Resources: U.S. Students – Other Programs and Funding

This information is provided as a resource and does not imply endorsement of these programs by Rice University or any other entity. Program availability, eligibility, and applications deadlines are subject to change and students must carefully review the program website itself for the most current information.  

PDF Version
If you would like to download a PDF version of this page, click here. (Last Updated 4/30/2019) 

Contents

First Steps

If you have not already done so, your first step should be to visit your home university offices that provide information and support to students seeking to participate in international, research, internship or volunteer programs.  Even if it is the first semester of your freshman year, it is never too early to visit these offices and learn more about the array of resources that may be available to you.  Graduate students – don’t forget that you are typically eligible to receive support and resources from these office too! For reference, here are links to some of these offices at Rice University.  We encourage you to investigate the offices available on your campus too.

Opportunities by Type

Note: The program information provided below is for informational purposes only.  Students should consult the program websites for detailed and updated information on eligibility requirements and application deadlines for the current year.

International Students: Some of these opportunities are only open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents.  Some of these opportunities may also be open to international students who are enrolled as degree-seeking students at a U.S. university or college.  Be sure to consult the eligibility criteria on each program’s website carefully.  

Note: The Japanese academic calendar is different than the U.S.  Term 1 is typically from April to mid-August and Term 2 is from Late-September to mid-February. Carefully check the application deadlines and start dates of the program/s you are applying to as the timelines may be different from the U.S. system. 


Abe Fellowship for U.S. and Japanese Citizens

The Abe Fellowship is designed to encourage international multidisciplinary research on topics of pressing global concern. The program seeks to foster the development of a new generation of researchers who are interested in policy-relevant topics of long-range importance and who are willing to become key members of a bilateral and global research network built around such topics. It strives especially to promote a new level of intellectual cooperation between the Japanese and American academic and professional communities committed to and trained for advancing global understanding and problem solving. This competition is open to citizens of the United States and Japan as well as to nationals of other countries who can demonstrate strong and serious long-term affiliations with research communities in Japan or the United States. Applicants must hold a PhD or the terminal degree in their field, or have attained an equivalent level of professional experience at the time of application.

Applicants are invited to submit proposals for research in the social sciences and related disciplines relevant to any one or any combination of the four themes below. The themes are:

  1. Threats to Personal, Societal, and International Security: Especially welcome topics include food, water, and energy insecurity; pandemics; climate change; disaster preparedness, prevention, and recovery; and conflict, terrorism, and cyber security.
  2. Growth and Sustainable Development: Especially welcome topics include global financial stability, trade imbalances and agreements, adjustment to globalization, climate change and adaptation, and poverty and inequality.
  3. Social, Scientific, and Cultural Trends and Transformations: Especially welcome topics include aging and other demographic change, benefits and dangers of reproductive genetics, gender and social exclusion, expansion of STEM education among women and under-represented populations, migration, rural depopulation and urbanization, impacts of automation on jobs, poverty and inequality, and community resilience.
  4. Governance, Empowerment, and Participation: Especially welcome topics include challenges to democratic institutions, participatory governance, human rights, the changing role of NGO/NPOs, the rise of new media, and government roles in fostering innovation.

Amgen Scholars Program – Japan 
The Amgen Scholars Program provides hundreds of selected undergraduates with the opportunity to engage in a hands-on research experience at many of the world's leading institutions.


ACCJ Internship Portal
The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy and the U.S.-Japan Conference on Cultural and Educational Interchange (CULCON), has launched the ACCJ Internship Portal – an online platform that posts student internship listings from participating ACCJ member companies. 


Boren Fellowships for Graduate Students
Boren Fellowships, an initiative of the National Security Education Program, provide unique funding opportunities for U.S. graduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests, and underrepresented in study abroad, including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. The countries of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are excluded.


Boren Scholarships for UG Students
Boren Scholarships, an initiative of the National Security Education Program, provide unique funding opportunities for U.S. undergraduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests, and underrepresented in study abroad, including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. The countries of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are excluded.


Bridging Scholarships for UG Study in Japan
Undergraduate students majoring in any field of study are eligible to apply for these scholarships. Japanese language study is not a prerequisite. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and must be enrolled as undergraduates in a college or university in the United States before and during the time they are studying abroad.


Critical Language Scholarship Program 
The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is a fully funded summer overseas language and cultural immersion program for American undergraduate and graduate students. With the goal of broadening the base of Americans studying and mastering critical languages and building relationships between the people of the United States and other countries, CLS provides opportunities to a diverse range of students from across the United States at every level of language learning.


Freeman-Asia Scholarship for UG Study Abroad
Freeman-ASIA (Freeman Awards for Study in Asia) provides scholarships for undergraduate study abroad in East and Southeast Asia. The Spring 2018 application is now open and will close in mid-October. The Summer 2018 application will open in early January 2018. The Fall/Academic Year 2018-2019 application will open in February 2018.


Fund for Education Abroad Scholarship
The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) 2018-2019 scholarship application cycle is open! Undergraduate students planning to study abroad in Summer 2018, Fall 2018, and Spring 2019 may apply. applications are due by January 10. To be eligible students must: 

  • U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Currently enrolled as an undergraduate at a college or university in the U.S. (graduate students are not eligible)
  • Study abroad program must be eligible for credit at the student’s home institution
  • Study abroad program must be at least 4 weeks (28 days) in country/countries

Gilman Scholarship for Undergraduate Study Abroad 
The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a grant program that enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, thereby gaining skills critical to our national security and economic competitiveness.
The Gilman Scholarship Program is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.


Global E3 Study Abroad Exchange Program (For Consortium Members) 
Global E³ is an exchange program for engineering students: a student can study abroad while continuing to pay tuition at home. With member universities in 24 countries, students at over 70 universities have the opportunity to study abroad. Global E³ exchanges about 250-300 students a year. To be eligible to apply, your home university in the U.S. must be a member of the Global E3 Consortium. 


Heiwa Nakajima Scholarship for Study in Japan 
The scholarships offered to foreign students by the Heiwa Nakajima Foundation are divided into the following two categories. Both scholarships are provided through recommendations by universities and cannot be applied for by private individuals. The Foundation also does not send application requirements or scholarship application forms to private individuals. If you have been admitted into a Master's or PhD program in Japan, speak with your Japanese advisor and ask if they can send a nomination/application to the foundation on your behalf.  You should refer your Japanese advisor to their Japanese website here

  • Foreign Scholarship Student
  • Invited Foreign Scholarship Student 

Hokkaido University English Engineering Graduate Program
What is the best way to share advanced knowledge in engineering that Japan has with other countries when most of its publications is in Japanese? What is the best way to introduce diversity to the university so that Japanese students can experience differences in cultures, languages and learning environment? What is the best way to make our engineering education accessible to all? The answer is to introduce a program with English, a widely used language, as a medium of instruction. That was the concept b_ehind the founding of the e3 program in 2000. Since then e3 has been bringing in English speaking students with diverse educational and cultural backgrounds from around the world, a sharp departure from the past when international student population consisted largely of Japanese speaking students from East Asia. Courses at our School of Engineering are given in Japanese and in English. At present about 150 courses are available in English offered in 12 Divisions, in the fields of Mechanical engineering, Materials science, Applied physics, Civil, Environmental and Resource Engineering, Architecture and Design. 


Hokkaido University Exchange Programs in English (HUSTEP)
The Hokkaido University Short-Term Exchange Program (HUSTEP) is a 'junior year abroad' type program designed to provide undergraduate students from affiliated universities with the opportunity to study in Japan at Hokkaido University. Participants in this program take a wide variety of classes offered in English in the fields of Culture and Society, Environment, Science and Technology.

Hokkaido University Graduate Degree Programs in English
The following programs are taught and supported entirely in English, and are designed to open our doors to students from around the world who are seeking enroll in top-class degree programs in Japan. Our welcoming, exciting, multicultural campus will prepare you for success in the diverse global economy. You will enjoy abundant opportunities to work closely and collaboratively with faculty and fellow students and to engage in cutting-edge research, enriching your study abroad experience.


IIE Generation Study Abroad Travel Grants
IIE Generation Study Abroad Travel Grants will be made available for U.S. students from a broad range of backgrounds to make it possible for them to participate in academic, internship or service-learning experiences abroad. The scholarship program is intended to diversify study abroad and to encourage students to go abroad who would otherwise not participate in an international experience as part of their college education, especially in support of high-achieving, low-income students. The Travel Grants can be used not only for travel to and from the country of study, but also within the region, enabling students to make the most of their international experience. Applications for spring semester and summer programs are due in mid-October and applications for summer and fall semester are due in early March.  See program website for additional details. 


Japan-America Student Conference
The Japan-America Student Conference (JASC) is a student-led exchange program, initiated in 1934 by university students concerned by the breakdown of bilateral relations prior to the Second World War. Today, an equal number of students from the U.S. and Japan are competitively selected each year to spend one summer month together, studying and analyzing Japan-U.S. relations while visiting four diverse regions in the host country. JASC alternates its host country every year, emphasizing the personal connections between two distinct cultures gathered together in one place.


Japan English Teaching (JET) Program
The JET Program is a competitive employment opportunity that allows young professionals to live and work in cities, towns, and villages throughout Japan. Being a JET is an opportunity to work and to represent the United States as cultural ambassadors to Japan. Most participants serve as Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) and work in public and private schools throughout Japan; some work as Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs) as interpreters/translators. The JET Program seeks participants who are adaptable, outgoing, and who have a deep interest in Japan. Only the best candidates are chosen to represent America. The JET Program typically receives 4,000-5,000 applications each year from U.S. applicants. Of these, 1,000-1,100 will be selected for participation on the JET Program.


JASSO Scholarships 
Learn more about the wide array of funding for study and research opportunities in Japan offered by these Japanese government scholarships.  Note: For many of these you may need to apply through your host university in Japan. 


JSPS International Fellowships for Research in Japan
JSPS provides fellowship programs for overseas researchers who have an excellent record of research achievements to conduct collaborative research, discussions, and opinion exchanges with researchers in Japan. The programs are intended to help advance the overseas researchers' research activities while promoting science and internationalization in Japan. The “JSPS International fellowships for research in Japan” consists of two programs: “Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan” for young researchers and “Invitation Fellowship for Research in Japan” for mid-career and senior researchers.


Kyoto University: Exchange Program
There are two types of exchange programs for students whose institutions have a university-level student exchange agreement with Kyoto University. Both programs accept students for a semester (6 months) or for two semesters (12 months). In every beginning of January, Kyoto University sends the application guide for both programs to all partner universities.


