Graduate Awards and Fellowships

Fellowship Finder (searchable database of funding opportunities).

Grant-based Fellowships

GAANN Fellowship

Campus-Wide Fellowships

Illinois Distinguished Fellowship

The Illinois Distinguished Fellowship nominees are selected by the department during the admissions process. No separate application is needed.

Illinois Distinguished Fellowship Recipients

2025-2026: Yangqing Li
2024-2025: Samuel Hsu & Amy Woodall
2023-2024: Samuel Hsu, Yangqing Li, & Amy Woodall
2022-2023: Samuel Hsu
2020-2021: Ciaran O’Neill
2018-2019: Ciaran O'Neill
2017-2018: Melinda Lanius
2016-2017: Anton Bernshteyn & Ciaran O’Neill
2015-2016: Anton Bernshteyn & Xiao Wang
2014-2015: Anton Bernshteyn, Oliver Pechenik, & Agus Soenjaya
2013-2014: Agus Soenjaya

University Fellowship

The Graduate College’s Block Grant Program for University Fellows supports departmental efforts to recruit and retain outstanding graduate students.

University Fellowship Recipients

2024-2025: Ianina Anastasilia, Anji Dong, Ramon Garcia Alvarez, Abigail Goldman-Nagel, Doron Grossman-Naples, Langwen Hui, Abishek Jha, Taegu Kang, Daecheol Kim, Bowen Li, Fengyuan Lin, Jiantong Liu, Haoran Luo, Jaya Manthripagada, Jaewon Min, Van The Nguyen, Deniz Ozbay, Duy Phan, Ivan Schwieger, Hyun Tark, Huy Tran, Minh-Quan Vo, Haoran Yin, & Heyi Zhu
2023-2024: Debmalya Basak, Haoran Luo, Langwen Hui, Gayana Jayasinghe, Hannah Kim, The Nguyen, Wilmer Smilde, Ada Stelzer, Likun Xie, & Xinran Yu
2022-2023: Chrontsios Garitsis, Hanna Kim, Kesav Krishnan, Ryan McConnell, Gidon Orelowitz, Christian Schultz, Emily Shinkle, Maria Siskaki, Grigory Terlov, & Trung Vu
2021-2022: Ian Blanchard, Felix Clemen, Rocco Davino, Robert Krueger, & Grace McCourt
2020-2021: Chi Huynh, William Linz, Joseph Rennie, & Grigory Terlov
2019-2020: Martino Fassina, Derek Kielty, Nigel Pynn-Coates, Xujun Liu, & Terence Harris
2018-19: Heejounjg Kim & Marissa Miller
2017-18: Hao Sun & Li Gao
2016-17: Sneha Chaubey & Eliana Duarte
2014-15: Hong Liu & Elyse Yeager
2013-14: Dominic Searles
2012-13: Ioannis Konstantoulas & Qiang Zeng
2010-11: Jane Butterfield, Rosona Eldred, Mee Seong Im, Fang-Kai Jao, Mohit Kumbhat, Suil O, Patrick Reynolds, Alexandra Secleanu, Jonah Sinick, Khang Tran, & Boonrod Yuttanan
2009-10: Desmond Cummins, Michael Dewar, Kunwoo Kim, Sun Kim, Radoslav Kirov, Daniel Lior, Artan Sheshmani, Jonah Sinick, Kostyantyn Slutskyy, & Hehui Wu
2008-2009: Dimitrios Koukoulopoulos, Aleksandra Kwiatkowska, Anton Lukyanenko, Artan Sheshmani, Jin Hyung To
2007-08: Jesse Beder, Michael Dewar, Caleb Eckhardt, Byungchan Kim, Kunwoo Kim, Jana Marikova, Zhengwei Sun, & Hehui Wu
2006-07: Sylvia Carlisle, Timothy Kilbourn, Byungchan Kim, Sun Kim, Qi Liu, Maciej Malicki, Ana Marie Popa, Zhengwei Sun, Maosheng Xiong, & Daniel Zaharopol
2005-06: Shivi Bansal, Jae-Seong Cho, Sun Kim, Alexandra Seceleanu, Maosheng Xiong, & Feng Zhang
2004-05: Shivi Bansal, Younjin Kim, Dominika Polkowska, Ida Svejdarova, Chunlin Wang, & Qingquan Wuv
2003-04: Heekyoung Hahn, Youngsoo Kim, Jung Jin Lee, Jinjia Li, Qi Liu, & Dominika Polkowska
2002-03: Salih Azgin, Thomas Cooney, Ciprian Demeter, Elizabeth Denne, Friedrich Littman, A. Martin-Pizarro, Lucas Sabalka, & Adrian Iordache
2001-02: Michael Bush, Song Heng Chan, Thomas Kuhnt, Rekha Santuanam, T.V. Selvakumaran, Kwang Shin, & Soroosh Yazdani

