Honors Societies

Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society 

Established in 2011, The Honor Society recognizes outstanding students, alumni, faculty, and staff while being the most selective multidisciplinary honor society for students who depict exceptional academic and personal excellence. 

Membership in the society is by invite only. Invitations are made to students in the fall, with one induction ceremony taking place in the late fall semester. For more details, check out the UTD Phi Kappa Phi Chapter bylaws.

Why Phi Kappa Phi?

• Highly selective membership. Only 7.5% of second-semester juniors and top 10% of seniors and graduate students get this opportunity
• Academic Recognition. It’s more than a line on your resume but a stamp of excellence
• Extensive Global Community. Be able to network with 1.5 million people.
• Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grants are available. 

About Phi Kappa Phi

Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest, largest, and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Its chapters are on more than 300 campuses in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. 

To learn all about the society, visit the national Phi Kappa Phi site.

Chapter Officers

• President: Dr. Douglas Dow
• Vice President for Scholarships, Awards & Grants: Dr. Douglas Dow
• Treasurer: Philip Talbert
• Secretary: Steven Hawker
• Public Relations: Tiffany Page Carter, MPA
• Student Vice Presidents: Aashita Doshi (undergraduate); Joshua Kalakoti (graduate) 
• Founding President: Dr. Denise Boots

Phi Kappa Phi Contact Information

Email: phikappaphi@utdallas.edu

Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society

The UT Dallas Sigma Xi Chapter, hosted in the Arts and Sciences Lab, serves as a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration and professional growth. The chapter organizes public meetings, career-related seminars, and research symposia that connect aspiring researchers from diverse majors and programs to established scientists and scholars. It is a true gateway to research, offering mentorship, networking, and exposure to cutting-edge scientific dialogue—irrespective of whether your background is in computer science, physics, engineering, management or the arts. By participating, members gain access to a vibrant community dedicated to enriching research culture and advancing UT Dallas’s mission of innovation and discovery.

Why Sigma Xi?

Membership in Sigma Xi provides unparalleled opportunities to grow as a researcher and scholar. Benefits include invitations to on-campus and regional conferences and symposia, access to the Grants-in-Aid of Research (GIAR) program, complimentary subscription to American Scientist—a bi-monthly publication showcasing science, engineering, and technology—and access to Sigma Xi SmartBrief and The Lab, platforms for daily science news and professional collaboration. These resources empower members to disseminate knowledge, build networks, and contribute to the global scientific community, directly supporting UT Dallas’s objectives of cultivating frontier research in various domains.

Membership Eligibility 

Membership in the society is by invitation and requires nomination by two Sigma Xi members. 

• Full membership: An individual who has shown noteworthy achievement as an original investigator in a field of pure or applied science is eligible for election to full membership. This noteworthy achievement must be evidenced by publication as the primary author (defined in the manner appropriate to the discipline) on at least two different articles published in a refereed journal, patents or refereed monographs. Dissertations and theses alone are not considered sufficient for demonstration of this achievement and must be accompanied by at least two other publications.
• Associate membership: An individual who has conducted independent investigation and written a report concerning their research is eligible for election to associate membership. This initial research achievement can be in a field of pure or applied science. The individual is expected to later achieve the requirements for full membership.
• Affiliate Circle Membership: Designed for undergraduate and graduate students beginning their research journey. It provides mentorship, access to Sigma Xi resources, and opportunities to participate in chapter activities while building toward associate or full membership.
• K–12 Membership: A special category for high school students and educators, fostering early engagement with scientific inquiry and connecting them to the broader research community.

If interested in joining the UT Dallas Chapter of Sigma Xi, please contact one of the chapter officers.