Monbukagakusho Scholarships
Learn more about the wide array of funding for study and research opportunities in Japan offered by these Japanese government scholarships.  Note: For many of these you may need to apply through your host university in Japan. 


NSF GROW: Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide – In Japan (For current NSF GRF Recipients Only)
In an era of globalization of research excellence, an international research experience is rapidly becoming an integral part of an outstanding graduate education. Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide (GROW) is a collaboration between NSF and international partners to provide NSF Graduate Research Fellows with expanded opportunities to enhance professional development through research collaborations at science and engineering research sites abroad. To be eligible to apply, you must be a current recipient of an NSF Graduate Research FellowshipGROW has established research cooperation with counterpart funding organizations in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, India, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, and Sweden.  See the GROW Japan page for more information. 


Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology: Doctoral Degree Program in English
The Graduate School accepts about 40 full-time graduate students per year.Funding for your research is guaranteed, no matter which research unit you choose for your thesis work. The OIST Graduate University provides the financial support from its operations budget.This ensures low numbers of students for each faculty member so that we can deliver best-in-the-world teaching for our graduate program. The basic requirement for the OIST Graduate Program is completion of a Bachelors, Masters or equivalent degree prior to the admission date.Students follow an individually tailored academic program providing a strong foundation in their chosen discipline with many interdisciplinary opportunities. An outstanding research environment for thesis research gives students the best possible opportunity to realize their full potential in research.  


Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology: Research Internship Program
In addition to the OIST Doctoral Program, seminars, and workshops, the OIST Graduate School offers education and research opportunities through a system of undergraduate and graduate placements as Research Interns. These short-term placements as a Research Intern give talented students the opportunity to gain experience in a particular laboratory or to learn a specific technique.


Osaka University: Frontier Lab Program
FrontierLab@OsakaU is a program for placing international undergraduate and graduate students in laboratories of the following schools: Science, Engineering Science, Engineering, Information Science and Technology, or one of their departmental schools for a period of up to 12 months. Participants can also take international exchange subjects and Japanese language and other related subjects if they wish.


Osaka University: School of Science International Physics M.S. or PhD in English
IPC offers M.S. and Ph.D. programs in many different fields of physics, both in theory and experiment, from nuclear and particle physics to condensed matter physics and so on. Students also have the possibility to conduct research with large-scale lasers or accelerator facilities and to participate in large-scale international collaborations.


RIKEN Brain Science Institute Summer Program
The RIKEN Brain Science Institute (RIKEN BSI), located just outside Tokyo, Japan, offers a summer program to train advanced students interested in brain function. Applicants may choose either a two-month laboratory internship (Plan A) within a RIKEN BSI laboratory, or an intensive 5-day lecture course (Plan B) featuring a distinguished international faculty

Tohoku University International Graduate Program for  Advanced Science 
The International Graduate Program for Advanced Science (IGPAS) was initiated in October 2004 as one of the first International Priority Graduate Programs supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, and Technology (MEXT). The lecture courses are taught in English, and the students are not required to learn Japanese language, although they are encouraged to learn it for their daily life. Scholarship opportunities are available for those who meet our qualifications and academic standards. IGPAS is a 5-year graduate program combining a 2-year master's program and a 3-year doctoral program. Admission for the 3-year doctoral program is also available. Each student is affiliated with one of 6 departments: Mathematics, Physics, Astronomy, Geophysics, Chemistry, and Earth Science. Each department determines its own curriculum and course requirements, and the availability of classes varies depending on the semester and/or departments. Students may consult their supervisor about their research plan each semester before registration.


Tokyo Institute of Technology | International Graduate Program
Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) launched its International Graduate Program (IGP) in October 2007 as an opportunity for qualified international students, who may have little or no knowledge of the Japanese language, to enroll in Tokyo Tech's master's or doctoral programs and pursue advanced degrees in Japan.
With a varied group of academic departments participating in this program, students should be able to find a department in which to further their research, acquire broader knowledge and understanding, and conduct advanced long-term research in a field that best matches their interests and background.

Tokyo Institute of Technology Summer Program
Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) offers two types of Summer Programs: a 4-week Course-oriented Program offering intensive courses in Environment & Energy and Engineering Design for undergraduate students and a 10-week Research-oriented Program for undergraduate/graduate students to pursue individual research projects under Tokyo Tech's faculty supervision. All participants will have opportunities to learn about Japanese culture while experiencing life in one of the most exciting and technologically-advanced cities in the world.


Eligibility: Undergraduate students majoring in science and engineering-related fields, who are in their 3rd year (have completed at least their 2nd year at the time of participation). Graduate students in science and engineering-related fields. Applicants must have student status at their home university during period of study at Tokyo Tech. Application typically opens in early December. Application deadline is typically in January. 


Toyo University – Degree-seeking English Track Undergraduate Programs 
Starting in 2018, prospective degree-seeking undergraduate students can apply to attend the following English-track undergraduate degree programs at Toyo University.   Students can apply for admission to the academic term starting April or in September.  These programs offer full scholarship opportunities for students who apply from outside of Japan to the Toyo Top Global Scholarship.  The scholarship covers tuition for four years of study and includes a monthly living stipend of JPY150,000 (approx. USD 1300). 

The first application period for September 2018 admission will be January 5th-10th, 2018. Consult the Application Guide for more information on eligibility, the application procedure, and other important information. For questions, email mlglobal@toyo.jp.


University of Tokyo: Engineering Summer Education Program
The summer program at the University of Tokyo’s School of Engineering, called ESEP (Engineering Summer Education Program), is an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to participate in scientific research projects at world-leading laboratories. Students from partner universities are eligible to participate. Please refer to the list of partner universities and designated institutions in section 4a(Eligibility) to determine eligibility. Applicants from U.S. universities are also eligible to apply for a Friends of UTokyo, Inc. Scholarship for supplemental funding.  


University of Tokyo: International Multidisciplinary Engineering Graduate Program
The International Graduate Program for non-Japanese students was launched in 1999, offering advanced professional training leading to the degrees of Master of Engineering and Doctor of Engineering. Students will have the unique opportunity of taking a degree from the University of Tokyo with lectures and research conducted completely in English.


University of Tokyo: School of Science UTRIP Program 
UTRIP stands for the "University of Tokyo Research Internship Program." This program was launched by the Graduate School of Science (GSS) of the University of Tokyo (one of the world's leading research-education universities) as part of its campaign begun in June 2010 for promoting the internationalization of the GSS by inviting talented young students from abroad. UTRIP is an intensive summer research program targeted at undergraduates who have a keen interest in pursuing an M.S. or Ph.D. degree in the future. During the program, the participants receive intensive instruction and guidance on conducting research from renowned faculty members belonging to the GSS's five departments of physics, astronomy, chemistry, earth & planetary science, and biological sciences. The program is open to students who are currently enrolled in the second or a later year at an accredited college or university outside of Japan, and who are majoring in a natural science or related field.  Applicants from U.S. universities may be eligible to apply for a Friends of UTokyo, Inc. Scholarship for supplemental funding.  


University of Tokyo: Special and Short-term Programs 
Highlights the range of summer and short-term programs available at the University of Tokyo.  Applicants from U.S. universities may be eligible to apply for a Friends of UTokyo, Inc. Scholarship for supplemental funding.  


U.S.-Japan Council Toshizo Watanabe Endowed Scholarship
The Toshizo Watanabe Endowed Scholarship Fund/Toshizo Watanabe Study Abroad Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to undergraduates/graduate students for a semester or year-long study abroad program in either the United States or Japan. A generous endowment gift of $10 million from Mr. Toshizo (Tom) Watanabe to the U.S.-Japan Council makes it possible to award scholarships to students for whom study abroad would not be possible without financial support. The scholarship will support up to the full cost of attendance to the study abroad program of the applicant’s choice. The scholarship program grants awards to recipients in amounts determined by financial need and other qualifications. Scholarships will be awarded to both American and Japanese undergraduate students who are pursuing international study in either the United States or Japan. See the website for full details. 

  • Applications Open: Early January 
  • Application Deadline: Mid-February 

Abu Dhabi: Khalifa University International Graduate Student Program (KUIGSP)
Khalifa University, a dynamic Abu Dhabi-based institution breaking new ground in the STEM fields and research, will provide fully-funded study opportunities to talented prospective master’s and PhD students in the STEM fields. Khalifa University offers graduate students a comprehensive scholarship that includes: Full tuition and fees support, annual airline tickets, health insurance, and a generous monthly stipend.


American Chemical Society | International Research Experience for Undergraduates (IREU)
The ACS International Research Experiences for Undergraduates (IREU) and ACS International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) program are bilateral exchanges that allows talented young chemical and materials scientists to spend a summer conducting research in another country.


Amgen Scholars Program
Every year, the Amgen Scholars Program provides hundreds of selected undergraduates with the opportunity to engage in a hands-on research experience at many of the world’s premier educational institutions in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. 


Arcadia University | STEM Summer Research Programs
Credit-bearing research programs abroad for STEM students during summer months that fit with home school graduation timetables. 


Australia: Endeavour Scholarships & Fellowships
The Australia Awards–Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships are the Australian Government’s competitive, merit-based scholarships and fellowships providing opportunities for Australians to undertake study, research or professional development overseas and for overseas citizens to do the same in Australia. The Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships build Australia’s reputation for excellence in the provision of education and research, support the internationalisation of the Australian higher education and research sectors and offer high-achieving Australians opportunities to increase their knowledge and expertise in their field.


Austria: Institute of Science & Technology Internships
There are two main types of internships at IST Austria: 1) independent internships, and 2) ISTernships. Independent internships Students who are either pursuing or have obtained a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in a science subject, and who are interested in doing an internship at IST Austria may apply to the respective group leader directly. ISTernships: IST Austria offers summer internships to outstanding students interested in basic research in Biology, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Neuroscience and interdisciplinary areas. Candidates must be enrolled Bachelor- or Master of Science students in good standing at a degree granting institution. They must have completed at least the fourth semester of their bachelor's studies (before the respective start date). Duration: 8 – 12 weeks between May 15 and September 15. 


Boren Fellowships for Graduate Students
Boren Fellowships, an initiative of the National Security Education Program, provide unique funding opportunities for U.S. graduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests, and underrepresented in study abroad, including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. The countries of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are excluded.


Boren Scholarships for UG Students
Boren Scholarships, an initiative of the National Security Education Program, provide unique funding opportunities for U.S. undergraduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests, and underrepresented in study abroad, including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. The countries of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are excluded.


