Salmon & Schulmerich Scholarship
Two Biology Department alumni, John Salmon (BS ’67 and MA ’72) and Marcia Schulmerich (BS ’69), have generously endowed this scholarship. After graduating from PSU, John and Marcia trained in and went on to successful careers in medical technology. They have always been grateful for the educational experience they received at PSU. John and Marcia recognize the limited financial means of many PSU students and in a sense of community, wish to financially support other Biology students with aspirations to a career in the health professions.
Amount: This scholarship will provide one undergraduate recipient with $2,500 toward their PSU educational expenses for the academic year.
How to Apply:
Apply via the PSU Scholarship Application portal
Deadline: Applications due March 15th, 2024
What You'll Need:
- Copy of PSU transcript
- Document addressing the following three points:
- Please describe your health career goals and how you see your Biology degree program as helpful in achieving those goals. In other words, how do you envision this scholarship contributing to successfully achieving your professional health goals?
- Please describe how you are currently financing your education at PSU. Are you currently eligible or using financial aid to pay for this education?
- Please provide any information you feel is pertinent that would explain your past performance in science classes.
Lester Newman Undergraduate Research Scholars Program
Lester Newman is a beloved emeritus professor of Biology who started at Portland State College in the mid 1960s. He has pursued a continuous research interest in fly genetics, often working from pop-up labs at Oregon beaches, or stream-side on Mt. Hood. He has inspired countless students of biology to follow their research muse, and to live life to the fullest.
The Lester Newman scholarship is for undergraduate students pursuing independent research projects. The scholar must be a declared undergraduate PSU Biology major with at least a 3.0 GPA in Biology courses. Research can be done with an off-campus partner, e.g. OHSU, but preference will be given to students working directly with PSU Biology professors. Preference will also be given to juniors. It is expected that this support will allow the student to devote full time to their research for at least 8 weeks in the summer.
Amount: This program comes with $5,000 of support for summer research.
How to Apply:
Apply via this application form
Deadline: Applications due March 15th, 2024
What You'll Need:
- Copy of PSU transcript
- Letter of support from a PSU Biology professor
- One-page research proposal (no budget required)
Spike Wadsworth and Y. Sherry Sheng Fund for Biology
Spike Wadsworth is a native Oregonian. He has been a banker, a social worker, and an investor, the latter since 1983. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, an MSW from Portland State University, and a BS in business from Oregon State University. Sherry Sheng moved to the U.S. in 1973 from Taiwan. She received her BS in zoology from National Taiwan University and an MS in fisheries biology from the University of Washington. Her past careers include heading the Seattle Aquarium and the Oregon Zoo. She was also Deputy Director of the Oregon Department of Economic Development. Spike and Sherry are strong philanthropic supporters of reason and science, social services, and the environment.
The Spike Wadsworth and Y. Sherry Sheng Fund for Biology provides scholarships to declared undergraduate and graduate Biology majors with financial need who are focused on evolution-based research and study. Funds may be used for research support in addition to tuition and fees, and related expenses. Recipients of this scholarship are expected to write a thank you note to our generous supporters, Spike Wadsworth and Sherry Sheng.
Amount: Awards are between $5,000 and $10,000.
How to Apply:
Apply via this application form
Deadline: Applications due March 15th, 2024
What You'll Need:
- Copy of PSU transcript
- Letter of support from your Biology faculty advisor or a PSU Biology Professor
- Personal essay containing the following information (3 pages maximum):
- Description of your career goals and how the study of evolutionary biology would be involved
- Experiences you have had outside of the classroom that influenced your decision to major in Biology and study evolution
- Description of your financial needs and how this scholarship will help with your studies
- Any additional thoughts you wish to add