Dissertation Completion Fellowship

Dissertation Completion Fellowship nominees are selected by the department each March. Please talk with your thesis adviser about whether you might be a potential nominee.

Dissertation Completion Fellowship Recipients

2019-2020: Simone Sisneros-Thiry
2017-2018: Melinda Lanius
2015-2016: Nickolas Andersen and Caglar Uyanik
2014-2015: Dominic Searles
2013-2014: Qiang Zeng

Diffenbaugh Fellowship

The Diffenbaugh Fellowship Fund, established in 1976 by Harry J. Diffenbaugh, supports graduate students at the University of Illinois who are or were residents of the State of Missouri. Fellowship nominees are selected by the department during the admissions process. No separate application is needed, but if you have resided in Missouri, please let us know.

Diffenbaugh Fellowship Recipients

2013-2014: Cara Monical

Sloan University Center of Exemplary Mentoring (UCEM)

The Sloan University Center of Exemplary Mentoring (UCEM) at Illinois aims to broaden participation in advanced engineering, physical, and mathematical science careers, thereby strengthening the talent pool in these fields while increasing equitable opportunities in the U.S. The center targets underrepresented racial/ethnic minority students (URM), defined by Sloan as US citizens who are African American, Latina/Latino, and American Indian/Alaskan Native.

Sloan Scholars and Illinois Sloan Scholars will be carefully mentored toward successful completion of their PhD’s and job placement. In addition to studying in highly-ranked, world class programs, these students will receive a suite of professional development opportunities. Graduates will be well-prepared to become leaders in the workforce and in academia, where they can shape the future of their fields.

List of Sloan Scholars & Illinois Sloan Scholars

Sloan Scholars

2021-2022: Cruz Castillo
2020-2021: Savana Ammons & Yansy Perez
2018-2019: Robert Dicks
2017-2018: Kimberly Duran, Oscar Gonzàlez Pagan, Christopher Loa, Alyssa Loving, Adriana Morales Miranda, & Antonio Ruiz
2016-2017: Kimberly Duran, Christopher Loa, & Alyssa Loving

Illinois Sloan Scholars

2018-2019: Dania Morales, Vincent Villabos, & Nicole Yamzon
2017-2018: Cameron Rudd
2015-2016: William Balderrama & Fernando Román García

Departmental Fellowships

Paul T. Bateman Fellowship in Number Theory

The Paul T. Bateman Fellowship in Number Theory is awarded to a graduate student actively working on research and writing his/her thesis in number theory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The idea for a number theory fellowship originated with Bruce Berndt to honor Professor Paul Bateman and his many contributions to number theory and the department. The first major gift was given by former faculty member John T. Selfridge. With the support of gifts from Professor Selfridge and many friends and colleagues, Paul and Felice Bateman completed this permanent endowment in 2002.

Professor Bateman received his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1946. He joined the University of Illinois mathematics faculty in 1950, served as head of the department from 1965-1980, and became an emeritus professor in 1989. He died in 2012. Twenty students received their Ph.D. under his direction. His research has covered a wide range of topics including sums of squares, the distribution of prime numbers, Beurling’s generalized prime numbers, modular forms, geometric extrema, the coefficients of the cyclotomic polynomials, and arithmetic functions. He has written joint papers with more than 20 different coauthors.