Churchill Scholarships
The Churchill Scholarship provides funding to American students for a year of Master’s study in science, mathematics, and engineering at the University of Cambridge, based at Churchill College. The Scholarship was set up at the request of Sir Winston Churchill in order to fulfill his vision of US-UK scientific exchange with the goal of advancing science and technology on both sides of the Atlantic, helping to ensure our future prosperity and security.


Critical Language Scholarship Program 
The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is a fully funded summer overseas language and cultural immersion program for American undergraduate and graduate students. With the goal of broadening the base of Americans studying and mastering critical languages and building relationships between the people of the United States and other countries, CLS provides opportunities to a diverse range of students from across the United States at every level of language learning.


Cultural Vistas: Intern + Work Outside the United States

Our internship and work abroad programs allow students and professionals to develop the expanding set of competencies demanded in today’s global economy through sustained immersion in a foreign country – language learning, interdisciplinary problem solving, empathy, and respect for cultural attitudes and ideas, to name a few. Every year we provide individuals with opportunities to live, learn, and experience life in more than 25 different countries around the world. 


Erasmus Mundus Master Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Four leading educational institutions in Europe offer a joint Erasmus Mundus Master of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (EMM-Nano). The programme offered is a truly integrated one, with a strong research backbone and a very important international outreach. The objective of this course is to provide top quality multidisciplinary education in nanoscience and nanotechnology. The EMM-nano is a two-year, 120 ECTS, English language degree programme. Thanks to its combination of partners, expertise and courses, it offers you a unique integrated master programme, covering all aspects of nanoscience and nanotechnology, while at the same time allowing you to design an individual study programme with specialization in essentially any field of nanoscience and nanotechnology.


France: Chateaubriand-Fellowship
The Chateaubriand Fellowship is a grant offered by the Embassy of France in the United States. It supports outstanding Ph.D. students from American universities who wish to conduct research in France for a period ranging from 4 to 9 months. Chateaubriand fellows are selected through a merit-based competition, through a collaborative process involving expert evaluators in both countries.


France: French-American Doctoral Exchange Program (FADEx)
The FADEx (French-American Doctoral Exchange) program was created in 2014 by the Office for Science and Technology of the Embassy of France in the United States. This program aims to enhance scientific exchanges between American and French Ph.D. students working in the same field of research in order to encourage the development of French-American collaborations. This program also serves as an opportunity for American students to better understand the French research system.


France: Make Our Planet Great Again Funding

France's President Macron has made available four new funding programs in his "Make Our Planet Great Again" initiative. Here are the program offerings:

  • A call for applications for grants to pursue a master's degree in France (1 or 2 years)
  • A call for applications for co-financing of Ph.D. programs in France (3 years)
  • A call for applications for co-financing of postdoctoral research contracts (1 to 2 years)
  • A call for proposals for funding of short research stays (14 days to 5 months) for international researchers and PhD students

Calls for applications for grants at the master level, for postdoctoral research contracts and for short research stays will close on April 6, 2018. Students will be able to apply for Ph.D. offers from April 5 to 20. Three research topics will be prioritized: earth system sciences, climate change and sustainability sciences, energy transition.


France: Optics in the City of Light IREU
The Optics in the City of Light Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) will offers undergraduate junior level students the opportunity to spend 2 months in a variety of laboratories in Paris performing research with a wide range of ultrafast lasers. Optics, especially the new discoveries in Extreme Light, is one of the most exciting areas of science. Students in this program will experience strong collaborative science that is currently taking place between University of Michigan (UM) Center for Ultrafast Optical Science (CUOS), Ecole Polytechnique, Ecole Nationale de Techniques Avancées (ENSTA), Université Paris-Sud 11 Orsay, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Cachan, and l’Institut d' Optique Graduate School. Teams of faculty (one from Ann Arbor and one from Paris) will each direct an REU student on a collaborative project.


Freeman-Asia Scholarship for UG Study Abroad
Freeman-ASIA (Freeman Awards for Study in Asia) provides scholarships for undergraduate study abroad in East and Southeast Asia. The Spring 2018 application is now open and will close in mid-October. The Summer 2018 application will open in early January 2018. The Fall/Academic Year 2018-2019 application will open in February 2018.


Fulbright Scholar Program 
For nearly seventy years, American academics, administrators and professionals have taught and conducted research abroad through the Fulbright Scholar Program. Scholars have benefited from an enhanced appreciation of the global impact of their academic specializations, a reinvigorated classroom presence and a desire to become major participants in their home campuses’ internationalization. Fulbright helps faculty and administrators build a “multiplier effect” by infusing cross-cultural perspectives into curricula, revitalizing teaching methods and opening doors for international colleagues and students.

You can search by discipline/research area for grants in the Fulbright Scholar Directory


Fulbright: US Student Program
United States citizens who are currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree programs are eligible to apply. See the country descriptions for grant opportunities. Students in any field, including science & engineering, can apply for the open study/research awards. If there is a country that you would like to study/conduct research in as a graduate student you can apply for a Fulbright award. There are also a wide array of English Language Teaching Fellowships worldwide. Applications are due in the year prior to your departure for abroad. For example, if you want to go abroad in the 2018 – 2019 academic year you would apply in the Fall of 2017.  All applicants enrolled in U.S institutions must apply through their home campuses. If you are an undergraduate student you would be eligible to apply in your senior year.

There are some specialized grants targeted to science & engineering fields but funding varies by year so consult the program website for the most up to date information: 

  • Fulbright Chile Chile Science Initiatives Awards: Graduate students conducting thesis or dissertation research are preferred. However, graduating seniors and recent graduates will be considered with projects proposing coursework and a research project.
  • Fulbright: France Ecole Normale Superieure (ENS) Paris-Saclay Awards: To pursue a Master's Degree Program or research at the Ecole Normale Superieure (ENS) Paris-Saclay (formerly known as ENS Cachan) in the hard sciences, engineering, humanities, or social sciences.
  • Fulbright: Hungary Budapest Semesters in Mathematics-Rényi Institute: The grantee will reside one academic year (two semesters) at Budapest Semesters of Mathematics (BSM) and will be expected to study 8 courses, and to take part in the activities of BSM. In case the student is advanced enough to join a research group of the Rényi Alfréd Institute of Mathematics of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the Rényi Institute and BSM will appoint an appropriate research advisor from among the joint faculty of the Rényi Institute and BSM, and will provide the student with proper research services at the Rényi Institute.
  • Fulbright: Iceland Fulbright/National Science Foundation Arctic Research Awards: Up to four awards will be given for the Fulbright-National Science Foundation Arctic Research Grant. The student will be expected to conduct Arctic-related research in Iceland. Projects must be well defined and must be completed within the grant period.

Fund for Education Abroad Scholarship

The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) 2018-2019 scholarship application cycle is open! Undergraduate students planning to study abroad in Summer 2018, Fall 2018, and Spring 2019 may apply. applications are due by January 10. To be eligible students must: 

  • U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Currently enrolled as an undergraduate at a college or university in the U.S. (graduate students are not eligible)
  • Study abroad program must be eligible for credit at the student’s home institution
  • Study abroad program must be at least 4 weeks (28 days) in country/countries

Germany: UROP International Program

UROP International is designed for students from North American universities who wish to gain research experience by conducting research projects at RWTH Aachen University. It takes place during a ten-week research summer school between the middle of May and the end of July. UROP International consists of three components: a research project at one of RWTH Aachen's research institutes or labs is at the core. Additionally, students are offered a comprehensive accompanying program: an intensive German course and workshops on intercultural learning, scientific methods, and research practice to prepare them for their respective research project. Furthermore, our international guests participate in a number of leisure activities to gain a look at German history and culture and meet German and international students at RWTH. Regular get togethers, excursions in the region, institute visits, and much more, form the framework of the students' stay in Aachen. Applications are due on January 15.  


Germany: DAAD Research Grants 
Research Grants are awarded to highly qualified candidates who have completed a Master's degree or in exceptional cases a Bachelor's degree at the latest by the time they begin their grant-supported research; those who have already completed a PhD (postdocs), or to individuals wishing to earn a doctoral degree in Germany.

  • Long-term Research Grants: A long-term research grant can offer you the chance to pursue a 7-10 month research project in Germany, or even a full doctoral degree program through either our Research Grants for Doctoral or Cotutelle Doctoral Programs in Germany.
  • Short-Term Research Grants: Awarded for 1-6 months to highly qualified candidates who have completed a Master’s degree or Diploma, or in exceptional cases a Bachelor’s degree at the latest by the time they begin their grant supported research, or those who have already completed a PhD (postdocs). Applications for short-term research grants are accepted twice annually, usually in November and May.

Germany: DAAD RISE Germany For Undergraduates 
RISE stands for Research Internships in Science and Engineering. RISE Germany offers undergraduate students from North American, British and Irish universities the opportunity to complete a summer research internship at top German universities and research institutions. RISE Germany is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.


Germany: DAAD RISE Pro for Graduate Students
RISE stands for Research Internships in Science and Engineering. RISE Professional offers summer research internships in Germany to Master’s and Ph.D. students from USA, Canada, Great Britain or Ireland at companies and non-university research institutions with strong relations to industry. RISE Professional is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.

Germany: DAAD Funding Overviews 


DAAD Postdoctoral Researchers International Mobility Experience (PRIME) Program 

This funding program addresses postdocs of all nationalities, who see their future career in Germany, but who first wish to spend some time researching abroad. Funding is provided for 18 months, of which 12 have to be spent abroad and 6 at a German university. PRIME is open to both Germans and foreigners, no matter whether they are currently living in Germany or abroad. You are eligible to apply if you already hold a PhD or if you will have completed your PhD before the prospective starting date of your PRIME fellowship. Applications are due in late August. 


Gilman Scholarship for Undergraduate Study Abroad 
The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a grant program that enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, thereby gaining skills critical to our national security and economic competitiveness.
The Gilman Scholarship Program is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.


Global E3 Study Abroad Exchange Program (For Consortium Members) 
Global E³ is an exchange program for engineering students: a student can study abroad while continuing to pay tuition at home. With member universities in 24 countries, students at over 70 universities have the opportunity to study abroad. Global E³ exchanges about 250-300 students a year. To be eligible to apply, your home university in the U.S. must be a member of the Global E3 Consortium. 


Hong Kong Ph.D. Fellowship Scheme Established by the Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong in 2009, the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) aims at attracting the best and brightest students in the world to pursue their PhD studies in Hong Kong's universities.  Candidates who are seeking admission as new full time PhD students in the following eight universities, irrespective of their country of origin, prior work experience and ethnic background, should be eligible to apply.

