Current Fellowships

A variety of support options are provided for Graduate Students in both PhD and Master’s programs at UCI. Information on this page includes available fellowships, assistantships, grants and other support options to help fund your graduate education.

How to Fund Your Graduate Education

Most Ph.D. students at UCI are supported by a combination of fellowships, teaching assistantships, research assistantships and faculty training grants. Because student funding is coordinated at the departmental level, be sure to ask your department about your options.

Master’s students are typically self-supported but may be eligible for these resources. Check with the individual department/program for Master’s degree funding opportunities.

The Graduate Division also offers an array of financial support resources, such as fellowship competitions open to incoming and current UCI students, and funding workshops and writing tutors available through the Graduate & Postdoctoral Scholars Resource Center.

Eligibility criteria for recipients of fellowships:

  1. Be enrolled full-time (minimum 12 quarter units).
  2. Earn a letter grade of B, S or above in all courses completed during each of the three
    most recent quarters of enrollment.
  3. Earn no more than two Incomplete (I) grades during each of the three most recent
    quarters of enrollment.
  4. Earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher during each of the three most recent quarters of
    enrollment.
  5. Make satisfactory academic progress toward the degree objective.

Fellowship Timelines

Scroll down to access the associated nomination and application deadlines for various fellowship opportunities. Click here for a summary of funding eligibility for UCI graduate students who meet AB540 and/or DACA criteria.

UC Irvine strongly encourages all graduate students to apply for fellowships.  Fellowships vary in amount and are an important source of funding designed to help students meet their educational and living expenses. There are two types of fellowships: internal (i.e., offered by UCI Graduate Division or an academic department) and extramural (i.e., offered by an external organization or agency for study at UC Irvine).

Due to the competitive nature of the fellowship application process, it is essential to plan ahead.  It is important to allow enough time to identify fellowship opportunities and to prepare application materials. The application itself is an important component of academic and professional development. The process of articulating research will help students enhance their research and prepare their credentials for future endeavors.

For more information about funding opportunities and on-campus resources, please contact: grad@uci.edu

Overview: ARCS (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists) Foundation, Inc. is a unique, nonprofit, national volunteer organization of women dedicated to providing scholarships to academically outstanding U.S. citizens studying to complete their degrees in science, medicine and engineering, thereby contributing to the worldwide advancement of science and technology.

Call for nominations: September 13, 2021
Application/Nomination Deadline: 
October 15, 2021

For more information contact: Sonia Lepe slepe1@uci.edu

Details

Award Info

$5,000 stipend per year for two years (second year contingent upon continued satisfactory academic progress).

Eligibility

Each school holds its own competition and makes the final selection of its scholars who meet the following minimum criteria:

  • Must have achieved a graduate level UC GPA of 3.5 or better through the Spring 2021 quarter.
  • Must have have completed at least two years of graduate study, with at least two years remaining before degree completion.
  • Must be making satisfactory progress toward their degree goal.
  • Must be a U.S. citizen.
  • Must have identified their individual area of research interest and be willing to prepare a poster board of their research for display at the awards dinner.
  • Must have exhibited excellent interpersonal and leadership abilities during their academic program.
  • Please note this change: must have advanced to candidacy at the time of application/nomination

Application Process

Students should check with their schools for internal deadlines and procedures before submitting any materials.  Schools submit their selected scholar packets to Graduate Division by the deadline below, to include the following:

  • A completed ARCS Foundation Scholar Award Nomination form
  • A completed Student Biographical Profile with a 100-word student bio
  • A current CV
  • A statement by the awardee of no more than 2-3 pages in length, describing their research project, progress to date, and plan for completion
  • A confidential evaluation of the student by their faculty advisor (multiple letters are acceptable)
  • Letters from the program advisor, department chair, and associate dean

The selection process will include a personal interview; each student must be able and willing to speak articulately about their career goals and research.

Overview: The Brython Davis Fellowship provides financial support to students who demonstrate outstanding past academic achievement as well as future promise, have financial need, are U.S. citizens, and are the child of a service member or veteran of the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps. 

Call for nominations: October 19, 2021
Application/Nomination Deadline: 
November 23, 2021

For more information contact: Sonia Lepe at slepe1@uci.edu

Details

Award Amount
This award provides resident fees and a stipend of $6,000 during Spring Quarter of the academic year of the award. Nonresident supplemental tuition and professional degree supplemental tuition are not included.

Eligibility
 · Students must be U.S. citizens pursuing a Ph.D. or master’s degree. Students enrolled in self-supporting programs are not eligible.
· Must be in good academic standing
· Must demonstrate financial need
· Must be the child of a regular member of the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps

Application Process
Complete the application form, obtain the signature of the Graduate Associate Dean in your school and send to slepe1@uci.edu with the following:
· Brython Davis Fellowship Application Form – with all signatures
· Apply for FAFSA – attach a copy of confirmation
· Recommendation letter from faculty advisor or department chair
· Statement of research, written for reviewers in other fields – approximately one page
· Current Curriculum Vitae (CV)
· Unofficial transcripts through Spring Quarter
· Proof of eligibility – copy of parent’s current military I.D. or honorable discharge papers, and a copy of the student’s birth certificate. Retired or honorably discharged members qualify. Members of the Reserve or dishonorably discharged members do not.

Overview: Chancellor’s Club Fellowships recognize our most academically superior doctoral and MFA students — those who exhibit outstanding promise as scholars, researchers, and public leaders. Nominated students must be first-generation college students, with neither parent having received a four-year degree. Nominations are made by Associate Deans for scholars in their respective schools.

2021-22 Call for nominations: Friday, September 3
2021-22 Application/Nomination Deadline: Friday, October 22

Award Info

Three Chancellor’s Club Fellowship recipients will be awarded a six-month stipend to total $12,000 for the period of January through June. More information about this fellowship may be found in the Chancellor’s Club Fellowship Call for Nominations. Please note that tuition and fees are not included in these fellowships. The awardees’ Schools are expected to cover tuition and fees during the award period.

