Graduate Student Fellowship Awards

The front of Moore Hall with pink tulips.

2026 Application Details:

To apply, please review the information below. You can download the cover page here: PAS Award Application Cover Page. Email the complete materials to caitlin.collies@wisc.edu.

Nominations for available fellowships will open on the first Monday of February each year and close on the first Monday of March each year. The Graduate Studies Committee will review all applications. Committee members cannot submit nominations and must recuse themselves from the committee if they nominate a student. The committee will make its selections by April 1^st.

See fellowship description for specific eligibility requirements. Students must be registered in a PAS graduate program through the following academic year. The recipient will be a graduate student who has demonstrated superior performance and outstanding professional potential.
The recipient will hold a Fellow appointment for one year, beginning in the following Fall term. Award package includes a bimonthly stipend, tuition and fees, and health insurance eligibility. Preference will be given to students who have not previously won the award. Deferral of funding will be based on department approval.

  Complete nomination materials include all of the following in order:

The application cover page with the Advisors signature
A nomination letter from the major advisor describing the student’s achievements, research progress, professional potential, and expectations in the field regarding productivity (e.g., publications, presentations, outreach, or other discipline-appropriate measures).
A one-page thesis prospectus written by the candidate at a level understandable to a generalist audience outside their field of specialty. The one-page thesis prospectus description should clearly define the nature and scope of the proposed research, a description of expected outcomes, a timeline for completion, and the broader relevance of the research beyond the disciplinary impact.
The student’s curriculum vitae
The student’s official or unofficial academic graduate transcript(s) – Master’s (if applicable) and PhD
One electronic copy of the compiled nomination materials should be submitted to the Graduate Program Manager.

Commercial Flower Growers WDGF

The purpose of this fellowship fund is to facilitate graduate student training and research related to issues of commercial importance of flower growers of Wisconsin. Research might include but not be limited to new crop development, production techniques, nutrition, pest management, plant breeding and plant genetics, etc. Expectations are to prepare scientists with skills ready to enter the job market on a competitive basis to do instruction or research on floriculture crops. Additionally, results from research are aimed to address problems of importance of flower growers of the industry. Each year, the Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences will provide the Commercial Flower Growers of Wisconsin with an annual report about accomplishments from the research.

Frank Koller Cranberry

This Fund, established in 1992 by Frank and Betty Koller, benefits the Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. The Frank B. Koller Cranberry Fund is for support of the Frank B. Koller Award for graduate student research on cranberries. “It is the desire of the Donors that the annual income be used for support of the Frank B. Koller Award for graduate research studies on cranberries under the direction of the principal fruit crops researcher in the Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences, with preference to be given to students with financial need.

All Department Awards

The following is a list of Graduate Student awards that are managed by the Department of Plant & Agroecosystem Sciences. These awards will be made available annually, based on appropriate funding levels. All awards will be made for one year to the selected student. The department will accept applications, starting the first Monday in February. Awardees will be announced by April 1^st each year.

Commercial Flower Growers of Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship Award

The purpose of this fellowship fund is to facilitate graduate student training and research related to issues of commercial importance of flower growers of Wisconsin. Research might include but not be limited to new crop development, production techniques, nutrition, pest management, plant breeding and plant genetics, etc. Expectations are to prepare scientists with skills ready to enter the job market on a competitive basis to do instruction or research on floriculture crops. Additionally, results from research are aimed at addressing problems of importance of flower growers of the industry. Each year, the Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences will provide the Commercial Flower Growers of Wisconsin with an annual report about accomplishments from the research. (Awarded as a fellowship, which includes stipend, tuition, and payment of segregated fees.)

R. Gordon Harvey Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in Weed Science Fund

The fund was established to honor R. Gordon Havey, professor of Agronomy, in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Professor Harvey was a leader in the field of weed science and his career focused on the needs of Wisconsin’s agricultural community. This Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship award supports a full-time incoming graduate student enrolled in Agronomy or Plant Science and Technology in the Department of Plant & Agroecosystem Sciences. (Awarded as a fellowship, which includes stipend, tuition, and payment of segregated fees.)

Frank Koller Cranberry Fellowship Fund

D.C. Smith Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in Agronomy Fund

This fund was established in memory of Clyde Smith, who had a distinguished career in the field of Agronomy. The award will recognize a graduate student in the Department of Plant & Agroecosystem Sciences who has demonstrated superior performance and outstanding professional potential. (Awarded as a fellowship, which includes stipend, tuition, and payment of segregated fees.)

Irwin F. Smith Family Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship Fund

This award is for graduate students in the Department of Plant & Agroecosystem Sciences. The recipient will be a graduate student who has demonstrated superior performance and outstanding professional potential. (Awarded as a fellowship, which includes stipend, tuition, and payment of segregated fees.)