  • City University of Hong Kong
  • Hong Kong Baptist University
  • Lingnan University
  • The Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • The Education University of Hong Kong
  • The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
  • The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
  • The University of Hong Kong

Applicants should demonstrate outstanding qualities of academic performance, research ability / potential, communication and interpersonal skills, and leadership abilities. The Fellowship provides an annual stipend of HK$301,200 (approximately US$38,600) and a conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$12,600 (approximately US$1,600) per year for each awardee for a period up to three years. 250 PhD Fellowships will be awarded in the 2019/20 academic year which begins in September in Hong Kong. For awardees who need more than three years to complete the PhD degree, additional support may be provided by the chosen universities.


Hong Kong University of Science & Technology – International Visiting Internship Student Program (IVISP) 

To promote diversity, the University provides sponsorship to selected international visiting interns under the International Visiting Internship Student Program. The International Visiting Internship Student Program supports qualified candidates from institutions outside Hong Kong to come to HKUST to engage in the research work under the supervision of top-notch faculty for a period of 2 – 6 months. Besides gaining valuable research experience in a new environment, students may also enjoy a rewarding cultural exchange experience in Hong Kong. Internships range from 2 – 6 months and are up to senior year undergraduate students (graduating seniors) or Master's students.  Monthly allowance of HK$10,000 – HK$12,000 (~US$1,289 – US$1,547) may be provided to qualified students subject to the agreement of supervisor and the availability of funding

Humboldt Research Fellowship for Postdoctoral Researchers

 A Humboldt Research Fellowship for postdoctoral researchers allows you to carry out long-term research (6-24 months) in Germany. Applicants choose their own topic of research and their academic host. Scientists and scholars of all nationalities and disciplines may apply to the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation online at any time. The Humboldt Foundation grants approximately 500 Humboldt Research Fellowships for postdoctoral researchers and experienced researchers annually. Short-term study visits, participation in congresses and training courses cannot be financed. Academics from developing and emerging countries may be eligible to apply for a Georg Forster Fellowship.


IIE Generation Study Abroad Travel Grants
IIE Generation Study Abroad Travel Grants will be made available for U.S. students from a broad range of backgrounds to make it possible for them to participate in academic, internship or service-learning experiences abroad. The scholarship program is intended to diversify study abroad and to encourage students to go abroad who would otherwise not participate in an international experience as part of their college education, especially in support of high-achieving, low-income students. The Travel Grants can be used not only for travel to and from the country of study, but also within the region, enabling students to make the most of their international experience.

Applications for spring semester and summer programs are due in mid-October and applications for summer and fall semester are due in early March.  See program website for additional details. 


Israel: Zuckerman STEM Scholars Program
The Zuckerman Postdoctoral Scholars Program attracts high-achieving postdoctoral scholars from premier universities in the United States to do research at one of four Israeli universities. Once they complete their research, many Zuckerman postdocs are expected to accept faculty positions at top North American universities, weaving a network of academic collaboration and goodwill that will greatly benefit US-Israeli scientific cooperation. 


Luce Scholars

The Luce Scholars Program is a nationally competitive fellowship program. It was launched by the Henry Luce Foundation in 1974 to enhance the understanding of Asia among potential leaders in American society. The program provides stipends, language training, and individualized professional placement in Asia for 15-18 Luce Scholars each year, and welcomes applications from college seniors, graduate students, and young professionals in a variety of fields who have had limited exposure to Asia. 

The program is unique among American-Asian exchanges in that it is intended for young leaders who have had limited experience of Asia and who might not otherwise have an opportunity in the normal course of their careers to come to know Asia. Those who already have significant experience in Asia or Asian studies are not eligible for the Luce Scholars Program. 


Marshall Scholarship
Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a graduate degree in the United Kingdom. Up to forty Scholars are selected each year to study at graduate level at an UK institution in any field of study. As future leaders, with a lasting understanding of British society, Marshall Scholars strengthen the enduring relationship between the British and American peoples, their governments and their institutions. Marshall Scholars are talented, independent and wide-ranging, and their time as Scholars enhances their intellectual and personal growth. Their direct engagement with Britain through its best academic programmes contributes to their ultimate personal success.


NSF GROW: Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide – In Japan (For current NSF GRF Recipients Only)

In an era of globalization of research excellence, an international research experience is rapidly becoming an integral part of an outstanding graduate education. Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide (GROW) is a collaboration between NSF and international partners to provide NSF Graduate Research Fellows with expanded opportunities to enhance professional development through research collaborations at science and engineering research sites abroad. To be eligible to apply, you must be a current recipient of an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

GROW has established research cooperation with counterpart funding organizations in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, India, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, and Sweden.  See the GROW Japan page for more information. 


NSF: International Research Experiences for Undergraduates


Peace Corps
Peace Corps Volunteers work at the grassroots level to create change that lasts long after their service. As a Volunteer, you can make an investment in our world—one handshake, one project, one friendship at a time—that leads to new possibilities in service and when you return home. Peace Corps service can be the first step toward a career or the continuation of a life's work. Sharpen your skills in a field you've always loved, or challenge yourself with a new opportunity. Volunteers go to work every day excited by the opportunity to make change.  Opportunities are available in Agriculture, Environment, Global Health, Community Economic Development, Health, Education, and Youth in Development. Upon completion of Peace Corps service, you can also apply to the Coverdell Fellows program to receive financial support towards the completion of a graduate degree. 


Poland: Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) Ulam Programme
The Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) is pleased to announce new Ulam Programme for incoming researchers. The objective of The Ulam Programme is to help foreign researchers to develop their career by intensifying international mobility as well as will allowing them to establish scientific cooperation with excellent host institutions in Poland. It will enable recognized and promising scientists with at least the doctoral degree to visit Poland and participate in scientific research and teaching. The program invites scientists from around the world representing all fields of science to collaborate with Polish institutions of science and higher education. Scientists may stay in Poland for 6 to 24 months, and they may be accompanied by members of their family.


Rhodes Scholarship

The Rhodes Scholarships are the oldest and most celebrated international fellowship awards in the world. Each year 32 young students from the United States are selected as Rhodes Scholars, through a decentralized process representing the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories. Applicants from more than 320 American colleges and universities have been selected as Rhodes Scholars. In most years, even after a century of competition, a Rhodes Scholar is selected from an institution which has not formerly supplied a successful applicant.

Rhodes Scholars are chosen not only for their outstanding scholarly achievements, but for their character, commitment to others and to the common good, and for their potential for leadership in whatever domains their careers may lead. The Rhodes Trust, a British charity established to honor the will and bequest of Cecil J. Rhodes, provides full financial support for Rhodes Scholars to pursue a degree or degrees at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom in partnership with the Second Century Founder, John McCall MacBain and other generous benefactors.


Schwarzman Scholars 
Designed to prepare the next generation of global leaders, Schwarzman Scholars is the first scholarship created to respond to the geopolitical landscape of the 21st Century. Whether in politics, business or science, the success of future leaders around the world will depend upon an understanding of China’s role in global trends. With the inaugural class enrolled in 2016, the program gives the world’s best and brightest students the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and professional networks through a one-year Master’s Degree at Tsinghua University in Beijing – one of China’s most prestigious universities. Students live and study together on the campus of Schwarzman College, a newly-built, state-of-the-art facility, where all classes are taught in English. Students pursue a Masters in Global Affairs, with concentrations in one of the disciplines:

  • Public Policy
  • Economics and Business
  • International Studies

Students spend a year immersed in an international community of thinkers, innovators and senior leaders in business, politics and society. In an environment of intellectual engagement, professional development and cultural exchange, they learn from one another and pursue their academic disciplines while building their leadership capacities. This experience will expand students’ understanding of the world and create a growing network of global leaders for the future.


Singapore International Pre-Graduate Award (SIGPA) 

The Singapore International Pre-Graduate Award (SIPGA) supports short-term research attachments for top international students at A*STAR, giving you the unique opportunity to experience the vibrant scientific environment in A*STAR Research Institutes and Consortia, and work with distinguished and world-renowned researchers. Open for application by international students in Biomedical, Science and Engineering related disciplines who are undergraduate students in their third or fourth year, or Master students. 


Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA)

Singapore is the gateway to some of the fastest-growing economies in the Asia Pacific region. And with the Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA), you can pursue your PhD education in Singapore, establish global links and take your research career to greater heights. A joint collaboration between A*STAR, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), National University of Singapore (NUS) and Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), SINGA fosters a vibrant and culturally diverse research community of international students.

Under SINGA, you’ll receive PhD training at an A*STAR Research Institute or one of the three top universities in Asia – NUS, NTU or SUTD. You’ll be working in a multi-cultural environment alongside distinguished and world-renowned researchers in state-of-the-art facilities. Pursue your PhD education in Singapore with SINGA and take your research to greater heights

Research areas under the PhD Programme fall broadly under two categories:

  • Biomedical Sciences; and
  • Physical Science and Engineering

Open for application to all international graduates with a passion for research and excellent academic results; good skills in written and spoken English; and good reports from academic referees. 


Switzerland: Research Internship at EPFL
Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne) in Switzerland aims to attract students to the heart of Europe where renowned Professors strive for excellence in research and international recognition. In this context, EPFL inaugurated a highly attractive internship scheme in 2013 for talented students currently enrolled at internationally acclaimed universities enabling them to spend 3 months (maximum) in any laboratory on campus starting in May at the earliest every year.


Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists

Each year the Swiss Confederation awards Government Excellence Scholarships to promote international exchange and research cooperation between Switzerland and over 180 other countries. Recipients are selected by the awarding body, the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS).

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are aimed at young researchers from abroad who have completed a master’s degree or PhD and at foreign artists holding a bachelor’s degree. Calls for proposals are released in September and application deadlines vary by home country and fall between September – December for scholarship awards that will begin the following September.  (e.g. apply by October 2018 for a scholarship start date of September 2019). 


Switzerland: Think Swiss Research Scholarships

This program offers financial support to U.S. and Canadian students who wish to spend up to three months at a Swiss institute of higher education for a research internship. Students enrolled at a U.S. or Canadian university are eligible to apply for the scholarship that grants a contribution to travel and living expenses. The scholarship is open to students of all fields.

Students are responsible for finding a host professor or mentor at a Swiss institution as well as clarifying the scope of a research project before submitting their research scholarship application. For more detailed information about the application process and eligibility requirements see program website.  Applications are due in mid-January. 