Deadline

All nomination materials must be received by the Graduate Division no later than Friday, October 22, 2021. Schools should send a PDF of each nominee’s materials to Turner Dahl at tdahl@uci.edu.  Please note that Schools and Departments typically have earlier internal deadlines for fellowship submissions. Please contact your School or Department for details.

Eligibility

All Schools are invited to nominate one outstanding graduate student that meets the following minimum criteria:

  • Plan to complete their Ph.D. or MFA degree by the end of fall quarter 2022

  • Have a minimum graduate-level UCI GPA of 3.7

  • If a doctoral student, be advanced to candidacy by October 22, 2021

  • Demonstrate financial need

  • Be willing to present their dissertation research at a Chancellor’s Club dinner or other function

  • Exhibit excellent interpersonal and leadership abilities

  • Be a first-generation college student, with neither parent having received a four-year degree

Please note that AB540 eligible students may be nominated for this fellowship competition.

Application Process

All individual student nominations must consist of a single PDF file and contain the following scanned items in order:

  1. Completed Chancellor’s Club Fellowship Nomination Form.

  2. Completed Chancellor’s Club Fellowship Student Information Form, including the financial need, student profile, and student research sections.

  3. The student’s current curriculum vitae.

  4. A confidential letter of recommendation from the faculty advisor/mentor including the student’s planned term of graduation and expressing the advisor’s level of confidence in the student’s ability to complete as planned.

Stipulations

  • Students receiving this award are required to complete their degree by the end of Fall Quarter 2022. Award funds will be returned by the school to Graduate Division in the event that the student does not meet this requirement.

  • The student’s expected graduation date must be included in the faculty advisor’s letter of recommendation.

  • If students have applied for and accepted Financial Aid loans or Work-Study awards and subsequently receive any fellowships, the additional support may affect their eligibility for need-based financial aid. Students should contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to determine if their eligibility will be affected.

  • Students should review the terms of any funding that they have accepted for AY 2021-2022 to ensure that they are eligible to receive additional fellowship funding.

  • Recipients of these awards may not be appointed as ASEs during the award period. They may be employed as GSRs. 

  • Please note that tuition and fees are not included in these fellowships. The awardees’ Schools are expected to cover tuition and fees during the award period

Contact Info

Questions should be directed to Turner Dahl, at tdahl@uci.edu or via phone, 949-824-0490

Overview: The UC Irvine Diversity Recruitment Fellowship program is designed to supplement financial support packages of admitted doctoral and M.F.A. diversity students.

Call for nominations: January 21, 2021

Details

Award Info

Each award will be up to  $5,000 to top-off their original award paid on September 1, 2021.

Eligibility

  • Nominee needs to be a US citizen, Permanent Resident or AB540 eligible.
  • Nominee needs to be eligible under the University of California definition of diversity.
  • Nominee must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate and master’s (if applicable) GPA. 
  • Nominee must have a pending SIR. 
  • Nominee must be interviewed during the admissions process by the department in order to be considered for this fellowship. Method of interview can be in-person, by phone, or Skype, etc. Email correspondence is NOT acceptable.

Nomination Process

Each school has their own nomination process. Please contact the Associate Dean’s office for your school for more information. 


Graduate Division Contact:  Questions can  be directed to Mariela Menendez at mmenend1@uci.edu

DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) is a registered members association made up of German institutions of higher education and student bodies.  DAAD provides young people with the opportunity to gain international academic and research experience in Germany.  Since it was founded in 1925, DAAD has provided funding to more than 1.9 million scholars in Germany and abroad.

Call for nominations: October 8, 2021
Application/Nomination Deadline: 
12 noonOctober 29, 2021

For more information contact:  Sonia Lepe at slepe1@uci.edu

Details

Study Scholarships (non-artistic fields)

Candidates who have received an undergraduate degree of all disciplines may apply for the DAAD Study Scholarship for study at a German university as part of a postgraduate program completed in the home country.  APPLICANTS FOR INDEPENDENT STUDY/RESEARCH SHOULD APPLY FOR A RESEARCH GRANT.  For more information, including complete eligibility and application requirements, and to access the online application, visit the DAAD website.

Application Deadlines for Study Scholarships (non-artistic fields):

  • UCI Internal Deadline: 12 noon, October 29, 2021.
  • DAAD Deadline: November 4, 2021.
    • The funding period is usually one academic year (October 1, 2021-July 31, 2022).  Extensions are not possible.

Research Grants – One Year Grants

Research Grants-One Year 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.  For more information, including complete eligibility and application requirements, and to access the online application, visit the DAAD website.

Application Deadlines for Research Grants-One Year Grants:

  • UCI Internal Deadline: 12 noon, October 28, 2020.
  • DAAD Deadline: November 4, 2020.
    • Funding period begins October 1, 2021 and may range from seven to 10 months. Earlier start dates are not possible and grants are not renewable. There are no exceptions to the funding period.

Internal Application Procedures

Applicants should ask (1) Reference to:

  • Fill out the reference form available on the DAAD portal.
  • Email signed Reference to slepe1@uci.edu for the pre-selection by the internal deadline. Important: Because of the current pandemic situation, professors can send signed Reference directly to campus advisor via email . Note that the campus advisor is permitted to open the reference and email it to DAAD.

Applicants submit to Graduate Division by the internal deadline:

  • A PDF file of their application summary which is generated from the online application portal. Applicants must first submit all required documents via the online portal in order to receive a PDF version of their application summary for submission for the pre-selection, to Sonia Lepe via email to slepe1@uci.edu .

Overview: The Eugene Cota-Robles (ECR) Fellowship is the most prestigious diversity fellowship offered at UC Irvine.  This award is used to release recipients from employment or loan obligations that might delay progress in graduate study.  The fellowship is designed to place students interested in careers in academic teaching and research on a fast-track towards completing their doctoral degree, and to increase the number of qualified candidates for faculty positions within the University of California.  The Eugene Cota-Robles Fellowship is named in honor of one of the earliest Mexican-American professors in the University of California System. For more info click here HERE.

