Graduate Fellowships

A resource list of some grants and fellowships applicable to biomolecular science and engineering.

Programs especially interested in applications from underrepresented groups, such as women, people with disabilities, and people from minority groups, are marked with this logo:

AWARDS AT UCSC

Benjamin and Ruth Hammett Awards for Research on Climate Change
The STEPS Institute offers this award to fund research for currently enrolled UCSC students working on climate change and issues related to climate change and water.

CBSE RMI Graduate Diversity Fellowships in Genomic Science
The CBSE Research Mentoring Institute (RMI) awards fellowships to outstanding underrepresented UCSC graduate students to pursue research projects in areas relevant to the human genome, including the ethical, legal, and social implications of genome research. The fellowship includes one year of tuition, fees, and stipend, plus an allowance for research supplies and travel to one relevant scientific meeting. RMI fellows receive mentoring from faculty advisors, other students, and the program coordinator and participate in a range of activities and workshops to facilitate their academic and professional success.
Contact:

Center for Informal Learning and Schools (CILS)
At UCSC and King’s College London
The CILS program supports research and develops leadership in the study of informal science learning and institutions, and their relationships to K-12 schools. A collaboration between The Exploratorium, UCSC, and King’s College London, the CILS program is funded by the National Science Foundation. The program has two components: PhD sponsorship and a more limited fellows program, which are geared to prepare grad students to understand how science is learned and taught to school aged children.

STEPS Graduate Fellowships
STEPS Institute for Innovation in Environmental Research at UCSC
The institute offers 3 fellowships each year for outstanding entering graduate students who are interested in pursuing interdisciplinary environmental research: the Christine Eckstrom Fellowship, the MRC Greenwood Fellowship, and the Frans Lanting Fellowship. Each fellow receives $20,000 for research expenses to address major environmental questions that link Science, Technology, Engineering, Policy, and Society (STEPS). The funds can be used for research supplies, research travel, and summer stipend. These funds are in addition to the academic year salary support that a student receives from his/her graduate department or agencies in the form of fellowships, teaching assistantships, or research assistantships.
Application: Fellows are nominated by UCSC departments as part of the admission process to UCSC graduate programs. Students interested in applying for one of these fellowships can include an additional written statement (up to 1 page) along with their graduate application to a UCSC department, explaining how their research interests and plans fit within one of the current STEPS research initiatives. Each department then forwards the names of two possible candidates for consideration by the STEPS institute.

STEPS Graduate Grants
STEPS Institute for Innovation in Environmental Research at UCSC
The STEPS Institute for Innovation in Environmental Research invites proposals from currently enrolled UCSC graduate students in the environmental sciences for research funds to support graduate research projects on the major STEPS research initiatives: The effects of climate change, conservation of biodiversity, and alterations in the earth's water systems. Priority will be given to research projects that address major scientific questions on these initiatives, including changing biological diversity within and among ecosystems; changing aquatic resources mediated by environmental and societal changes; and biological, physical, and social effects of regional climate change. Priority will also be given to students who have not previously received a STEPS grant. Typical awards will be up to $1,500. Requests may include supplies, travel to research sites, or partial summer salary, but not computer hardware, software, or travel to scientific meetings. The budget page should specify how the funds would be used.
Application: Submit a 2-page proposal and 1-page budget to

Student Employee Graduate Research Fellowship Program (SEGRF)
The SEGRF program has for many years played a critical role in helping to recruit new scientific and engineering talent to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Top students from the ten campuses of the University of California are granted up to four year fellowships to conduct research at the Laboratory while completing their thesis. Each student works with a university thesis advisor and a technical mentor from LLNL. Students in the SEGRF Program are employees of LLNL and perform the majority of their research at the Laboratory. Scheduling is flexible. The salary is based upon working half time during the nine-month academic year and full time during the summer months. LLNL also pays the student’s tuition, up to $10,000 per year.
Eligibility: full-time graduate students currently at a UC campus who have completed their core courses and any relevant comprehensive examination in order to pursue research leading to a Ph.D. degree in an eligible discipline
Contact: for general administrative and application questions, Joanna Allen,

UCSC Division of Graduate Studies
Visit this website for information about fellowships and programs available through the UCSC Division of Graduate Studies.