Taiwan Industrial Technology Research Institute Internship Program
Each summer ITRI hosts around 30 international students for internships of 2-3 months. ITRI also offers a limited number of longer internships of 4-6 months during Spring, Summer, and Fall.


Technical University of Munich: Practical Research Experience Program

Undergraduate & graduate North American students are invited to apply for the TUM Practical Research Experience Program (PREP), a 10-week program that runs over the course of the summer. Participating in a research project under the supervision of a TUM faculty member, PREP participants will build up and further refine their research skills, learn more about the specifics of the German higher education and research landscape, and become members of the diverse scientific community at Germany's top-ranked technical university. Applications are due by December 1. 

To be eligible to apply you must: 

  • Undergraduate or graduate students (at least 2 years of undergraduate studies completed when arriving to TUM)
  • GPA minimum: 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
  • Project-specific skills as mentioned in project descriptions
  • No German language proficiency is required to participate in the program. 
  • A student at one of TUM's partner institutions in North America.  For summer 2018 these include: Brown University, California Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Duke University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, McGill University, McMaster University, Michigan State University, MIT, New York University, Northwestern University, Princeton University, Purdue University, Rutgers: The State University of New Jersey, Stanford University, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Los Angeles, UC San Diego, UC San Francisco, UC Santa Barbara, Université de Montréal, University of Alberta, University of British Columbia, University of Chicago, University of Colorado at Boulder, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, University of Maryland at College Park, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, University of North Carolina, University of Pennsylvania , University of Pittsburgh, University of Southern California, University of Texas at Austin, University of Toronto, University of Washington, University of Wisconsin Madison, VirginiaTech, Washington University in St. Louis, and Yale University. 

UN Careers: Internship Opportunities
If you are thinking of entering the world of diplomacy and public policy, an internship at the United Nations could be the ideal start for you. The objective of the internship is to give you a first-hand impression of the day-to-day working environment of the United Nations. You will be given a real chance to work with our people. As part of our team, working directly with outstanding and inspiring career professionals and senior management, you will be exposed to high-profile conferences, participate in meetings, and contribute to analytical work as well as organizational policy of the United Nations. Initially you will take on the amount of responsibility you can shoulder; the potential for growth, however, is yours to develop.


University of Florida Chemistry IREU in France

The International Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program is a 12 week program based in France. Participants will spend most of their time working with graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, staff, and other undergraduates on a well-developed research project under the mentorship of an experienced faculty member sponsored by the University of Florida and is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). 


University of Waterloo (Canada) – Undergraduate School on Experimental Quantum Information Processing & Summer Research Award 

Summer School: USEQIP is a two-week program on the theoretical and experimental study of quantum information aimed primarily at students one year away from completing their undergraduate studies. The lectures and experiments are geared toward students in engineering, physics, chemistry, mathematics and computer science, though all interested students are invited to apply. The program has space for 25 students. Accommodations and meals are covered, and bursaries are available for travel expenses. Students interested in pursuing a summer research award at IQC are encouraged to indicate so on their USEQIP application. 

Undergraduate Research Awards: If you are an undergraduate and would like the opportunity to work alongside a faculty member or a Research Assistant Professor at the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC), you should apply for the Undergraduate Research Award (URA).  Our faculty are interested in working with exceptional, motivated students from a wide range of scientific backgrounds. This is a unique opportunity to interact with an interdisciplinary research community. Applications are due in early January.  Students can jointly apply to both the UG Research Award and the USEQIP summer school. 


 


Amgen Scholars Program in the U.S. 

The Amgen Scholars Program provides hundreds of selected undergraduates with the opportunity to engage in a hands-on research experience at many of the world's leading institutions. 


APS/IBM Research Internship for Undergraduate Women and Underrepresented Minorities
The American Physical Society and IBM co-sponsor two undergraduate research internship programs: the APS/IBM Research Internship for Undergraduate Women, and the APS/IBM Research Internships for Underrepresented Minority Students. The goal of these internships is to encourage women and underrepresented minorities to pursue graduate studies in science and engineering. Any student who identifies as a woman and an underrepresented minority is eligible to apply to both internships. Apply by Feb. 15. 


CalTech Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF)

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) program is one of the “crown jewels” of Caltech. Since 1979, SURF students have had the opportunity to conduct research under the guidance of experienced mentors working at the frontier of their fields. Students experience the process of research as a creative intellectual activity from beginning (defining and developing a project) to end (presenting their results at SURF Seminar Day). Fellows receive a $6,275 award for the ten-week period. Award payments are distributed in equal installments in late June and late July. Applications are typically due in mid-to-late February. 


Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute Summer Scholars Program

The Robotics Institute Summer Scholars (RISS) Program is an intensive summer research program for talented undergraduate students. Summer Scholars have the opportunity to participate in state-of-the-art research projects, interact with a diverse research team, and to be mentored by leading faculty and technical staff. The program introduces aspiring students to dynamic research resources and methods, RI graduate education programs and research projects. The Summer Scholars program lasts 11 weeks. It begins June 1st and runs through the end of the second week of August. Only scholars who are available for the entirety of that time will be considered. Undergraduate students from both US and international institutions are eligible to apply by completing an online application with attachments (including resume, transcripts, recommendations, and personal statement) from December 1 through January 31 to the RI Summer Scholars Program. 


Columbia University | Materials Research Science and Engineering Center Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
The joint Materials Research Center program at Columbia University and City College of NY (CCNY) will support outstanding undergraduates as Summer Research Fellows each year. In addition, a joint REU program between Columbia and the City University of New York's Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC) may have additional openings. 


Cornell University Center for Materials Research REU Program 

The Cornell Center for Materials Research is offering a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU). Students will have the opportunity to work directly with faculty on interdisciplinary materials research projects involving chemistry, physics, materials science, and engineering disciplines. Students will also participate in an organized program of lectures, laboratory visits and a variety of recreational activities. The 10-week program takes place on Cornell’s Ithaca campus and includes: a stipend valued at $4,600; housing in a Cornell University dorm; and additional travel funds for nonCU students.


Cornell University Nanoscale Science & Technology Facility Research Experience for UG Program
Nanotechnology, nano news, cornell nanoscale facility, cornell nanofabrication facility, clean room, nanotech, nanofabrication, REU. 


DOE Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) Program 
The goal of the Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) program is to prepare graduate students for science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) careers critically important to the DOE Office of Science mission, by providing graduate thesis research opportunities at DOE laboratories.  The SCGSR program provides supplemental awards to outstanding U.S. graduate students to pursue part of their graduate thesis research at a DOE laboratory in areas that address scientific challenges central to the Office of Science mission. The research opportunity is expected to advance the graduate students’ overall doctoral thesis while providing access to the expertise, resources, and capabilities available at the DOE laboratories.


DOE Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI)
The Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) program encourages undergraduate students to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers by providing research experiences at the Department of Energy (DOE) laboratories. Selected students participate as interns appointed at one of 17 participating DOE laboratories/facilities. They perform research, under the guidance of laboratory staff scientists or engineers, on projects supporting the DOE mission.


Entry Point!
Entry Point! identifies and recruits students with apparent and non-apparent disabilities studying in science, engineering, mathematics, computer science, and some fields of business for internship and co-op opportunities. Different groups offer unique backgrounds and lifestyles that contribute to a creative and dynamic scientific enterprise in the United States. True diversity involves including not only underrepresented groups such as women, minorities and LGBTQ professionals, but also professionals with disabilities. Entry Point! promotes this goal by connecting workplace partners with student interns who have disabilities. Students with disabilities are often natural scientists who use experimentation and creativity in their everyday lives. They frequently use “outside the box” thinking to find inventive solutions to daily challenges. Entry Point! recruits and places 20 to 25 of these problem solvers each year.


Georgetown Materials Physics Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)

Undergraduate students are invited to apply for a 10-week summer research program to engage in a focused research project in materials physics, working closely with a faculty mentor and other researchers. Taking advantage of Georgetown's location in the nation's capital, this REU program also features a science-and-society component that allows students to explore the connection between scientific research and the world outside the laboratory. In addition, REU participants join other science students in a variety of professional development workshops and social and networking activities. This program is funded by the National Science Foundation and Georgetown University. Projects include experimental, computational, and theoretical work in nanoscale physics, soft matter, device physics, biophysics, and cold-atom systems. Students will work closely with a faculty mentor, as well as post-doctoral and graduate-student researchers, on a project specifically designed for undergraduates. REU participants will present their research at a poster session at the end of the summer. 


Harvard University School of Engineering & Applied Sciences Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs)

Spend your summer at Harvard University performing cutting-edge research in world-class laboratories. Focus on an in-depth research project while exploring multidisciplinary research topics and honing your science communication skills. Participants are part of a large, diverse research community through organized and informal interactions with students, mentors, and faculty.  We provide a focused effort for mentoring and training undergraduates in several exciting branches of science and engineering, including biomaterials, materials science, nanotechnology, robotics, computer science, and energy and the environment. We are seeking undergraduates from chemistry, physics, biology, computer science, mathematics (applied and pure), statistics, and engineering. Students without prior research experience, including freshman and sophomore students, are especially encouraged to apply.  Deadline is typically in early February.  


Harvard University – Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics REU Program

The SAO Summer Intern Program is an NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) internship where students take on an astrophysics research project with an SAO or Harvard scientist. The program will run for 10 weeks, from June – August. Students are expected to work at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics for the full duration of the program. We house our interns in Harvard's graduate student dormitory facilities. The program is funded by the National Science Foundation and the Smithsonian Institution. Applications are due in early February. 

Potential areas of research include (with a few example study subjects that reflect ongoing research at the CfA):

  • Galaxies. How do they form, what powers them, how will they evolve over cosmic time?
  • Our Solar System. What are near-Earth asteroids? What kinds of objects populate the Oort Cloud and Kuiper Belt?
  • Stars and Planets. Are stellar models accurate? Where are new planets to be found?
  • Lab Astrophysics. What chemistry takes place in space? Do ices matter? How did the Earth get its water?
  • Extreme Astrophysics. What connects supermassive black holes to their host galaxies? What can we learn from X-ray emitting binary stars?

…and can involve data from a host of facilities, including space-based telescopes like NASA's Kepler, Spitzer, and Chandra missions (among others), and the many ground-based observatories often used by SAO scientists


HHMI Undergraduate Scholars Program
The Janelia Undergraduate Scholars program is a 10-week summer program aimed at well-prepared, independent, and committed students with significant research experience. We accept undergraduates and post-baccalaureate students who have not committed to a PhD program.


Homeland Security HS-STEM Summer Internships (ORISE)
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology Directorate sponsors a 10-week summer internship program for students majoring in homeland security related science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. 