Priority Nomination Deadline: February 17, 2022 12:00 PM

Final Deadline : March 17, 2022 12:00 PM

For more information contact: Mariela Menendez  at fellowships@exchange.uci.edu 

Details

Funding Package

  • In the first and fourth year, Graduate Division will award fellowship support in the form of a $25,000 stipend, distributed during the academic year, plus payment of fees/tuition and nonresident tuition (year one only), if applicable.

  • Graduate Division will provide the second year of stipend and fee/tuition support during the student’s fourth year of study, only after the academic program has provided verification of satisfactory academic progress for each ECR fellow, and the student has fulfilled all obligations related to evaluation and participation in this diversity program.

  • During the second, third and fifth year, the student’s academic program is obligated to provide funding at an equivalent level of support (e.g., TA, GSR, etc. funding).

  • The student’s academic program will also provide support for four summers, at a minimum rate of $3,000 per summer.

Eligibility:

  • Nominee must indicate an interest in an academic career in teaching and research. 

  • Nominee must be admitted to a doctoral program at UCI. 

  • Nominee may not have ever been or currently enrolled in a doctoral program at UCI.

  • Nominee must demonstrate high potential and promise. 

  • Nominee must be a United States citizen, permanent resident, or AB540 eligible

  • Nominee needs to be interviewed by the admission committee.

  • Nominee must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate and master’s (if applicable) GPA. 

  • Nominee must have a pending SIR at the time of nomination. 

  • Nominee must meet the UC definition of diversity.

Nomination Process

  • Each program can only submit one nomination for the ECR fellowship. 

  • Interested students should contact the program they are applying to and discuss interest in the fellowship.

  • The personal history statement on the UC Irvine Online Application for Graduate Admissions will be used to help determine eligibility for nomination and selection of final awardees.

Review Criteria

  • Nominees will be reviewed on the following criteria in order:

    • Meeting the UC definition of diversity. 

    • Interest in diversifying the program. 

    • Proven resilience in the face of challenges, while still making exceptional achievements. 

    • Likelihood to finish the degree program to which they were admitted. 

Graduate Division Contact:  Questions can be directed to fellowships@exchange.uci.edu

Overview: The Faculty Mentor Program (FMP) Fellowship is designed to increase the number of students who complete their Ph.D. degree and successfully acquire a faculty appointment. Fellows are expected to participate in meaningful research and, eventually, developing an independent project. 

Call for nominations: Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Application/Nomination Deadline: Monday, May 10, 2021 @ 12PM (Noon)

For more information contact: fellowships@rgs.uci.edu

Details

Award Information

  • Fellows receive one year of fellowship support paid directly by the Graduate Division, including a yearly stipend of $23,000 (paid over a nine-month period, Oct. 1 to June 1) and full resident tuition and fees.
  • Graduate programs also provide fellows a supplement to the fellowship (minimum 20%: ~$4,600) paid in Summer 2021 or 2022.  
  • Fellows receive a $500 academic travel stipend.
  • Fellows are expected to participate in meaningful research during the Fall quarter of their award year.
  • Fellows are expected to develop an independent project for the Winter and Spring quarters of the award year.
  • Fellows are required to participate in UCI’s tracking of programs to assess student progress and eventual job placement.
  • Please note: 
    • Fellows are prohibited from being employed 24% time during the tenure of this fellowship. 
    • Please note: Non-resident tuition is NOT covered by this fellowship award.

Eligibility

Nominees must be current UCI Ph.D. students who are in the pre-advancement stage of their program, and must not be at the dissertation stage during the tenure of the award.

  • Nominees must demonstrate high potential and promise
  • Nominees must indicate an interest in an academic career in teaching and research
  • Nominees must be United States citizens, permanent residents or AB540 status.
  • Nominees must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
  • Students must enroll full-time in 12 units during each quarter of fellowship tenure

Nominees must qualify as a diversity student, as defined by the University of California and demonstrate experience of situations or conditions which were an impediment to advancing to graduate study, such as socioeconomic or educational limitations, the absence of a family member who attended college, matriculation in a school with poor financial or curricular support, having a physical or learning disability or working long hours while attending school.

Application Process

Students should check with their academic program for internal deadlines.

Students should complete the Application Form.

Students should e-mail the completed FMP application form to their academic program along with the following materials:

Students must submit the FMP Fellowship application form electronically to the department, along with the following:

  • A brief (2-4 page) Mentoring Plan that includes a schedule of training goals and activities for the 12-month time period
  • A letter of recommendation from the faculty member who will serve as the mentor
  • Unofficial transcripts including most recent winter quarter grades
  • Student curriculum vitae (CV)
  • A detailed listing of all funding support received by the student
  • Save FMP Fellowship application forms as “FMP APP– SID#” (FMP APP-12345678)
  • Check your department’s deadlines

NOTE: Please review both the application and nomination form for all of the required documents.

Departments must complete the FMP Nomination Form for each student the department is nominating. Don’t forget the following items:

  • Check the appropriate citizenship or residency box
  • Minimum 20% ($4,600) matching funds during Summer 2021 or Summer 2022
  • Rationale for nominating the student
  • Save nomination form as “FMP NOM–SID#”(FMP NOM-12345678)
  • Submit the nomination in one PDF  in the following order:
    • FMP Nomination Form 
    • FMP Application Form
    • Mentoring Plan including a schedule of training goals/activities (2-4 page document)
    • Faculty Mentor letter of recommendation
    • Unofficial transcript (include Winter 2020 grades)
    • Student’s curriculum vitae
    • Detailed listing of all funding/support
    • Save this new PDF file as “FMP – SID#.pdf” (FMP-12345678)
  • Forward nomination packages to your school for ranking, cover letter and signature.