Paul T. Bateman Fellowship in Number Theory Recipients

2024: Debmalya Basak
2023: Di Liu
2023: Qihang Sun
2021: Robert Dicks
2020: Alexander Dunn
2019: George Shakan
2018: Junxian Li
2017: Xianchang Meng
2016: Amita Malik
2015: Nickolas Andersen
2014: Arindam Roy
2013: Dan Schultz
2012: Joseph Vandehey
2011: Khang Tran
2010: Atul Dixit
2009: Dimitrios Koukoulopoulos
2008: Byungchan Kim
2007: Sun Kim
2006: Timothy Kilbourn
2005: Stephanie Treneer
2004: Song Heng Chan
2003: Michael Bush
2002: Friedrich Littman

David G. Bourgin Mathematics Fellowship

David G. Bourgin Mathematics Fellowship was established to provide fellowships to graduate students who are enrolled in the Department of Mathematics in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

David G. Bourgin Mathematics Fellowship Recipients

2024-2025: Jason Liu
2023-2024: Gayana Jayasinghe & The Nguyen
2022-2023: Trung Vu
2020-2021: Vaibav Karve
2018-2019: Minh Tran
2017-2018: Amita Malik
2014-2015: Caglar Uyanik
2012-2013: Qiang Zeng & Michael DiPasquale
2011-2012: Austin Rochford
2010-2011: Artan Sheshmani
2009-2010: Radoslav Kirov & Artan Sheshmani
2008-2009: Jason Elliot & Dan Lior
2007-2008: Jason Elliot
2006-2007: Qingquan Wu
2005-2006: Rekha Santhanam
2004-2005: Jung Jin Lee
2003-2004: Elizabeth Denne & Youngsoo Kim
2002-2003: Hui Li
2001-2002: Parthena Avramidou

Lewis C. Hack Scholarship

This fund provides scholarships to the Departments of Mathematics and Physics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Lewis C. Hack Scholarship Recipients

2025-2026: Ramon Garcia Alvarez & Kamel Yigal
2018-2019: Ningchuan Zhang
2017-2018: Joshua Wen
2015-2016: Panupong Vichitkunakorn
2012-2013: Arindam Roy
2010-2011: Jonah Sinick
2009-2010: Aleksandra Kwiatkowska & Chia-Yen Tsai

William C. Healy Jr. Fellowship

The William C. Healy Jr. Fellowship was established to provide graduate fellowships as well as merit-based scholarships, faculty support, and library support in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Illinois.

William C. Healy Jr. Fellowship Recipients

2025-2026: Kamel Yigal & Wilmer Smilde
2017: Eliana Duarte
2014-2015: Eliana Duarte
2012-2013: Ioannis Konstantoulas & Chunyi Li
2010-2011: Rosona Eldred
2009-2010: Byungchan Kim
2007-2008: Michael Dewar
2002-2003: Adrian Iordache, Hui Li, & Khye Loong Yew
2001-2002: Iana Anguelova, Xiaosheng Li, Amador Martin-Pizarro, & Kwang Shin

James D. Hogan Memorial Scholarship

James D. Hogan Memorial Scholarship was established to provide financial aid to graduate students in the Department of Mathematics of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

James D. Hogan Memorial Scholarship Recipients

2025-2026: Hui Langwen, Jason Liu, & Zishen Qu
2023: Aerim Si
2019-2020: Felix Clemen, Tsutomu Okano, & Joshua Wen
2018-2019: Ruth Luo
2017-2018: Nima Riasekh, Cameron Rudd, & Ebru Toprak
2011-2012: Fang-Kai Jao
2010-2011: Desmond Cummins
2009-2010: Artan Sheshmani
2008-2009: Wojciech Samotij
2007-2008: Patrick Reynolds
2006-2007: Samuel Kadziela
2005-2006: Reka Santhanam & Feng Zhang
2004-2005: Maosheng Xiong
2002-2004: Youngsoo Kim

Dr. Lois M. Lackner Mathematics Fellowship

The Dr. Lois M. Lackner Mathematics Fellowship was established in 2007 through a generous gift by Dr. Lois Lackner-Strong, a University of Illinois alumna with degrees in the teaching of mathematics and in education.

