Extensive Opportunities

The Physics department is proud of its extensive list of Fellowships & Awards available to students. Please review details of Fellowship & Award opportunities below. 

Ben Leslie Experimentalist Fellow

This award, named in memory of Ben Leslie (’99), is awarded to a student who demonstrates superb ability and potential as an experimentalist.  All Fellows have the responsibility to be leaders and good role models in the department.

Denison Society of Physics Students Leadership Award

This award recognizes a student or students for their excellent leadership and strong organizational skills within our SPS Chapter.

Introductory Physics (Book) Award

This award is given to students who have demonstrated superior performance in either Principles of Physics or Physics 121 and 122 up to the time the award is made.

Principles of Physics is our majors sequence and the P121-122 sequence is usually for other science majors.

Roderick M. Grant Physics Education Award

The intent of this award is to recognize intellectual ability coupled with a keen interest in the teaching of physics.  Students receiving this award must demonstrate exceptional potential for making contributions to the education of future science students in classrooms ranging from elementary school to graduate school.  This award is named for Professor Rod Grant, who held the teaching of physics in highest esteem.  His entire career was characterized by a desire to better physics education at all levels, and to let all know that “physics in phun.”  This award includes a monetary award and the recipient’s name will be added to the plaque that is displayed in the Physics Department library.

Ron Winters Graduate School Award in Physics

This award recognizes the “intellectual horsepower” of the recipient—their ability to do and understand physics and their dedication to the study of physics.  Ron Winters served as a faculty member at Denison from 1966-1999 and held the Tight Family Chair in the Physical Sciences.  Ron was a dedicated teacher-scholar of the highest caliber.  He showed by example that one should strive for excellence and accept no less; this award honors that spirit and action. This award includes a monetary award and the recipient’s name will be added to the plaque that is displayed in the Physics Department library.

Samuel C. Wheeler Award for Excellence in Physics

This award is given for excellence in the understanding and doing of physics combined with leadership in the Department.  The award is named for Professor Sam Wheeler, who during his tenure at Denison from 1948-1978, exemplified the combination of an excellent ability to do physics and a remarkable sensitivity and concern for the individual in physics.  This award includes a monetary award and the recipient’s name will be added to the plaque that is displayed in the Physics Department library.

Mike Mickelson Research Award in Physics

This award is intended to recognize students that have not only done excellent research, but combined intellectual ownership, curiosity, and skill to drive the research project in novel and important directions. This award is named for Professor Mike Mickelson, who as a faculty member at Denison from 1969 - 2001 and holder of the Anderson Distinguished Professorship in Physics, was an exemplary teacher, scholar, and mentor.  Professor Mickelson helped many students learn the art of physics research, and his dedication to scientific inquiry together with students was an inspiration to all. This award includes a monetary award, and the recipient’s name will be added to the plaque that is displayed in the Physics Department Library.

Department Fellows

The Department of Physics is proud to participate in the tradition at Denison of selecting Departmental Fellows to recognize outstanding achievement in a student’s chosen area of study.

This honor is earned by excellent academic performance, service to the department and the positive attitude and contributions these students bring to the classroom, research lab, and the general climate of the department. We view Fellows as students who are pursuing Physics for the disciplines’ own virtues and who are excellent role models for other students.

Past Scholarship Recipients ↪