 Schools must submit completed documentation for the top two school nominees and for College of Health Sciences each school/Program in Public Health can submit one nominee to  fellowships@exchange.uci.edu  and include the following:

  • Cover Letter from Associate Dean with rationale for the top two candidates
  • PDF nomination packet for each student the school is nominating

Contact Info

fellowships@exchange.uci.edu

Notes

Nominations will be based on the student’s merit and his/her contribution to the diversity of their discipline/graduate program. In accordance with state law, nominees to state-funded programs are not given preferential treatment on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, religion or national origin.

Overview

The Fletcher Jones Fellowship is a highly prestigious award, made available through funding from the Fletcher Jones Foundation. It is competitively awarded to an outstanding doctoral student who has advanced to candidacy and demonstrates financial need. The award of this dissertation fellowship of approximately $23,598, is to be used as a stipend and is intended to assist with doctoral degree completion. 

The call for nominations for this year’s Fletcher Jones Fellowship competition at UCI can be found here.

Additional information on the Fletcher Jones Foundation can be found here

Award Information and Criteria

Award totaling approximately $23,598.  

Since this award will be disbursed monthly throughout the 2021-2022 academic year, nominated students must not plan to graduate before the conclusion of Spring Quarter 2022. 

Nominations will be evaluated on the following:

  • Demonstration of financial need
  • Clarity of research explanation and other evidence of communication skills
  • Evidence of excellent interpersonal and leadership skills
  • Academic achievement
  • Likelihood of timely degree completion (As this fellowship is intended to support doctoral degree completion, students demonstrating a clear plan and strong likelihood of filing their dissertation by the summer dissertation filing deadline at the end of the award year will be given the strongest consideration.)

Eligibility

Each School may nominate one outstanding doctoral student who meets the following minimum criteria:

  • Shows financial need
  • Exhibits excellent interpersonal and leadership abilities
  • Has a UCI GPA of 3.8 or better
  • Has advanced to candidacy
  • Is making satisfactory academic progress toward their degree
  • Is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident

As this fellowship is intended to support doctoral degree completion, students demonstrating a clear plan and strong likelihood of filing their dissertation by the summer dissertation filing deadline at the end of the award year will be given the strongest consideration.

Application Process

Graduate students should consult with their program graduate affairs staff for submission instructions.

All individual student nominations must include the following:

  1. A completed UCI Fletcher Jones Fellowship Nomination Form.
  2. A completed UCI Fletcher Jones Student Information Form, including the following:
    • 100-word statement of financial need (note any gaps in support, dependents, etc.)
    • 100-word student profile
    • 500-word statement by the nominee describing their research project, progress to date, and plan for completion. Nominees should describe their research in terms that are accessible to a general audience since the reviewers may not be in their field.
  3. A current CV.
  4. Letters of recommendation from the following:
    • The student’s faculty advisor/mentor (this letter should address the student’s financial need, interpersonal and leadership abilities, satisfactory academic progress, and expected date of degree completion)
    • The student’s department chair or program advisor

The nomination package should be forwarded with the signature of the School or Program’s Associate Dean. A letter of recommendation from the Associate Dean is not required.

Contact Info

Questions should be directed to Turner Dahl, 949-824-0409

Deadline

The deadline for e-mail receipt of completed/signed nomination packages is 5:00pm on Friday, August 20, 2021. Please note that Schools and Programs may have earlier internal submission deadlines.

Please Note

  • If students have applied for and accepted Financial Aid loans or Work-Study awards and subsequently receive any fellowships, the additional support may affect their eligibility for need-based financial aid. Students should contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to determine if their eligibility will be affected. Students should also review the terms of any funding that they have accepted for AY 2021-2022 to ensure that they are eligible to receive additional fellowship funding.
  • The awardee will not be permitted to serve as a Teaching Assistant while receiving this award
  • In the event the nominee is seleted for this award, please plan accordingly and have a replacement to serve as a Teaching Assistant (if applicable).
  • This fellowship does not include tuition and fees. The awardee’s School is expected to cover the cost of the awardee’s tuition and fees for the 2021-2022 academic year.
IMPORTANT NOTE: When selecting “US Institution Through Which Applying,” be sure to select “UC Irvine Graduate School.” If you select “UC Irvine,” rather than “UC Irvine Graduate School,” your application will be routed to the undergraduate fellowships office and will be delayed in reaching our reviewers. 
  • Operates in approximately 140 countries worldwide.
  • Awards grants in nearly all fields and disciplines, including the humanities, sciences, professional fields, and creative and performing arts.
  • Allows for individually designed study/research or an English Teaching Assistantship. You can propose a project and/or study plan that will take place during one academic year in a country outside the U.S.
  • Provides support for study/research/teaching abroad, usually in a single country (see Country Summaries http://us.fulbrightonline.org/program_regions_world.html). You can meet, work, live with, and learn from the people of the host country, sharing daily experiences.
  • Facilitates cultural exchange. Through direct interaction on an individual basis in the classroom, field, home, and in daily tasks, you can gain an appreciation of others’ viewpoints and beliefs, the way they do things, and the way they think.
  • Promotes mutual understanding. Through engagement in the community, you can interact with your hosts on a one-to-one basis in an atmosphere of openness, academic integrity, and intellectual freedom.

Call for nominations: TBD
Application/Nomination Deadline: 
TBD

For more information contact: Kayleigh Anderson at kayleiga@uci.edu

Details

Fulbright U.S. Student Program Grants

The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 by the U.S. Congress to “enable the government of the United States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.” It is the largest U.S. international exchange program offering opportunities for students, scholars, and professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide. The Fulbright Program receives its primary source of funding through an annual appropriation from Congress to the Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions in foreign countries, and in the United States, also contribute financially through cost-sharing and indirect support. The Fulbright Program for U.S. Students is coordinated by the Institute of International Education (IIE) in New York.

WHO CAN APPLY FOR A FULBRIGHT U.S. STUDENT PROGRAM GRANT?