Dr. Lois M. Lackner Mathematics Fellowship Recipients

2025-2026: Manisha Garg
2024-2025: Likun Xie
2023-2024: Hannah Kim & Likun Xie
2022-2023: Hannah Kim, Ryan McConnell, & Greg Terlov
2021-2022: Ran Ji. Elizabeth Tatum, & Jenna Zomback
2020-2021: Emily Shinkle
2017-2018: Erin Caulfield & Yun Shi
2017: Darlayne Addabbo & Sarka Petrickova
2015-2016: Neha Gupta, Sarka Petrickova, & Sarah Yeakel
2014: Darlayne Addabbo
2013: Ki Yeun Kim & Sarka Petrickova
2012: Anja Bankovic
2011: Aleksandra Kwiatkowska
2010: Jane Butterfield
2008-2009: Ida Svejdarova
2007: Jana Marikova

Franz Hohn and J.P. Nash Fellowship

The Hohn-Nash Fellowship is given to graduate students in recognition of outstanding scholarship and promise in applied mathematics. This award was established in 1997 by Gene Golub to honor Professors Franz Hohn and John Purcell "Jack" Nash, pioneers in the field of applied and computational mathematics and dedicated to the teaching profession, with additional support from the friends and families of Professors Hohn and Nash.

Franz Hohn and J.P. Nash Fellowship Recipients

2024-2025: Zimu Xiang
2023-2024: Langwen Hui
2022-2023: Kesav Krishnan
2018: George Shakan
2015: Ki Yeun Kim
2012-2013: Arindam Roy
2011-2012: Uma Ravat
2010-2011: Khang Tran
2009-2010: Kunwoo Kim
2008-2009: Jonah Sinick & Kostyantyn Slutskyy
2007-2008: Michael Dewar & Jennifer Vandenbussche
2006: Rekha Santhanam & Shichang Song
2005: Maosheng Xiong
2004: Bogdan Petrenko
2003: Seog-Jin Kim & Eric Landquist
2002: Michael Bush & Amador Martin-Pizarro
2001: Thomas Kuhnt & Kwang Shin
2000: Jenny Steichen (1st Place), Mark Bauer (2nd Place tie), & Tao Jiang (2nd Place tie)
1999: Will Galway & Doug Kuhlman
1998: Darrin Doud

E.T. Parker Memorial Fellowship

The E.T. Parker Memorial Fellowship was established to provide fellowships to graduate students in combinatorial areas of mathematics or statistics related to the research interests of E.T. Parker.

E.T. Parker Memorial Fellowship Recipients

2025-2026: Igor Araujo
2021-2022: Igor Araujo
2016-2017: Zsolt Wagner
2010-2011: Mee Seong Im
2009-2010: Wojciech Samotij
2007-2008: Noah Prince
2006-2007: Qi Liu
2005-2006: Feng Zhang
2004-2005: Maosheng Xiong
2002-2003: Youngsoo Kim

R.H. Schark Fellowship

R.H. Schark Fellowship was established to provide fellowships to undergraduate and graduate students in mathematics based on academic excellence.

R.H. Schark Fellowship Recipients

2025-2026: Igor Araujo, Ramon Garcia Alvarez, & Irving Yang
2017: Nima Rasekh
2015-2016: Byron Heersink
2013-2014: Santiago Camacho
2012-2013: Chunyi Li
2010-2011: Boonrod Yuttanan
2009-2010: Wojciech Samotij
2008-2009: Kunwoo Ki
2007-2008: Noah Prince and Ricardo Rojas
2006-2007: Sun Kim and Qingquan Wu
2005-2006: Shichang Song
2004-2005: Jung Jin Lee
2003-2004: Youngsoo Kim
2001-2002: Parthena Avramidou

Ruth V. Shaff and Genevie I. Andrews Fellowship

The Ruth V. Shaff and Genevie I. Andrews Fellowship was established to provide fellowships to graduate students in Mathematics.