UCSC Training Program in Systems Biology of Stem Cells
This program, funded by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), provides graduate students with a solid understanding of the biology of stem cells, the skills to use stem cells in their own research, and the ability to devise and use computational approaches in their stem cell research. The Predoctoral CIRM Scholars program offers scholarships for students from any UCSC graduate program who are pursuing or planning to pursue laboratory research with a UCSC CIRM mentor in some aspect of stem cell biology. Program trainees receive guidance from UCSC faculty mentors, fulfill stem cell course requirements, and participate in a variety of learning opportunities. The program offers a stipend of $25,000 per year plus health insurance, registration fees, tuition, and a research allowance of $5000 per year to cover laboratory supplies, travel, and books. Trainees are not required to be California residents or US citizens. UCSC and the CIRM are particularly interested in training a diverse pool of individuals from many backgrounds, including underrepresented minorities.

GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS OFFERED BY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

The CBSE does not sponsor the grants and fellowships listed here; this list is intended only as a resource.

Bioengineering and Bioinformatics Summer Institutes (BBSI)
Offered by NSF-NIH
This summer program provides students majoring in the biological sciences, computer sciences, engineering, mathematics, and physical sciences with experience in interdisciplinary bioengineering or bioinformatics research and education. The Summer Institutes, occurring at thirteen university campuses across the country, are open to junior and senior undergraduates and, in most cases, first-year graduate students from the host university or other institution. They combine for-credit coursework and research seminars with hands-on research mentored by leading faculty in the field. The program emphasizes the inclusion of women, under-represented minorities, and persons with disabilities. Students receive a stipend.

Center for Information Security Studies and Research (CISR)
U.S. Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey
This program enables civilians to obtain a full scholarship for a Master's degree, receive a salary while in school, and begin a career with an unlimited future. NPS's Center for Information Security Studies and Research (CISR) is one of the world's foremost centers for information security education and research and has been designated as a National Center of Excellence for Information Assurance. Students selected for this program will receive tuition for two years at the NPS Computer Science Program, an entry-level annual salary while in school, and placement in a summer internship program. After completion of the program, students will seek full-time, paid positions with the Federal Government where they will work for a minimum of two full years. The program is open to US citizens with a Bachelor's degree in computer science or a closely related field (mathematics, engineering, or physics) with a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Clare Boothe Luce Program
"To encourage women to enter, study, graduate, and teach" in fields where there have seemingly been obstacles to their advancement. Specifically listed are physics, chemistry, biology, meteorology, engineering (including electrical, mechanical, aeronautical, civil, and nuclear), computer science, and mathematics.
Contact: Program Director (212) 489-7700.

DOE Computational Science Fellowship
The Department of Energy supports a broad spectrum of basic and applied research in science and engineering at its National Laboratories and through an extensive program of grants and contracts with universities and the private sector.
Application: online at https://www.krellinst.org/csgf/application/

Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowships—Dissertations
This program aims to increase the presence of underrepresented minorities on the nation's college and university faculties, to enhance diversity on campuses, and to address the persisting effects of past discrimination. The dissertation fellowships provide one year of support for individuals working to complete a dissertation leading to a Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree. Dissertation fellowships will be awarded in a national competition based on demonstrated superior academic achievement, commitment to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level, promise of future achievement as scholars and teachers, and preparation to use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students. Open to citizens or nationals of the United States who are Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree candidates studying in an eligible research-based discipline at a U.S. educational institution.

Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowships—Predoctoral
This program aims to increase the presence of underrepresented minorities on the nation's college and university faculties, to enhance diversity on campuses, and to address the persisting effects of past discrimination. Predoctoral fellowships will be awarded in a national competition based on demonstrated superior academic achievement, commitment to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level, promise of future achievement as scholars and teachers, and preparation to use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students. Open to citizens or nationals of the United States who are enrolled in or planning to enroll in an eligible research-based program leading to a Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree at a U.S. educational institution.

Fulbright for Non-U.S. Students
The Fulbright Program supports educational exchanges that strengthen understanding and communication between the United States and over 140 countries. More than 1,800 new Foreign Fulbright Fellows enter U.S. academic programs each year. IIE arranges academic placement for most Fulbright nominees and supervises all grantees during their stay in the United States. Foreign students apply for Fulbright Fellowships through the binational Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassies in their home countries.

Fulbright U.S. Student Program
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers opportunities for recent graduates, postgraduate candidates, and developing professionals and artists to conduct career-launching study and research abroad. Applicants to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program must be U.S. citizens at the time of application and hold a bachelor's degree or the equivalent by the beginning of the grant.
Application: UCSC students: visit the Office of International Education website: http://oie.ucsc.edu/index.html
Contact for UCSC students: Kate Colburn,

GEM Fellowship Programs
The GEM fellowship programs are designed to offer opportunities for underrepresented minority students to obtain M.S. degrees in engineering and Ph.D. degrees in engineering and the natural and physical sciences through a program of paid summer internships and graduate financial assistance.
Application: Apply online.

Google Anita Borg Scholarship
Female graduate students are awarded these scholarships based on the strength of their academic background and demonstrated leadership. Awardees receive a $10,000 scholarship for the current academic year and will be invited to visit Google headquarters in Mountain View, California for a networking retreat in which they can meet and share their experiences. Available to full-time students majoring in computer science, computer engineering, or a related technical field and either entering their senior year of undergraduate study or enrolled in a graduate program at a university in the United States. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale or 4.5 on a 5.0 scale or equivalent in their current program.

Google Scholarship Program—Hispanic College Fund
The Google Scholarship Program offers funds to students studying computer science or computer engineering who are juniors or seniors in college or pursuing a Master's or PhD. Awardees receive a $10,000 scholarship for the current academic year. Available to full-time students enrolled in a graduate program at a university in the United States or Puerto Rico. Students must be US citizens or permanent residents with demonstrated financial need and must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale or 4.5 on a 5.0 scale or equivalent in their current program.

GrantsNet
GrantsNet currently lists about 700 grant programs and is one of the largest U.S. science grant databases for graduate students, medical students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty.

Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Scholars Program
The HHMI-NIH Research Scholars Program was established in to give outstanding students at U.S. medical schools the opportunity to receive research training at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Research Scholars spend nine months to a year on the NIH campus, conducting basic, translational or applied biomedical research under the direct mentorship of senior NIH research scientists.

IBM Ph.D. Fellowship Program
The IBM Ph.D. Fellowship Program honors exceptional Ph.D. students in an array of focus areas of interest to IBM and fundamental to innovation. IBM Ph.D. Fellowships are awarded worldwide. IBM Ph.D. Fellows are awarded tuition, fees, and a stipend for one academic year, and fellows can reapply for subsequent years. All IBM Ph.D. Fellows are matched with an IBM mentor according to their technical interests and may intern at an IBM research or development laboratory. Students must be nominated by a faculty member. They must be enrolled full-time in a college or university Ph.D. program, and they should have completed at least one year of study in their doctoral program at the time of their nomination. Award recipients will be selected based on their overall potential for research excellence, the degree to which their technical interests align with those of IBM, and their academic progress to-date, as evidenced by publications and endorsements from their faculty advisor and department head.

John & Fannie Hertz Foundation
The Hertz Foundation's Graduate Fellowship award, which is based on merit, not need, consists of a cost-of-education allowance and a personal-support stipend.

