consist of a listing of all courses and grades for mathematics and science courses, and a short essay in which the student will explain his or her future plans. In addition, the student must have his/her intended research advisor provide a short letter indicating the nature and scope of the research that the student will undertake.
The applications will then be circulated and read by the faculty of the Chemistry Department. Once all the applications have been read, the members of the Department will meet and select the recipient of the James N. Frank Research Fellowship for the coming summer.
In selecting the recipient, the members of the Chemistry Department will give preference to students who intend to undertake a thesis in their senior year, and who intend to pursue graduate work in either Chemistry or Biochemistry after graduation.
The student selected for the James N. Frank Research Fellowship will be expected to spend 10 weeks at Trinity during the summer between the junior and senior year doing research under the guidance of the research advisor. The recipient will be expected to take part in all organized activities for summer research students offered by the Science Center during that 10 week period. In addition, the recipient must also present the results of the summer research as a poster at the Fall Science Symposium and in the Chemistry Department fall seminar series.
Henry DePhillips Scholars
These awards are funded by a gift to the College and the Chemistry Department by Greg Mario ’87 Ph.D. Dr. Mario’s intent was to honor Vernon K. Krieble Professor Emeritus Henry DePhillips, who played a pivotal role in Dr. Mario’s time as a Trinity undergraduate student.
All students who have identified a research mentor within the Department of Chemistry are eligible to receive this fellowship. Interested students should speak to their research mentor about applying early in the spring semester for fellowships in the following summer. Strong applicants will have shown an aptitude and interest in the study of chemistry or biochemistry and have demonstrated prior interest and talent for undertaking research. The application will consist of a listing of all courses and grades for mathematics and science courses, and a short essay in which the student will explain his or her future plans. In addition, the student must have his/her intended research advisor provide a short letter indicating the nature and scope of the research that the student will undertake.
The applications will then be circulated and read by the faculty of the Chemistry Department. Once all the applications have been read, the members of the Department will meet and select the DePhillips Scholars for the coming summer. The number of awards is dependent on the funds available in any given year.
In selecting the recipient, the members of the Chemistry Department will give preference to rising seniors, particularly those who intend to undertake a thesis in their senior year, and who intend to pursue graduate work in either Chemistry or Biochemistry after graduation.
Students selected as a DePhillips Scholar will be expected to spend 10 weeks at Trinity during the summer of the year of the award under the guidance of the research advisor. The recipient will be expected to take part in all organized activities for summer research students offered by the Science Center during that 10 week period. In addition, the recipient must also present the results of the summer research as a poster at the Fall Science Symposium and in the Chemistry Department fall seminar series.