Instructions
This page lists the internal financial aid awards for which graduate students in FScN can apply. See instructions below:
Note: These are the annual awards granted by the FScN review committee. There are additional grants/awards that can be used for travel, professional development, etc. listed on the Current Student Resources page.
All applicants for FScN-managed financial aid opportunities require the following application materials:
- Letter of intent
- Up to date curriculum vitae
- Letter of support from the student’s graduate advisor
- Up to date unofficial UMN transcript
- Previous institution transcript if in current program <1 year
- Completion of the FScN financial aid application form
Award recipients will be selected using these general guidelines. Use the FScN financial aid application form to apply for any of the awards listed below.
Your letter of intent must specifically address eligibility for each award selected. Without clear eligibility evidence, applications for those awards will be disregarded.
Blanket selection of all awards will result in automatic disqualification from every award.
The submission deadline for FScN-managed financial aid awards is set annually as the day before spring break begins.
List of Awards
Alice Biester Assistantship Award
Eligible Students: Nutrition graduate students focusing on human nutrition
This award is meant to subsidize teaching and research assistantships for Nutrition graduate students specializing in human nutrition.
Alice M. Stang Graduate Teaching Assistantship in Dietetics and Nutrition
Eligible Students: Nutrition and Dietetics graduate students
This award is meant to subsidize teaching assistantships for Nutrition and Dietetics graduate students.
Charlotte Biester Career Development Research Assistantship Award
Eligible Students: Nutrition and Dietetics graduate students
This award is meant to subsidize teaching assistantships for Nutrition and Dietetics graduate students.
Elwood F. and Florence A. Caldwell Fellowship
Eligible Students: Food Science and Nutrition graduate students
This award is meant to subsidize research assistantships for Food Science and Nutrition graduate students.
Nutrition graduate students are eligible for this award in even academic years (e.g., AY 2026-2027). Food Science graduate students are eligible for this award in odd academic years (e.g., AY 2027-2028).
Grants to Advance Graduate Education (GAGE) Award
Eligible Students: Food Science, Nutrition, and Dietetics graduate students
This award is meant to provide support for historically underrepresented communities in the fields of food science, nutrition, dietetics, and in STEM disciplines in general. Students of color, LGBTQIA+ students, students with disabilities, first generation students, and women are encouraged to apply.
Jane M. Leichsenring Award
Eligible Students: Nutrition and Dietetics graduate students
This award is meant to provide financial aid for graduate students studying Nutrition and Dietetics.
Joan Gordon Memorial Food Chemistry Fellowship
Eligible Students: Food Science graduate students specializing in food chemistry
This award is meant to provide financial aid for Food Science graduate students studying food chemistry. Only students maintaining a 3.7 GPA or higher can be considered. Preference is given to students who were assigned female at birth (AFAB).
Kenneth A. and Beverly E. Gilles Fellowship
Eligible Students: Food Science graduate students
This award is meant to subsidize research assistantships for Food Science graduate students.
Marie and Ken Bezdicek Fellowship
Eligible Students: Food Science and Nutrition graduate students
This award is meant to subsidize research assistantships for Food Science and Nutrition graduate students.
Mary E. Sorensen Fellowship in Foods and Business
Eligible Students: Food Science students engaged in food business pursuits
This award is meant to subsidize research assistantships for Food Science graduate students with an interest in business.
Matsan Nutrition Scholarship
Eligible Students: Nutrition and Dietetics students preparing for the RDN exam
This award is meant to provide financial aid to Nutrition and Dietetics graduate students who intend to sit for the RDN exam upon program completion.
Novartis Nutrition Research Assistantship Award
Eligible Students: Nutrition graduate students
This award is meant to subsidize research assistantships for Nutrition graduate students.
Peggy Lund Hayek Endowment in Nutrition Fellowship
Eligible Students: Nutrition and Dietetics graduate students
This award is meant to provide financial aid to Nutrition and Dietetics graduate students.
Phil and Gail Minerich Fellowship
Eligible Students: Food Science graduate students
This award is meant to provide financial aid to Food Science graduate students. Preference is given to students maintaining a GPA of 3.3 or higher and demonstrating financial need.
Professor Eugenia A. Davis Memorial Graduate Student Support Award
Eligible Students: Food Science, Nutrition, and Dietetics graduate students
Award currently on hold and will not be awarded until further notice.
This award is meant to provide financial aid for Food Science, Nutrition, and Dietetics graduate students. Travel and research expenses may also be funded from this fellowship.
Schwan’s Fellowship in Food Science and Nutrition
Eligible Students: Food Science and Nutrition graduate students
This award is meant to provide financial aid to Food Science and Nutrition graduate students. Preference is given to doctoral students and typically supports awardees for a three-year commitment.
Skarra Graduate Award
Eligible Students: Food Science, Nutrition, and Dietetics graduate students
This award is meant to provide financial aid for Food Science, Nutrition, and Dietetics graduate students.
Theodore Labuza Food Material Science Research Assistantship Fellowship
Eligible Students: Food Science graduate students focusing on food safety or food technology
This award is meant to subsidize research assistantships for Food Science graduate students specializing in food safety or food technology.
Warthesen 21st Century Fellowship
Eligible Students: Food Science and Nutrition graduate students
This award is meant to subsidize research assistantships for Food Science and Nutrition graduate students.
William Hobbs Memorial Fellowship
Eligible Students: Food Science graduate students
Award currently on hold and will not be awarded until further notice.
This award is meant to subsidize research assistantships for Food Science and Nutrition graduate students.