Ruth V. Shaff and Genevie I. Andrews Fellowship Recipients

2025-2026: Ce Chen, Angi Dong, Abby Goldman-Nagel, & Ploy Wattanawanichkul
2024-2025: Langwen Hui
2023-2024: Ada Stelzer & Xinran Yu
2022-2023: Marissa Chesser & Emily Shinkle
2021-2022: Maria Siskaki
2019-2020: Hannah Burson, Lina Li, Xiao Li, & Jenna Zomback
2018-2019: Grace Jaffe
2017-2018: Hannah Burson, Grace Jaffe, & Anna Weigandt
2016-2017: Hannah Burson, Anna Weigandt

State Farm Mathematics Doctoral Scholarship

The State Farm Mathematics Doctoral Scholarship is funded by State Farm Insurance. Eligible graduate students should be doing well academically and working on mathematics with a relationship to the broad interdisciplinary area of actuarial science and financial mathematics.

State Farm Mathematics Doctoral Scholarship Recipients

2019-2020: Linfeng Zhang, Yuxuan Li, & Yong Xie
2018-2019: Longhao Jin & Chongda Liu
2017-2018: Longhao Jin
2016-2017: Samal Abdikerimova & Chongda Liu
2015-2016: Michael Livesay, Andrew McConvey, & Vanessa Rivera-Quinones
2014-2015: Stephen Berning, Timothy Ferguson, & Andrew McConvey
2013-2014: Vanessa Rivera-Quinones, Bingji Yi, & Rui Song
2012-2013: Wei Lin, Rui Song, & Qu Lu

Waldemar J., Barbara G., and Juliette Alexandra Trjitzinsky Fellowship

The Waldemar J., Barbara G., and Juliette Alexandra Trjitzinsky Fund was established to provide fellowships to graduate students in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Waldemar J., Barbara G., and Juliette Alexandra Trjitzinsky Fellowship Recipients

2024-2025: Jonghyeon Ahn
2023-2024: Debmalya Basak, Haoran Luo, & Wilmer Smilde
2022-2023: Gidon Orelowitz & Maria Siskaki
2021-2022: Tanmay Khale
2020-2021: Xiaolong Han, Yifan Jing, & Hadrian Quan
2019-2020: Terence Harris & Xujun Liu
2018-2019: Xinghua Gao & Elliot Kaplan
2017-2018: Anton Bernshteyn, Li Gao, & Ebru Toprak
2016-2017: Daan Michiels, Xiumin Du, & Nima Rasekh
2015-2016: Haojian Li
2014-2015: Nickolas Andersen, Eliana Duarte, & Daan Michiels
2013-2014: Alonza Terry
2012-2013: Chunyi Li & Ping Hu
2010-2011: Jesse Beder & Johann Thiel
2009-2010: Atul Dixit & Patrick Reynolds
2008-2009: Jesse Beder, Michael Dewar, Aaron Hill, Aleksandra Kwiatkowska, & Wojciech Samotij
2007-2008: Patrick Reynolds
2006-2007: Samuel Kadziela, Christopher Lee, & Rekha Santhanam
2005-2006: Qi Liu, Luis Poitevin, & Rekha Santhanam
2004-2005: Qi Liu & Khye Loong Yew
2003-2004: Shivi Bansal & Youngsoo Kim
2002-2003: Xiaosheng Li
2001-2002: Parthena Avramidou, Ciprian Demeter, & Hui Li

Mathematics Fellowship

Mathematics Fellowship Recipients

2017-2018: Joshua Wen
2006-2007: Jennifer Vandenbussche
2005-2006: Aaron Hill, Antonios Hondroulis, Timothy Lesoulnier, Jesse Miller, & Scott Weaver
2003-2004: Iana Anguelova, Michael Bush, Adrian Iordache, Bogdan Petrenko, & Khye Loong Yew
2002-2003: Adrian Iordache & Youngsoo Kim
2001-2002: Amador Martin-Pizarro