  • U.S. Citizens
  • Master’s and doctoral candidates who will demonstrate capacity for independent study or research, together with a general knowledge of the history, culture, and current events of the countries to which they are applying.

Note: The Fulbright U.S. Student Program has a preference for candidates who have not had recent extensive experience abroad (excluding recent undergraduate study abroad), especially in the country of application.

For full information on award eligibility, please visit: http://us.fulbrightonline.org/about/eligibility.

DURATION OF FULBRIGHT U.S. STUDENT PROGRAM GRANTS

Grant lengths and dates vary by country. Please consult the Country Summaries for specifics.

In general, grants for 2020-2021:

  • Are one academic year in length—between 9 and 12 months.
  • Correspond to the host country’s academic calendar.

Requirements for attendance at orientation programs, in the U.S. and/or overseas, are also contained in the Country Summaries.

TYPES OF FULBRIGHT U.S. STUDENT PROGRAM GRANTS

U.S. Student Fulbright Grants fall into three general categories:

  1. Full Grants for Study/ Research
  2. Full Grants for English Teaching Assistantships (ETA)
  3. Special Programs: Additional awards are available in language study and digital storytelling. For more information, visit the Types of Grants page.

APPLICATION PROCESS

The Fulbright website provides explanations of the components of applications as well as application checklists.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • What is the role of the UCI Fulbright Program Advisor? The Advisor answers questions regarding the administrative details of the Fulbright Award including the application process. The Advisor is also the person to whom you will submit your final application and required materials. The Advisor organizes and co-chairs the Campus Review Committee.
  • How do I apply? Students must apply online at https://apply.iie.org/apply/. Once you hit the submit button, the UCI Fulbright Program Advisor will be able to view your application. Only your UCI Fulbright Program Advisor can submit your application to IIE.
  • How do I make sure my proposal is feasible? There are several things to keep in mind when determining an appropriate Fulbright proposal:
    • Is your proposal sufficiently defined to allow you to carry out your project within the given time frame and resources available?
    • Do you possess the necessary skills and experience?
    • Will you have access to relevant resources overseas?
    • Do you possess the language skills necessary to carry out the project?
    • Is your proposal relevant to the discipline?
    • Have you clearly expressed the outcome of your proposal (what do you expect to gain, contribute to the field, host country, or U.S.)?
    • Is it necessary for you to carry out your proposal only in the host country, or are sufficient resources available in the U.S.?
    • Is your proposal unique, or is it something that has already been investigated many times?
  • Do I need a formal affiliation even if I’m not planning to enroll in university classes? Yes, all students need to be affiliated with an educational or research institute, ministry, or other organization in the host country.
  • How do I set up my overseas affiliation and mentor? In many countries it is up to you to find a mentor and/or a university or institution with which you would like to be affiliated. Even in those countries where affiliation is arranged for you, in most cases your application will only be strengthened by any steps that you take to affiliate yourself. Setting up an affiliation generally means finding a university where you will be able to take classes (usually as a special status non-degree seeking student) and/or use the library and other facilities. Note that in some countries you are required to gain formal university acceptance. In these cases it is up to the applicant to obtain application materials and follow the procedures of the host university.

    Finding a mentor entails identifying a professor(s) in the host country who will be willing to support your research and will write a letter to that effect. Formal letters are recommended. The mentor letter is in addition to the three letters of recommendation which are required as part of the application. Your professors may be able to help you establish overseas contacts. When contacting potential mentors, you should explain that you are a Fulbright applicant and should provide a detailed description of your study/research proposal. You must also outline the type of support that you are requesting (e.g., access to libraries, professors, office space, equipment, etc.). It is very important to begin identifying both your affiliation and mentor at least three months in advance of the application deadline.

    Your affiliation and mentor letters may or may not be one in the same. You may have up to three affiliations. If your affiliation/support letters are in a language other than English, you MUST attach an English language translation to the original.
  • Can I apply for a grant in more than one country? Some regions accept multi-country proposals. Multi-country grants require a strong rationale. Approval from each country is required, and scholars must have affiliations in all countries. Typically, a minimum of 3 consecutive months is required in each country visited.
  • If the UCI Campus Review Committee does not endorse my application, will it be forwarded to IIE for further consideration? Yes, the Campus Review Committee forwards all applications to IIE along with the committee’s comments.
  • Can I have access to my campus rating? No, these ratings are confidential records and cannot be released.
  • Will a Fulbright award allow me to obtain a degree overseas? Can I apply overseas credits earned towards a U.S. degree program upon my return? No, in the vast majority of cases. Grantees generally take courses on a not-for-credit, non-degree seeking basis. See individual country summaries for exceptions. It is the sole responsibility of the individual to arrange for the transfer of credit to UCI. Applicants should note that most overseas universities do not operate on the U.S. credit system.
  • If I am awarded a grant may I defer it to another time? No, grants may not be deferred. Grants may only be used for the particular academic year they are awarded.
  • Can I submit more than three letters of recommendation? No, a maximum of three recommendation letters should be submitted. However, you may wish to solicit more letters to avoid last minute submission. Letters of support from the host country may be submitted in addition to the three, but should be limited to those individuals or institutions with which you will actually be working.
  • I am a native speaker of the language of the country to which I am applying. Do I need to submit the foreign language report form? Yes. This form must be completed for native speakers as well as for anyone who is proposing to study or do research in a language other than English.
  • While I am doing research or studying abroad on a Fulbright Grant, do I need to register (enroll in units and pay fees)? Yes, you will need to submit an In Absentia petition, enroll in research units, and pay In Absentia fees.
  • While I am teaching abroad on a Fulbright ETA Grant, do I need to register (enroll in units and pay fees)? We recommend petitioning for a Leave of Absence.

AY 2019-2020 APPLICATION CALENDAR (FOR AY 2020-2021 FULBRIGHT GRANTS)

 DATE

 CALENDAR DETAILS

April 1, 2019

  • Fulbright Program application for U.S. Students, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, officially opens.