Institute for Broadening Participation Pathways to Science: Summer Research Database 

The IBB maintains an online database of over 699 summer research and other funding opportunities for students at all levels including K-12, undergraduates, graduate students, post-docs, and faculty/administrators.  For example, for summer 2018 listings included: 

  • 57 summer science exposure programs for high school students
  • 607 PAID summer research programs for undergraduates
  • 30 PAID summer programs for post-baccalaureate students (including graduating seniors)
  • 56 PAID summer programs for graduate students

Leadership Alliance – Summer Research Early Identification Program (SR-EIP) 

SR-EIP is a fully paid summer internship that provides undergraduates with training and mentoring in the principles underlying the conduct of research and prepares them to pursue competitive applications to PhD or MD-PhD programs. SR-EIP offers closely mentored research experiences in the life and physical sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and the humanities at 20 research institutions across the country. Applications are typically due in early February. 

  • Spend 8-10 weeks at a Leadership Alliance institution
  • Receive a stipend, and travel and housing expenses from the research institution
  • Work under the guidance of a faculty or research mentor
  • Gain theoretical knowledge and practical training in academic research and scientific experimentation
  • Make oral or poster presentations at the Leadership Alliance National Symposium
  • Gain access to ongoing resources, mentoring and professional networks to support their chosen career path

MIT Summer Research Program 

The MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP) seeks to promote the value of graduate education; to improve the research enterprise through increased diversity; and to prepare and recruit the best and brightest for graduate education at MIT. MSRP began in 1986 as an institutional effort to address the issue of underrepresentation of African Americans, Mexican Americans, Native Americans, and Puerto Ricans in engineering and science in the United States. Today, this program’s goal is to increase the number of underrepresented minorities and underserved (e.g. low socio-economic background, first generation) students in the research enterprise. MSRP seeks to identify talented sophomores, juniors, and non-graduating seniors who might benefit from spending a summer on MIT’s campus, conducting research under the guidance of MIT faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, and advanced graduate students. Students who participate in this program will be better prepared and motivated to pursue advanced degrees, thereby helping to sustain a rich talent pool in critical areas of research and innovation. Applications are typically due in mid-to-late January. 

Note: Students interested specifically in biology or neuroscience research should apply directly to MSRP Biology/BCS, offered through MIT’s Department of Biology.


NASA Internships

OSSI is a NASA-wide system for the recruitment, application, selection and career development of high school, undergraduate, and graduate students primarily in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. Opportunities for students in other disciplines are available.


National Institutes of Health – Amgen Scholars Program

The Amgen Scholars Program at NIH is a partnership between the Amgen Foundation, the Foundation for the NIH, and the NIH Office of Intramural Training & Education. Amgen Scholars at NIH will spend the summer working at NIH's main campus in Bethesda, Maryland side-by-side with some of the world's leading scientists, in an environment devoted exclusively to biomedical research. During their internships at NIH, scholars will be matched with research mentors in the NIH Intramural Research Program (IRP) where they will be immersed in a culture of translational science and will explore important elements of the basic, translational, and clinical research enterprise. (To get an idea of the types of research conducted in the 27 Institutes and Centers that make up the NIH, visit http://www.nih.gov/icd/). The Amgen Scholars Program at NIH is a summer internship for undergraduate students interested in PhD and combined degree programs in the sciences. Students interested in attending medical or other professional school programs should apply to the broader NIH Summer Internship Program.  Students with experience in health disparities and a keen interest in learning more about the biological, environmental, social, and genetic causes of health disparities are especially encouraged to apply. The admission committee will give preference to students who lack opportunities to perform independent research during the school year. NIH welcomes applications from students in all science disciplines and encourages students from diverse backgrounds to apply. Applications are typically due in early February. 


National Institutes of Health – Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering Summer Internship Program

The NIBIB sponsored Biomedical Engineering Summer Internship (BESIP) is for undergraduate biomedical engineering students who have completed their junior year of college. The 10-week program, under the guidance of Dr. Robert Lutz, BESIP Program Director, is scheduled from June 3, 2019 to August 9, 2019. The internship will allow rising senior bioengineering students to participate in cutting-edge biomedical research projects under the mentorship of world-class scientists in NIH laboratories in Bethesda, MD.  Selected by a nationwide competition, the interns will have the opportunity to indicate preferences from a list of available NIH projects that involve areas of engineering or physical science expertise. The students will participate in group meetings, attend planned lectures and laboratory visits, and be encouraged to submit posters to the NIH Poster Day where summer interns from all disciplines present their projects. Applications are due in early February. 


National Institutes of Health – Summer Internship Program

Summer programs at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) provide an opportunity to spend a summer working at the NIH side-by-side with some of the leading scientists in the world, in an environment devoted exclusively to biomedical research (At the NIH "biomedical sciences" includes everything from behavioral and social sciences, through biology and chemistry, to physics, mathematical modeling, computational biology, and biostatistics). The NIH consists of the 240-bed Mark O. Hatfield Clinical Research Center and more than 1150 laboratories/research groups located on the main campus in Bethesda, MD, and the surrounding area as well as in Baltimore and Frederick, MD; Research Triangle Park, NC; Hamilton, MT; Framingham, MA; Phoenix, AZ; and Detroit, MI. Applications are typically due by March 1. 


National Institutes of Health: College Summer Opportunities to Advance Research (C-SOAR)

The goal of the program is to encourage a diverse group of individuals to consider careers in the biomedical sciences (At the NIH "biomedical sciences" includes everything from behavioral and social sciences, through biology and chemistry, to physics, mathematical modeling, computational biology, and biostatistics). In addition to performing full-time research in a laboratory or on a project at the NIH, C-SOAR interns will meet each week as a group with students in the Community College Summer Enrichment Program (CCSEP). Together they will participate in workshops and courses focused on the development of academic and professional skills in preparation for careers in health care and in social, behavioral, and biomedical research. Students with disabilities; students who are Pell Grant-eligible; students who are enrolled in Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, or Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); students who identify as LGBTQ; and individuals disadvantaged by circumstances that have negatively impacted their educational opportunities, including recent natural disasters, are encouraged to apply to C-SOAR. NOTE: The C-SOAR admissions committee will give preference to students who have not yet had the opportunity to participate in a research-intensive summer program like SIP, who lack opportunities to do research during the academic year, or who cannot explore their interests in biomedical research at their home institutions. Applications are typically due by mid-February. 


National Institutes of Health – Community College Summer Enrichment Program

The purpose of this program is to increase the number of community college students who participate in the NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP). The long-term goal is to increase the number of community college students who transfer to four-year colleges and universities and consider careers in the biomedical sciences (At the NIH "biomedical sciences" includes everything from behavioral and social sciences, through biology and chemistry, to physics, mathematical modeling, computational biology, and biostatistics). In addition to performing full-time research in a laboratory or on a project at the NIH, CCSEP interns will meet each week as a group with students in the College Summer Opportunities to Advance Research (C-SOAR) program. Together they will participate in workshops and courses focused on the development of academic and professional skills in preparation for careers in health care and in social, behavioral, and biomedical research. Applications are typically due by early February. 


National Institutes of Health - Graduate Summer Opportunity to Advance Research (G-SOAR) Program

G-SOAR students will spend the summer working at the NIH side-by-side with some of the world's leading scientists, in an environment devoted exclusively to biomedical research. During their internships at NIH, scholars perform research with a mentor in the NIH Intramural Research Program (IRP) where they will be immersed in a culture of translational science and will explore important elements of the basic, translational and clinical research enterprise. (To get an idea of the types of research conducted in the 27 Institutes and Centers that make up the NIH, visit http://www.nih.gov/icd/.) The NIH G-SOAR Program is a summer research immersion experience that seeks to prepare a diverse cadre of young scholars for the rigors of biomedical research so that they excel in graduate school and are highly competitive for future opportunities in the biomedical enterprise. This program is designed for recently matriculated, first or second year graduate students enrolled in a biomedical PhD program, especially those interested in integrating translational approaches into research design. Students completing a master's degree who are transitioning into a biomedical PhD program are also eligible to apply. Applications are typically due by mid-January. 


National Institutes of Health - Graduate Data Science Summer Program (GDSSP)

The NIH will introduce the Graduate Data Science Summer Program in summer 2019. The program is a partnership between the NIH Office of Intramural Training & Education and the newly formed Office of Data Science Strategy. The GDSSP is designed for master’s students in computer and data science with an interest in the biomedical research enterprise. GDSS students will spend the summer working at the NIH side-by-side with some of the world's leading biomedical researchers. In addition to working in a research group, GDSSP students will participate in a customized curriculum that will help them to to explore the many uses of data science in biomedical research and to improve their leadership skills, including self-awareness, resiliency, conflict management, effective mentoring, and emotional intelligence. The GDSSP is a cohort based program where students can build peer networks and lifelong friendships. Applications are typically due in mid-January. 


National Laboratories Research, Training, and Education Programs
An outgrowth of immense investment in scientific research initiated by the U.S. Government during World War II, the National Laboratories have served as the leading institutions for scientific innovation in the United States for more than seventy years. The Energy Department's 17 National Labs tackle the critical scientific challenges of our time — from combating climate change to discovering the origins of our universe — and possess unique instruments and facilities, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. They address large scale, complex research and development challenges with a multidisciplinary approach that places an emphasis on translating basic science to innovation.

Other National Laboratories & Agencies


NIH: Biomedical Engineering Summer Internship Program (BESIP)

The NIBIB sponsored Biomedical Engineering Summer Internship (BESIP) is for undergraduate biomedical engineering students who have completed their junior year of college. The 10-week program, under the guidance of Dr. Robert Lutz, BESIP Program Director, is scheduled from June 4, 2018 to August 10, 2018. The internship will allow rising senior bioengineering students to participate in cutting-edge biomedical research projects under the mentorship of world-class scientists in NIH laboratories in Bethesda, MD. 

Selected by a nationwide competition, the interns will have the opportunity to indicate preferences from a list of available NIH projects that involve areas of engineering or physical science expertise. The students will participate in group meetings, attend planned lectures and laboratory visits, and be encouraged to submit posters to the NIH Poster Day where summer interns from all disciplines present their projects. Applications are due in early February. 


NIH – Research Training & Career Development
NIH programs help prepare individuals for careers in biomedical, behavioral, social, and clinical research.


