Funds to support
The Department of Chemistry invites donations from alumni and friends to support the endeavor about which they are most passionate. The Department is indebted to the continued generosity of alumni and friends who donate to these funds.
You can donate to any of the funds or scholarships listed below by visiting the PSU Foundation: Giving website.
Chemistry Department General Fund
This fund supports a variety of activities that contribute to the academic experience of our undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and faculty, including the departmental seminar program where local, national, and international scientists present their work to the Chemistry Department.
The Larry Vockler Scholarship Fund
This scholarship was established to honor Larry Vockler, founder of ICD High Performance Coatings. The scholarship is awarded annually to two outstanding Sophomore Chemistry Majors, providing each with a $2,500 scholarship, and is intended to help promising students complete their studies.
Larry Vockler Scholarship awards are administered in concert with the Office of Financial Aid. Students may apply for this scholarship - and search other scholarship opportunities - via the University's Online Scholarship Application.
The Carl Wamser Student Summer Research Scholarship
This award was established by Richard and Helen Phillips to honor Professor Carl Wamser, who served as the faculty research mentor to Richard Phillips when he was an undergraduate student. The award provides a summer scholarship of $5,000 to support a PSU undergraduate Chemistry Major pursuing a research project in the laboratory of a departmental faculty member, in particular those focused in the areas of chemical biology, biochemistry, or organic chemistry. The scholarship can be applied in summer or during the academic year following the summer research experience.
Richard Phillips, a former student of Professor Wamser’s, initiated this scholarship program in 2015 and hopes to establish it as an endowed fund capable of providing perpetual support for student research. Through their foundation, Richard and his wife Helen have pledged to match any gifts towards this scholarship fund up to $65,000.
Students who are nominated by faculty in the Department of Chemistry with whom they are conducting research submit application materials for consideration for this award.
The Clyde Johnson Scholarship Fund
This award was established in honor of Clyde Johnson, the Founding Department Chair and Professor of Chemistry at Portland State from 1950 to 1964. The Johnson Award recognizes the outstanding Chemistry Major in their Junior year, and provides an Award of $3,000.
Students are nominated for this award by faculty in the Department of Chemistry.
Paul Emmett Award Fund
This award was established in honor of Paul Emmett, Professor of Chemistry at Portland State from 1971 to 1985, member of the National Academy of Science, and friend and brother-in-law of Linus Pauling. This award recognizes an outstanding Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemistry in his or her penultimate year.
Students are nominated for this award by faculty in the Department of Chemistry.