June 2019

  • Carefully review the Fulbright Program website for all details of the application and award process.
  • Discuss ideas for a Fulbright project with both your faculty mentor and other faculty who have knowledge of you and your work

July 2019

  • Notify the UCI Fulbright Program Advisor, Dr. Kayleigh Anderson-Natale, of your intent to apply to the Fulbright Program.
  • Work on application, obtaining references, letters of affiliation, etc.

August 2019

  • Keep in close contact with the UCI Fulbright Program Advisor.
  • Ensure that all aspects of your application are in progress (and almost complete). 
  • Language assessment will need to be conducted separately by completing the Foreign Language Evaluation Form (if required).

September 8, 2019

(Submit by Sunday 9/8/19 at 11:59pm)

This is a firm internal deadline. Applications will only be accepted and submitted for review if all materials are turned in by this date.

Completed electronic application with all uploaded supporting documents must be submitted online by 11:59pm on Sunday, September 8, 2019.

September 26 and 30, 2019

Interview Dates

  • Interviews are conducted on-campus by a faculty committee.
  • Language assessment will need to be conducted separately by completing the “Foreign Language Evaluation” Form (if required) prior to the interview.

October 3, 2019 at 5pm

THIS IS A FIRM INTERNAL DEADLINE FOR FINAL APPLICATION SUBMISSION.

The UCI Fulbright Program Advisor submits all applications to the Institute of International Education (IIE) via the Embark system by the national deadline of October 8, 2019 at 5:00pm EST. For this purpose, all students must submit their applications and all supplementary materials by 5:00pm PST on Thursday, October 3, 2019.

FULBRIGHT PROGRAM CONTACT INFORMATION

Kayleigh Anderson, Ph.D.
UCI Fulbright Program Advisor
949-824-5196
kayleiga@uci.edu

UCI BEST PRACTICES

Statement of Grant Purpose:

  • Thoroughly study the information on the Fulbright US Student Program website: http://us.fulbrightonline.org/. Each country differs in the specifics of awards, so be sure to read the web page for the country or countries to which you plan to apply.
  • The statement of grant purpose is a two-page document that outlines the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of what you are proposing for your Fulbright year.
  • Developing a strong, feasible, and compelling project is the most important aspect of a successful application.
  • Write a clear, concise, strong introductory paragraph that will capture the readers’ attention.
  • The proposal should indicate a clear commitment to the host country and a description of how you will engage with it on multiple levels.
  • Describe the preliminary research you have done and the methods you will use to carry out your project.
  • Provide a timeline for your activities, and make sure it is feasible to carry out your project during this timeline.
  • Clearly show the relevance of your work for your research area and for the involved communities.
  • State how the research is original and where it fits as part of a larger project, if applicable.
  • Clearly state why the research must be carried out in the host country.
  • Your readers will be highly educated, but not experts in your field. Avoid jargon and make sure that an educated general reader will be able to understand your proposal.
  • Format: single-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman font, 1-inch margins

Personal Statement:

  • This is written as a narrative one-page CV, and is designed to give the reviewers a picture of you as an individual. This should discuss your personal history, family background, intellectual development, and the impact of educational, professional, or cultural opportunities to which you have or have not been exposed and how your personal and academic experiences have led to your proposed project.
  • Include any volunteer work and personal activities related to the project and showcase your leadership and communication skills.
  • Describe the ways in which you will act as a cultural ambassador to your host country.
    • How will you interact with the people?
    • What activities do you have planned to support interaction outside of the laboratory or library?
    • When possible, relate planned activities to activities you have engaged in before, such as volunteer work, community outreach, etc.
  • This should not be a reiteration of facts already listed in the Biographical Data section of the application or the Statement of Grant Purpose.
  • Format: single-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman font, 1-inch margins

Letters of Affiliation:

  • These should be on institutional or company letterhead and signed by an official. Multiple affiliations are acceptable, but keep these to a maximum of three.
  • If in a foreign language, letters of affiliation should be translated by the applicant. The original letter and English translation should be scanned into a single PDF for uploading.
  • It can take several months to get these letters, so start EARLY by providing a copy of your Statement of Grant Purpose and CV.
  • Good letters of affiliation enhance an application by demonstrating that you have actively sought an institutional connection or connections in the host country.
  • Some countries recommend affiliation with a local university.

Letters of Reference:

  • You must submit three letters of reference. The authors should be the three individuals who can best speak to your ability to carry out the project being proposed. They should discuss your intellectual and personal preparation, and your ability to represent the U.S. abroad.
  • You must register each referee online using a valid email address.
  • Letters must be on official institutional letterhead with the electronic signature of the referee.
  • Ask early and set an early deadline (August 15th is suggested.)
  • You will want to provide your referees with a draft of your Statement of Grant Purpose and CV, as the reference letter should NOT simply be a character reference, since this will be of no value in assessing your ability to successfully complete your Fulbright research.
  • You will also want to ask your referees for feedback on your proposal. Faculty referees have had experience writing such applications and they are an invaluable resource as you put together your application.
  • Letters of reference must be written in English. If the original reference letter is written in a language other than English, there must be an official English translation. As letters are confidential, the translation cannot be done by the applicant. Both the original letter and English translation must be uploaded as part of the application.
  • NOTE: If one of your recommenders will also be providing your language evaluation, please note that they will need to register in the Embark application system using two different email addresses.

Foreign Language Report(s):

  • The foreign language evaluation should be carried out and submitted by a language professor or other faculty at an accredited institution.
  • For most Fulbright scholars, proficiency must be at the “hospitality” level (basic conversational skills). For scholars that will conduct interviews as part of their research, it is preferred that language proficiency be at the “near-native” level.
  • If your project requires that you read texts in ancient languages, document your proficiency.
  • You can include plans to increase your language proficiency through classes or other means before your Fulbright tenure begins.
  • NOTE: If one of your recommenders will also be providing your language evaluation, please note that they will need to register in the Embark application system using two different email addresses.

