Scholarships

Graduate Student Research Scholarship

The Psychology Department Graduate Student Endowment Fund will be used to support research projects required as part of a department graduate program. Funds may be requested to support supplies and equipment for the project, participant incentives, and per diem costs for animals.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Full-time psychology graduate student in good standing
  • Research project must be second-year project, thesis, or dissertation
  • Students may only receive funding once for each project. (Students may receiving funding for multiple projects such as a thesis and again for a dissertation.)
  • Project must have committee approval
  • Project must have IRB and/or IACUC approval, if necessary

Applications for research funds may be submitted at any time but must be a minimum of two weeks prior the need for funds.

Student Research Funds Application

Graduate Student Scholarships

Students will receive an email reminder to apply for these scholarships each spring. The reminder will include applications and instructions.

Ray Alvord Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded annually to a graduate student in the Quantitative Psychology, Behavior Analysis, Sociobehavioral Epidemiology, Brain/Cognition PhD Psychology specialization or the Neuroscience program. Students must demonstrate high academic achievement and be engaged in research activities.  Preference is given to students who place an emphasis on educational techniques and learning evaluation.

Carolyn Barcus Diversity Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded annually to an ethnic minority student in the Combined PhD specialization.

 

Walter R. Borg Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded annually to students in the department’s doctoral specializations who have completed at least one year of graduate study in the Psychology Department and demonstrate outstanding achievement over time. Two Borg awards are available to students: a Scholarship and Research Productivity award which recognizes excellence in scholarly activities and an Applied Practice and Research award which recognizes excellence in research and applied activities.

Gloria Foster George Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded annually to a graduate student in the Combined PhD specialization.  Candidates must demonstrate academic achievement.  Applicants should be studying caregiver factors dealing with persons with dementia or age-related memory loss.

Anthony LaPray Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded annually to students in Behavior Analysis; Brain & Cognition; Combined Clinical/Counseling, Neuroscience/Psych; Quantitative; Sociobehavioral Epidemiology based on academic achievement, progress in their graduate specialization, and engagement in research.

Kenneth W. Merrell Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded annually to a graduate student in the School Psychology specialization. Students must demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, commitment to the field of School Psychology, and involvement in school psychology activities outside of the specialization requirements.

Elwin C. Nielsen Scholarship

This scholarship awarded annually to a graduate student in the Combined PhD specialization who demonstrate exceptional talent in psychological assessment and psychotherapy/counseling. Candidates must demonstrate academic achievement and financial need. They must have completed their M.S. degree and have at least 15 semester hours of academic coursework remaining towards their Ph.D. excluding internship and dissertation hours.

Peter Kranz Student Support Scholarship

This scholarship is available to graduate students in the Combined Clinical/Counseling Psychology doctoral specialization. Funds are provided to students to assist with professional expenses including those related to research, clinical practice, and teaching. Students in the Combined Clinical/Counseling Psychology specialization are encouraged to contact Cara for more information about these support scholarships. 

Peter Kranz's headshot

Dr. Kranz is an alumni of the Utah State Psychology Department. He completed a Doctor of Philosophy degree in child psychology in 1969 and graduated from the Utah State University College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences. Dr. Kranz has received numerous accolades and honors including a Lifetime Achievement Award from Marquis Who's Who in 2020, the Outstanding Alumni Award from Grinnell College in 2018, the Distinguished Research Award from the College of Education at the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley in 2015, and the Alumni Merit Award from Utah State University in 2012. Dr. Kranz has more than 55 years of practiced experience in psychology and academia and has been a professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley since 2013.