Scholarships are available to current Biochemistry and Biophysics majors who will be full-time students (at least 12 Texas A&M University credits) for the fall semester of the academic year for which the award is made. Students who have not yet completed one semester at Texas A&M University (and therefore do not yet have a GPA on record) will not be considered for scholarships. The GPA is one aspect of the selection process, but the thank-you letter, resume and application are also important. The winners will have the full scholarship amount posted to their accounts in the fall term only.
Each year we award $1,000 ($500 per semester) to one or more outstanding students per scholarship. Scholarships are only available to current students and the criteria for each scholarship are listed on the application.
Nestor Bottino Outstanding Senior Award
Prof. Nestor Bottino’s contributions to the Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics were many and his abiding interest curricula development and the undergraduate teaching programs. A long valued member of our community, Prof. Bottino came to Texas A&M University as a postdoc with Dr. Raymond Reiser before continuing as a teacher and scientist until his death is 1983. Named in his memory, this award was established to recognize the academic excellence of undergraduate students.
To be considered for this award, you must be a biochemistry or genetics major graduating in the current academic year (e.g., May, August or December). Students must first be nominated by a faculty member, lecturer, or current student. A call for nominations is sent to all faculty members and current students in February. The recipient of this award will receive a plaque and $150 and be announced at the Departmental Graduation Reception in the spring.
Linda Fisher Memorial Scholarship
The Linda Fisher Memorial Scholarship is offered to students participating in study abroad. If you are a biochemistry or genetics student, will be studying abroad, and would like to apply for the Linda Fisher Memorial Scholarship, please send an email to the Biochemistry and Biophysics Undergraduate Office at: [email protected].
Nancy M. and Brock D. Nelson Scholarships
The Nancy M. and Brock D. Nelson Scholarship #1 awards full-time students in good standing pursuing a degree in biochemistry or genetics. In addition, students that are classified as juniors exhibiting excellence in research and academics are preferred.
The Nancy M. and Brock D. Nelson Scholarship #2 awards full-time students in good standing. Students from out-of-state are preferred. This award is only available to BICH or GENE majors.
Dr. Nick Pace Scholarship
This scholarship awards full-time students in good standing. This award is only available to BICH or GENE majors.
Dr. Michelle Williams Deere ’92 Endowed Scholarship
The Dr. Michelle Williams Deere ’92 Endowed Scholarship was established in 2022 and recognizes the research accomplishments of students majoring in genetics. To be eligible for this award, you must be a Genetics major in academic good-standing and be conducting molecular genetics research in the laboratory of a faculty member in the Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, or be scheduled to enter the laboratory in the upcoming Fall semester. Though not a requirement, preference will be given to students who are the first in their family to attend college (i.e., first-generation student) and who graduated from a high school in Leander, TX, especially Vista Ridge High School. The recipient of this scholarship will receive $500 in both the Fall and Spring semesters of their junior year, for a total of $1000 over the two semesters.
Applying for Scholarships
2025 Bottino Award (must be nominated) Nomination and Application Submission Dates: March 7th- April 4th
2025 General Scholarship Application Submissions Dates: March 7th – April 11th
- Application (includes Bottino Award)—Once available, fill in all fields of the application and upload the supporting documents listed below:
- Scholarship Activities Sheet Template (DOCX) — failure to use the template will result in disqualification.
- Essay — Please describe your research experience and explain how you plan to use your degree in the future.
- One letter of recommendation.
- For the Pace Scholarship, the letter can be from any faculty member.
- For the Nelson #1, Nelson #2 and Deere Scholarships, the letter must be from your research supervisor.
- Do not include your name or UIN on the attached documents.
- If you need to make any corrections to the information you submitted, please contact the Biochemistry and Biophysics Undergraduate Office at [email protected] and they will make the changes for you.
Apply Here for Bottino, Deere, Nelson #1, Nelson #2 and Pace Scholarships.