Unofficial Transcripts:

  • Obtain unofficial transcripts from the institutions at which you have studied.
  • Upload transcripts online.
  • Official transcripts will be requested later in the process if you are recommended for further consideration.

On-Campus Interview:

  • Interviews will be held on September 27 and October 1, 2018 by a faculty committee.
  • Please dress professionally and come prepared to briefly and concretely describe your research project.
  • Please take notes or record the interview so that you can use the feedback to improve your application before the final submission.

FULBRIGHT U.S. SCHOLAR PROGRAM

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program offers 15 postdoctoral awards, as well as nearly 300 awards that are open to a range of scholar profiles, including early career scholars. These awards are open to American citizens who have recently completed their doctoral degree – typically within the five previous years. To learn more, visit https://www.cies.org/program/postdoc.

Overview: The Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Program is a separate and distinct program from the Fulbright U.S. Student Grant Program. This program is administered by the U.S. Department of Education, and it provides grants to colleges and universities to fund individual doctoral students who conduct research in other countries, in modern foreign languages and area studies for periods of six to 12 months.

Call for nominations: Feburary 5, 2021
Application/Nomination Deadline: 
Noon, March 8, 2021

For more information contact: Sonia Lepe at slepe1@uci.edu

Details

Eligibility

A student is eligible to receive a Fulbright-Hays award if he or she meets all of the following criteria:

  • Is a citizen or national of the United States or is a permanent resident of the United States.
  • Is a graduate student in good standing at an institution of higher education in the United States who, when the fellowship begins, is admitted to candidacy in a doctoral program in modern foreign languages and area studies at that institution.
  • Is planning a teaching career in the United States upon graduation.
  • Possesses adequate skills in the language(s) necessary to carry out the dissertation project.

Award Info

Expenses covered by the award:

  • Travel expenses, including excess baggage to and from the residence of the fellow to the host country of research.
  • Maintenance and dependent(s) allowances based on the cost of living in country or countries of research for the fellow and his or her dependent(s).
  • Project allowance for research related expenses such as books, copying, tuition and affiliation fees, local travel, and other incidental expenses.
  • Health and accident insurance premiums.
  • An administrative fee of $100 to applicant institution.

Terms and Conditions

A Fulbright-Hays fellow shall:

  • Maintain satisfactory progress in the conduct of his or her research.
  • Devote full time to research on the approved topic.
  • Not engage in any gainful employment during the fellowship period.
  • Remain a student in good standing at his or her institution.
  • Register In-Absentia while doing their research abroad.

Application Process

Institutions of higher education in the United States are eligible to apply for grants under the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Program. Students must apply through their institutions. Proposals should be prepared in the electronic format available through the Department of Education website. Applications must be submitted electronically using the Department’s G5 system.

Overview
The Gordon Hein Scholarship provides financial support to graduate students who demonstrate outstanding past academic achievement as well as future promise, have financial need, and are blind or legally blind. Certification by the Disability Services Center is required.

Call for nominations: October 19, 2021
Application/Nomination Deadline:
November 23, 2021

For more information contact: Sonia Lepe at slepe1@uci.edu

Award Amount
This award provides resident fees and a stipend of $6,000 during Spring Quarter of the academic year of the award. Nonresident supplemental tuition and professional degree supplemental tuition are not included.

  • Eligibility
    Students must be pursuing a Ph.D. or master’s degree. Students enrolled in self-supporting programs are not eligible.
  • Must be in good academic standing
  • Must demonstrate financial need
  • Must be blind or legally blind APPLICATION PROCESS Complete the application form, obtain the signature of the Graduate Associate Dean in your school and send to ganzivin@uci.edu with the following:
  • Gordon Hein Scholarship Application Form – with all signatures
  • U.S. citizens apply for FAFSA – attach a copy of confirmation. International students – statement of financial need from faculty advisor or department chair.
  • Recommendation letter from faculty advisor or department chair
  • Statement of research, written for reviewers in other fields – approximately one page
  • Current Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Unofficial transcripts through Spring Quarter
  • Certification (signature on form) from Disability Services Center

Overview

The UCI Graduate Division is pleased to announce a fellowship for students nearing completion of their dissertations/thesis. The Graduate Dean’s Dissertation Fellowship aims to increase dissertation and thesis completion amongst doctoral and MFA students. This award is intended for students in their final year of graduate study who have a realistic expectation of degree completion during the 2021-2022 academic year. The award will allow students to forgo their non-research related employment obligations to concentrate on completing their degree.

Deadline

  • Call for nominations: Tuesday, April 6, 2021
  • Nomination Deadline: Check with your department for their internal deadline
  • Complete application due to Graduate Division Monday, May 10, 2021 @ 12 PM (Noon)

Forms 

Award Info

In an effort to maximize the number of students that can be supported by this fellowship, awards will be made for summer quarters only. The Graduate Dean’s Dissertation Fellowship provides a $5,000 stipend during summer 2021 for students nearing completion of their dissertation or thesis during the 2021-2022 academic year. Graduate Division will cover the cost of the stipend.

Qualifications

  • Full-time Ph.D./MFA students nearing the completion of their dissertation or thesis
  • Nominees must provide evidence in their application that the timeframe to file their degree is reasonable 
  • Academic merit
  • Need for release from non-research related employment
  • Realistic expectation that the student is near degree completion
  • Nominees may not be past their academic program’s maximum time-to-degree

Stipulations

  • GDDF fellows are required to file their dissertation during the 2021-2022 academic year and must file their degree no later than summer 2022.  
  • Department/Schools/Colleges will be required to re-pay the awarded funds to the Graduate Division if the filing requirement is not met. 
  • GDDF fellows cannot hold any university employment including but not limited to TA/Associate/Reader/Tutor or GSR/GSAR/ positions during the summer fellowship term but may hold employment during the 2021-2022 academic year. 
  • GDDF fellows are no longer eligible for Graduate Division fellowship funding after the end of the summer fellowship term. 
  • If students have applied for and accepted Financial Aid loans or Work-Study awards and subsequently receive any fellowships, the additional support may affect their eligibility for need-based financial aid. Students should contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to determine if their eligibility will be affected.
  • Students should review the terms of any funding that they have accepted for the 2021-2022 academic year to ensure that they are eligible to receive additional fellowship funding.