Knowles Science Teaching Fellowship Program (KSTF)
This fellowship is available to individuals who have received a Bachelor's or advanced degree in science, engineering or mathematics and now want to teach high school science or mathematics. The Fellowship supports them professionally and financially for up to five years through a teacher preparation program to eligibility for tenure. During the summers, the Teaching Fellows have opportunities to engage in activities that will enhance their ability to teach science. During the initial academic year, Fellows may participate in a recognized teacher certification program. Each year, the fellows meet three times, in summer, fall and spring, occasionally in conjunction with a professional meeting for science teachers. Fellows communicate electronically with each other regularly. Support is available for a local mentor and for materials to enhance instructional materials.

Lawrence Livermore Summer Internship Program
The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in Livermore, California holds an annual national competition for the prestigious Lawrence Livermore Summer Internship Program (LLSIP). Applicants must be college seniors or current graduate students in the applied physical sciences, including engineering, energy, biomedicine, environmental science, physics, chemistry, biology, and computer science who intend to pursue a Ph.D. and are willing to support cutting-edge science and engineering in the interest of national security. The award includes summer employment at LLNL with a competitive salary. This opportunity can lead to publications, graduate fellowships, and consideration for future employment.

National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship
In its commitment to increasing the number and quality of our nation's scientists and engineers, the Department of Defense annually supports approximately 8,000 graduate students in fields important to national defense needs.

National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
This website lists a number of grants and awards available to predoctoral researchers involved in genomics research and in related ELSI topics. Browse this site for a number of grants and awards available to minority and disabled students. Check the web page for links to other programs.

National Institutes of Health (NIH)
The NIH offers programs for students pursuing undergraduate and graduate-level studies in various branches of biomedical research.

National Physical Sciences Consortium
The NPSC offers a unique and exciting doctoral graduate fellowship program in the physical sciences and related engineering fields that directs special emphasis toward the recruitment of under-represented minority and female physical science students. The intent is to offset the historic imbalance faced by these underrepresented groups within the research community.

NSF Graduate Research Fellowships
Fellowships are awarded for graduate study leading to research-based masters or doctoral degrees in the fields of science, mathematics, and engineering supported by the National Science Foundation. More than 900 students are awarded 12-month stipends and cost-of-education allowances.

Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation
For low-income women and children
Established in 2003, the Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation aims to carry on some of Congresswoman Mink’s most ardent commitments: educational access, support, and opportunity for low-income women, especially mothers, and educational enrichment for children. The foundation will offer 5 education support awards for low-income women (up to $2000 each) who are enrolled in education or training.

Palo Alto Research Center (PARC)
Each year PARC invites highly qualified graduate students to join its community of researchers for the summer. Technical internships may be in research or advanced development, working with top researchers and pursuing independent projects. Successful applicants typically hold Bachelor's degrees in computer science, mathematics, physics, electrical engineering, or related fields and are enrolled in advanced degree programs by the time their internships begin. There are no residency requirements

Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
These fellowships provide opportunities for continuing generations of able and accomplished New Americans to achieve leadership in their chosen fields. Candidates must be either holders of green cards, naturalized citizens, or children of two naturalized citizens. Graduate students from any field may apply.
Contact: by email

Society of Women Engineers
SWE administers more than 70 individual scholarship awards annually, varying in amount from $1000 to over $8,000 per year. All SWE Scholarships are open only to women pursuing baccalaureate or graduate degrees in engineering or computer science, as well as engineering and computer science students enrolled in ABET-accredited engineering programs.

UC Graduate Research & Education in Adaptive bio-Technology (GREAT)
This research training program offers individual fellowships of up to $50,000 in to support the training of the brightest young graduate students within the University of California system in cutting-edge theoretical and experimental research at the interface between the life sciences and the physical, chemical, material, engineering, mathematical, or computational sciences. Indisputably novel ideas for research and training that do not strictly fall within those parameters but are within the broadly defined field of biotechnology will be considered.