"He had the ability to not just teach the material. He had the ability to give you physical intuition. That was something that he was remarkably unique in doing. That physical intuition helps you understand and solve physics at a very deep level."
- Brian Schmidt, a former student who graduated in 1989 with bachelor's degrees in physics and astronomy, and winner of the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics.
This fellowship was made possible thanks to the generous contributions from the family, friends, and the Physics Alumni of William S. Bickel.
William S. Bickel, a University Distinguished Professor of Physics who taught at the UA for more than 50 years. He joined the UA Department of Physics faculty in 1965. Professor Bickel received numerous teaching awards during his tenure, including the UA's Five Star Faculty Award in 1990. He was named a University Distinguished Professor in 1997. He officially retired in 2002, but remained active in teaching and research for more than a decade afterward. Professor Bickel even offered to teach classes for free, and did so for several years after his retirement, according to Dr. Sumitendra Mazumdar.
Professor Bickel quickly became known, colleagues and former students said, as a dynamic teacher who strived to make serious physics research accessible and fun for all students, regardless of their major or involvement in the department.
Eligibility: Students demonstrating academic excellence with interest in experimental physics or educational aspects of physics.
Please reach out to David Smith at dlsmith1@arizona.edu if interested.