NNCI-National Nanotechnlogy Coordinated Infrastructure – Research Experiences for UGs
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs are an excellent way for undergraduates to become acquainted with scientific research and graduate student life. REU programs typically consist of an intensive 10 week summer research experience at a university different than your own. Most research centers sponsor REU-like programs as part of their education and outreach efforts. The NNCI does not offer a network-wide REU program, but many of the NNCI sites conduct their own separate programs and the details for these are listed below. You must apply to each program separately.


Northwestern University Materials Research Center – Research Experience for UGs 

The Northwestern University Materials Research Science & Engineering Center offers a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program over a 9-week period each summer. The NU-Materials Research Science and Engineering Center is an interdisciplinary program focused on multi-functional nanoscale material structures.  Over 30 faculty from 7 different departments are involved.  REU students will have the opportunity to contribute to a research project led by a center faculty member and will participate in interdisciplinary research group meetings, expanding their science and engineering experience into a range of fields.  Students with an interest in nanomaterials and majoring in a science or engineering field are encouraged to apply.  Each student will be assigned to a graduate student or post-doctoral associate mentor who will work closely with them. REU participants receive a stipend of $4,500, plus on-campus housing and a travel allowance. Since our start date is later than most other REU programs, this is the perfect summer program for students whose schools are on the quarter-system!


Northwestern University Nanotechnology Research Experience for UGs (REU) 

Hands-on research infuses the traditional undergraduate curriculum with excitement. To date, the International Institute for Nanotechnology has provided over 350 students with a glimpse into the life of a scientific researcher, as well as opportunities to meet and work with world-renowned scientists. IIN REU participants engage in full-time research over an eight-week period in the summer. They attend regular group meetings, that provide an opportunity to share their progress and gain a broad overview of a wide array of scientific projects. Additional activities include special lectures, a field trip to Argonne National Laboratory, an individual writing workshop, a public speaking seminar, and a summer picnic.

At the end of the summer, each student completes a substantive research paper and presents their research accomplishments at a Closing Symposium. REU participants receive a $4,200 stipend, round-trip airfare, a meal plan, and housing in Northwestern dormitories.


NSF – National Science Foundation | Search for an REU Site 
The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. REU projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed for the REU program

Tip: You should also Google REU and a couple of keywords for the type of research you are listed in as sometimes not all current REU programs/sites are listed in the NSF search page. For example "Bioengineering REU". 


Oak Ridge National Lab Program for Graduate and Undergraduate Students

The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) offers three highly competitive internships and research fellowships, allowing students to participate in energy-related research. The 10-week programs provide a stipend, travel expenses and housing.

The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) offers opportunities to participate in energy-related research through three highly competitive internships and research fellowship programs managed by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), a U.S. Department of Energy institute managed by ORAU. NETL, with three primary locations in Albany, OR; Morgantown, WV; and Pittsburgh, PA, is the only national laboratory owned and operated by the United States Department of Energy. Its mission is to strengthen our nation’s security, to improve our nation’s environment, and to advance energy options that fuel our nation’s economy. To complement NETL’s mission, ORISE educational programs help to ensure that NETL has a robust supply of scientists and engineers to meet its future science and technology needs.


Rice University: Institute for Bioscience & Bioengineering REU in BioNetworks

This REU was awarded to Rice by the NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences. The goal of this program is to provide students first-hand experience with cutting-edge interdisciplinary research that is needed to predict biological functions sufficiently to reprogram cells to avoid diseases or to perform new tasks. The focus of this NSF REU program is biological networks, complex interactions among biomolecules that give rise to the diverse biological phenotypes observed in nature. In this summer REU, students will work on research projects under faculty mentors that draw from a range of approaches (classical biochemical and genetic to non-trivial theoretical models that require computation) to study naturally-occurring genetic networks, artificial genetic and metabolic networks, and biomolecular structure, function, and evolution. 

The program dates for 2018 are 5/30/18 – 8/3/18. The 2018 Program Flyer and FAQs contain additional information. The deadline for all submission materials is February 16, 2018.


Rice University: Office of STEM Engagement Programs

The Rice Office of STEM Engagement (R-STEM) supports and promotes Rice University's wide ranging efforts to improve K-12 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in all Houston-area school districts. Our department is the central point of contact for Houston school districts, parents, students, nonprofit organizations, university faculty, and others in the Houston area regarding various STEM programs at Rice.


University of California, Berkeley - E3S Research Experiences for Undergraduates (E3S REU)

The E3S Research Experiences for Undergraduates (E3S REU) program provides residential research internships in the laboratories of E3S faculty in the Center for Energy Efficient Electronics Science. Participants of this competitive merit-based program undertake cutting edge electrical engineering, material science, physics and chemistry research projects. They also have access to enrichment activities including seminars, field trips, as well as advising on graduate school programs, the application process for fellowships, and a subsidized GRE prep course. The Fall after the completion of the E3S summer internship, participants are expected to continue their Bachelor of Science or Engineering studies and eventually apply for graduate school. Applications are typically due in mid-to-late January. 


University of Florida: Condensed Matter & Materials Physics REU 

Participants in the program will conduct research and take part in group activities including seminars on cutting-edge areas of materials physics; workshops focusing on graduate programs, career opportunities in the physical sciences and engineering, and scientific communications skills; and field trips to laboratories on and off campus. You can get a better idea of these activities from the links above. For the Summer 2017 program the anticipated stipend is $5,000. There is an allowance for travel to/from Gainesville, FL, and also housing is provided. Weekends during the program will be left open for participants to explore the abundant attractions of North and Central Florida.


University of Florida: Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) 

The SURF program entails a 10 week Summer Undergraduate Research experience at the University of Florida. Prospective Ph.D. students for the University of Florida for the fall 2019 term will be considered for SURF.  Participating Colleges include the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the College of Pharmacy, and the College of Health and Human Performance. SURF provides the opportunity to work with a premier faculty adviser and a senior Ph.D. student mentor. Students will engage in research and spend in depth time furthering their path to applying and enrolling in a Ph.D. program at the University of Florida.   All participants will receive preferred Ph.D. admission and fellowship offers provided they have a successful summer experience and maintain their level of high academic performance through the completion of their bachelor’s degree. All costs for SURF participants are paid by UF including room and some board, a $5,000 summer stipend, round-trip flights/mileage to Gainesville, summer workshops, social events/activities and a GRE test prep course.


U.S. Government STEM Funding & Research Opportunities 


AAAS: Fellowships

Program offerings include: 


AAUW: Selected Professions Fellowships
Applications for Selected Professions Fellowships are open August 1-January 10. Learn more For questions or technical support, please e-mailaauw@applyists.com. Selected Professions Fellowships are awarded to women who intend to pursue a full-time course of study at accredited U.S. institutions during the fellowship year in one of the designated degree programs where women's participation traditionally has been low. 


ACS Public Policy Fellowships

The ACS offers two public policy fellowships. The ACS Congressional Fellowship is a one-year opportunity; two ACS members per year are placed on Capitol Hill as part of the larger, AAAS-administered program. The ACS Science Policy Fellowship is a one-year opportunity that is renewable for a second year. One Science Policy Fellow position is available at a time. The same application is used for both fellowships. Applicants are asked to identify if they are applying for one or both programs. Fellowships start in September; however, the Congressional Fellowship start date may be delayed until January at the Fellow’s request.


AGU Congressional Science Fellows

The American Geophysical Union fellowship program enables more effective use of scientific knowledge in government and provides a unique experience to scientists seeking careers involving public use of technical information. The Congressional Science Fellowship program places highly qualified, accomplished scientists, engineers, and other professionals in the offices of either an individual member of Congress or on a committee for a one-year assignment. The AGU Congressional Fellow will have the opportunity to make significant contributions to public policy during their time working with Congress. Past Fellows have been directly involved in water policy, climate research, energy conservation, and a range of other issues that are of high priority to society.


AIP and Member Society Science Policy Fellowship

The American Institute of Physics sponsors one State Department Fellow and two Congressional fellows, both under the umbrella of the AAAS S&T Fellowship program, but all selected and sponsored by the AIP. US Citizenship and a PhD are required. Deadline is 15 January for fellowships that start in September.


APS Congressional Science Fellowships

Members of the American Physical Society may apply for the APS fellowship, and it is possible to apply for the AIP and APS congressional fellowships with a single application. In general, a PhD is required, but can be waived in certain circumstances. Deadline is 15 January.


ASBMB Science Policy Fellowship

The American Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology's science policy fellowship offers recently graduated Ph.D.s exposure to a range of activities regarding science policy and congressional and government relations. Fellows work in the public affairs office of ASBMB’s headquarters, located just outside of Washington D.C. Applications are accepted in early spring. The fellow serves for 12-18 months.


Barry Goldwater Scholarship
By providing scholarships to college sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering, the Goldwater Foundation is helping ensure that the U.S. is producing the number of highly-qualified professionals the Nation needs in these critical fields. 


DOD SMART – Science, Mathematics & Research for Transformation Scholarship
The Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program is an opportunity for students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines to receive a full scholarship and be gainfully employed upon degree completion with a Department of Defense facility. The Program will pay for all educational expenses for a B.S., M.S. or Ph.D. degree, and then provide scholars unique opportunities to work as research scientists or engineers on cutting edge technology in world class Department of Defense facilities.


DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship

Established in 1991, the Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (DOE CSGF) provides outstanding benefits and opportunities to students pursuing doctoral degrees in fields that use high-performance computing to solve complex science and engineering problems. The program fosters a community of energetic and committed Ph.D. students, alumni, DOE laboratory staff and other scientists who want to have an impact on the nation while advancing their research. Fellows come from diverse scientific and engineering disciplines but share a common interest in using computing in their research. More than 425 students at more than 60 U.S. universities have trained as fellows. The program's alumni work in DOE laboratories, private industry and educational institutions.

The following criteria will be used to determine the eligibility of those applying for DOE CSGF. Measured at the time of application, eligibility will be extended to:

  1. Undergraduate seniors
  2. Applicants with no more than B.S. or B.A. degrees who are not enrolled in graduate school
  3. First-year graduate students (M.S. degree or Ph.D. students without an M.S. degree)
  4. Enrolled M.S. degree students beyond their first year provided that they plan full-time, uninterrupted study toward a Ph.D. at: 1) a different academic institution, OR 2) in a different academic department
  5. Applicants with no more than M.S. degrees who are not currently enrolled AND who will not have been enrolled in graduate school for two years prior to resuming graduate studies
  6. First-year Ph.D. students with an M.S. degree provided that they 1) completed the M.S. degree within two years at a different academic institution, 2) completed the M.S. degree within two years in a different academic department, OR 3) prior to current enrollment, they had not been enrolled in graduate school for at least two years

During the fellowship period, fellows are required to be enrolled as full-time graduate students at an accredited U.S. college or university and conduct research in areas of interest to the DOE. The summer should be spent conducting full-time research related to the completion of one's degree program, enrolled in classes or on a practicum assignment. This equal opportunity program is open to all qualified persons without regard to race, gender, religion, age, physical disability or national origin.


The Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration Stewardship Science Graduate Fellowship (DOE NNSA SSGF) provides excellent financial benefits and professional development opportunities to students pursuing a Ph.D. in fields of study that solve complex science and engineering problems critical to stewardship science.

The fellowship builds a community of talented and committed doctoral students, program alumni, DOE laboratory staff and university researchers who share a common goal to further their science while advancing national defense. The friendships and connections fellows make in the program continue to benefit them throughout their careers. The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration funds the DOE NNSA SSGF to train scientists vital to meeting U.S. workforce needs in advanced science and engineering.


GEM Consortium Fellowship
GEM offers MS and Ph.D. level students an outstanding opportunity and access to dozens of the top Engineering and Science firms and Universities in the nation. The GEM Fellowship was designed to focus on promoting opportunities for individuals to enter industry at the graduate level in areas such as research and development, product development, and other high level technical careers. GEM also offers exposure opportunities to a number of opportunities in academe. 

Under-representation: Candidates are targeted for participation who are members of the following under-represented groups in science and engineering as defined by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics:

  • American Indian/Native
  • African American/Black
  • Hispanic American/Latino

Citizenship: Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident at time of application.


Ford Foundation Fellowships

Through its Fellowship Programs, the Ford Foundation seeks to increase the diversity of the nation’s college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, to maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students. Predoctoral, Dissertation, and Postdoctoral fellowships will be awarded in a national competition administered by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on behalf of the Ford Foundation.  Eligibility to apply for a Ford fellowship is limited to:

  • All U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and U.S. permanent residents (holders of a Permanent Resident Card), as well as individuals granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, political asylees, and refugees, regardless of race, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation,
  • Individuals with evidence of superior academic achievement (such as grade point average, class rank, honors or other designations), and
  • Individuals committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level.

Awards will be made for study in research-based Ph.D. or Sc.D. programs; practice oriented degree programs are not eligible for support (see eligible fields). Prospective applicants should read carefully the eligibility requirements, the terms of the fellowship awards, application instructions and other information pertaining to the individual fellowship (PredoctoralDissertation, or Postdoctoral) for which they are applying.  In addition to the fellowship award, Ford Fellows are eligible to attend the Conference of Ford Fellows, a unique national conference of a select group of high-achieving scholars committed to diversifying the professoriate and using diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.  Applications are due in mid-December. 


Harry S. Truman Scholarship
As the living memorial to our thirty-third President, the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation supports the graduate education and professional development of outstanding young people committed to public service leadership. Since its creation in 1975, the Foundation has supported almost 3,000 Truman Scholars who are making a difference in all corners of the nation and around the globe. Select a link below to learn more about the Truman Foundation and to find out how you can support our work.


Hartwell Foundation Biomedical Research Fellowships 

The Hartwell Foundation provides funding to US citizens for postdoctoral training in biomedical science at select, qualifying research institutions in the United States.  Hartwell Fellowships offer support for two years at $50,000 direct cost per year to support scientists in the early stages of their research careers by enabling them to pursue further specialized training as part of professional career development. 


Hertz Foundation Fellowship
Providing unique financial and fellowship support to the nation's most remarkable PhD students in the applied physical and biological sciences, mathematics, and engineering. Hertz Fellows become innovators and leaders serving in ways that benefit us all.


HHMI Graduate Research Fellowships
The Janelia Graduate Research Fellowship is a fully-funded, collaborative PhD program for independent, committed graduate students enrolled in a doctoral program in the United States or abroad. Required course work at the student's home university must be completed before joining Janelia. Degrees are granted by the home university.


Japanese Medical Society of America Scholarships
The Japanese Medical Society of America (JMSA) is a group of medical and health care professionals with a knowledge of Japanese language, culture or customs. JMSA members are also proud supporters of local community efforts and educational scholarships. The JMSA is dedicated to promoting the exchange of medical and educational information between the US and Japan, as well as in providing valuable medical information to the general public. Many donors, from private individuals to large companies contribute each year to the JMSA scholarship fund to support the education of medical professionals.


L’Oréal USA Fellowships for Women in Science

The L’Oréal USA Fellowships for Women in Science program is a national awards program that annually recognizes and rewards five U.S.-based women researchers at the beginning of their scientific careers. Recipients each receive up to $60,000 that must be put towards their postdoctoral research. Launched in 2003 as the U.S. component of the L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science International Fellowship program, the U.S. Fellowships aim to:

  • Raise awareness of the contribution of women to the sciences
  • Identify exceptional female researchers in the U.S. to serve as role models for younger generations

National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine: Fellowships & Postdocs 

The Academies offer several fellowships in science, engineering, and medicine. Information on eligibility guidelines and application deadlines is available on specific programs' websites. Opportunities include: 


National Academies: Mirzayan Fellowship Program

The Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program, now in its 20th year, provides early career individuals with the opportunity to spend 12 weeks at the Academies in Washington, DC learning about science and technology policy and the role that scientists and engineers play in advising the nation. Each year, applicants from around the world become part of an Academies' committee, board, or unit where they are assigned to a mentor and learn about the world of science and technology policy.  An immersive experience, the program is designed to broaden fellows’ appreciation of employment opportunities outside academia and leave them with both a firm grasp of the important and dynamic role of science and technology in decision-making and a better understanding of the role that they can play in strengthening the science and technology enterprise for the betterment of mankind. Alumni of the program hold positions in Congressional committees and at federal agencies.


NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship
NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) seeks to sponsor U.S. citizen and permanent resident graduate student researchers who show significant potential to contribute to NASA’s goal of creating innovative new space technologies for our Nation’s science, exploration, and economic future. This call for graduate student fellowship applications, entitled NASA Space Technology Research Fellowships (NSTRF) – Fall 2017 (NSTRF 17), solicits applications from individuals pursuing or planning to pursue master’s (e.g., M.S.) or doctoral (e.g., Ph.D.) degrees in relevant space technology disciplines at accredited U.S. universities. NASA Space Technology Fellows will perform innovative space technology research and will improve America’s technological competitiveness by providing the Nation with a pipeline of innovative space technologies. Proposals open in early September and are due in early November.  To access proposal information, click on the NSPIRES link and then click on 'Solicitations' in the upper left menu and scroll down to the NSTRP program for the current year. 


National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships Program (GRFP)
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) helps ensure the vitality of the human resource base of science and engineering in the United States and reinforces its diversity. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions. 

Application deadlines vary by discipline and students should carefully review the Important Dates page for their specific deadline.  Deadlines typically fall from late-October through early November. 


NIH: Fogarty International Center Funding Opportunities

Fogarty's global health research and research training programs offer a variety of funding opportunities. Find upcoming application deadlines, announcements from the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) and more information about Fogarty programs.


NIH – Research Training & Career Development
NIH programs help prepare individuals for careers in biomedical, behavioral, social, and clinical research.


NSF Graduate STEM Fellows in K-12 Education 

The NSF Graduate STEM Fellows in K-12 Education (GK-12) Program supports fellowships and training for graduate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Through interactions with teachers and students in K-12 schools, graduate fellows can improve communication and teaching skills while enriching STEM content and instruction for their K-12 partners.


NSF Funding Opportunities (Other)


NDSEG – National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship

As a means of increasing the number of U.S. citizens and nationals trained in science and engineering disciplines of military importance, the Department of Defense (DoD) plans to award fellowships in April 2018, subject to the availability of funds. The National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship is highly competitive.  Since its inception in 1989, NDSEG has awarded nearly 3,500 fellowships from over 58,000 applications to U.S. citizens and nationals who pursue a doctoral degree in one of fifteen supported disciplines at a U.S. institution of their choosing. 

NDSEG Fellowships last for a period of up to four years (based on continued funding), and covers full tuition and mandatory fees.  Fellows also receive a monthly stipend, and up to $1,500 a year in medical insurance.  The NDSEG Fellowship is sponsored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), the Army Research Office (ARO), and the Office of Naval Research (ONR) under the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (OSD) for Research and Engineering.  

Pathways to Science: STEM Programs and Funding


Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans
The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans program honors the contributions of immigrants and children of immigrants to the United States. Each year, we invest in the graduate education of 30 New Americans—immigrants and children of immigrants—who are poised to make significant contributions to US society, culture or their academic field. Each Fellow receives up to $90,000 in financial support over two years, and they join a lifelong community of New American Fellows. Applications are due by November 1. 


Rice University Academy Fellowship for Post-Doctoral Researchers 

The two-year Rice Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships are open to exceptional scholars who have recently earned the doctoral degree in any area, including medicine, and who want to pursue research with faculty at Rice University. Current Rice graduate students are not eligible. The standard stipend is $60,000. Some departments may augment the stipend. Academy Fellows are provided with an office within the department, $5,000 in a research fund, and access to university resources as well as faculty mentors.

U.S. Government STEM Funding & Research Opportunities 


Western Union Scholars Program for STEM & Business/Entrepreneurship Undergraduates 
The Western Union Foundation aims to give women, including migrants and refugees, an opportunity at higher education through the WU Scholars program.  Students pursuing a post-secondary education in the areas of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, business and entrepreneurship programs can apply for a scholarship.


Woodrow Wilson STEM Teaching Fellowship
The Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship seeks to attract talented, committed individuals with backgrounds in the STEM fields—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—into teaching in high-need secondary schools in Georgia and New Jersey. The Fellowship has also prepared over a thousand teachers in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Eligible applicants include current undergraduates, recent college graduates, midcareer professionals, and retirees who have majored in, or have extensively studied, one or more of the STEM fields. The Fellowship also works to change the way top teachers are prepared, partnering with colleges and universities that have agreed to provide Fellows with innovative, year-long classroom experiences, rigorous academic work, and ongoing mentoring. Applications are due in mid-October. 


Other Opportunities – By Application Deadline

Note: The program information provided below is for informational purposes only.  Students should consult the program websites for detailed and updated information on eligibility requirements and application deadlines for the current year as application deadlines do change.  

International Students: Some of these opportunities are only open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents.  Some of these opportunities may also be open to international students who are enrolled as degree-seeking students at a U.S. university or college.  Be sure to consult the eligibility criteria on each program’s website carefully.