Application Process

Schools are asked to set internal deadlines and collect the student applications accordingly.  Based on merit, schools will then forward nominations and rankings of the students to the Graduate Division by Monday, May 10, 2021 at 12pm. 

Nominations are limited to 3 per school for 2021-2022. At this time, College of Health Sciences are limited to 2 nominations per school/program.

Students should check with their academic program for internal deadlines and submit a complete GDDF application form as a Microsoft Word document via e-mail to their department. 

Students: complete and submit the GDDF application form electronically to their academic department, along with the following:

  • Student Statement (500 words max)
    • Brief description of status of research and progress to date 
    • Detailed plan & timeline for completion
    • Explanation of how fellowship will help complete degree within timeframe. Review the application for additional details.
    • Description of past employment while a graduate student
    • Listing of all extramural, departmental, and Graduate Division fellowships or other financial support received, including pending applications with year and amount
  •  Supplemental Documents 
    • Confirm internal deadlines with your academic department
    • Current version of the student’s Curriculum Vitae (CV)
    • UCI unofficial academic transcript (with Winter 2021 grades)
    • Letter of recommendation from student’s dissertation committee chair
    • Save the GDDF Fellowship Student Application form
    • Combine all documents as “GDDFApp_Last Name_SID#.pdf”, e.g. “GDDFApp_Gilman_12345678.pdf”

NOTE: Please review the student application and nomination forms for all of the required documents.

Departments: complete the GDDF Department Nomination Form for each student the department is nominating.

Save the GDDF nomination form as a single PDF file named “GDDFNOM_Last Name_SID#.pdf”, e.g. “GDDFNOM_Gilman_12345678.pdf”

In addition, departments should complete the following:

  • Combine files to a single PDF file for each nominee in this order:
    • GDDF Department Nomination Form
    • GDDF Student Application Form
      • Student Statement
      • Letter of recommendation from the dissertation/thesis advisor 
      • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
      • UCI unofficial academic transcript (include Winter 2020 grades)
    • Save this PDF file as “GDDF_Last Name_SID#.pdf”, e.g. “GDDF_Gilman_12345678.pdf”
    • Forward nomination packages to your school/college for ranking

      How to create PDF Portfolio: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/create-customize-pdf-portfolios.html

Schools/College: submit completed documentation for the top 3 for their school and top 2 for each school/program in Public Health in the College of Health Sciences to fellowships@exchange.uci.edu and include the following:

  • PDF nomination packet for each student the school/college is nominating

Deadline

  • Call for nominations: Monday, April 6, 2021
  • Nomination Deadline: Check with your department for their internal deadline
  • Complete application due to Graduate Division Monday, May 10, 2021 by 12:00 PM (NOON)

Forms 

Contact Info

E-Mail: Fellowships@exchange.uci.edu

Overview

The Graduate Dean’s Recruitment Fellowship program is designed to supplement financial support packages of prospective doctoral and M.F.A. students who have received competitive offers from equivalent institutions.

Award Info

Each award will be up to $5,000 on top of their original award paid on September 1, 2021.

 

Eligibility

  • Nominee must be an admitted doctoral or M.F.A. student who has received a competitive offer(s) from equivalent institutions.

  • Nominee must be a US citizen, Permanent Resident, AB540 eligible or an international student.

  • Nominee must have a pending SIR.

  • Nominee must be interviewed during the admissions process by the department in order to be considered for this fellowship. Method of interview can be in-person, by phone, or Skype, etc. Email correspondence is NOT acceptable.

Nomination Process

There is no application process for this fellowship. Fellowship nominations are managed internally and administered by departments.  Please contact the Associate Dean’s office for your school for more information. 

Graduate Division Contact Info: Questions can  be directed to Mariela Menendez  at mmenend1@uci.edu

Overview

The Graduate Opportunity Fellowship (GOF) is a one year fellowship for first year MFA and doctoral students that is designed to release recipients from employment or loan obligations that might delay progress in graduate study. It is designed to facilitate the academic career development of students who have experienced significant disadvantage in their prior educational experiences.

Priority Nomination Deadline: February 17, 2022 12:00 PM

Final Deadline : March 17, 2021 12:00 PM

For more information contact: Mariela Menendez at fellowships@exchange.uci.edu 

Details

Funding Package

  • In the first year, the Graduate Division will award fellowship support of a $23,000 stipend, distributed during the academic year, plus payment of fees/tuition and document fee.

  • The department will supplement the award by:

    • 20% supplement ($4,600). 

    • Non resident tuition (if needed).

  • The department will guarantee the student’s funding for five years for a PhD and two to three years for a MFA, from TA/GSR funding etc.

Eligibility 

  • Nominee must be admitted to a doctoral or MFA program at UCI.

  • Nominee must demonstrate high potential and promise. 

  • Nominee must be a United States citizen, permanent resident, or AB540 eligible

  • Nominee needs to be interviewed by the admission committee.

  • Nominee must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate and master’s (if applicable) GPA. 

  • Nominee must have a pending SIR. 

  • Nominee must meet the UC definition of diversity.

Nomination Process

  • Each program can only submit one nomination for the GOF fellowship. 

  • Interested students should contact the program they are applying to and discuss interest in the fellowship.

  • The statement of purpose or personal history statement on the UC Irvine Online Application for Graduate Admissions will be used to help determine eligibility for nomination and selection of final awardees.

Review Criteria

  • Nominees will be reviewed on the following criteria in order:

    • Meeting the UC definition of diversity. 

    • Interest in diversifying the program. 

    • Proven resilience in the face of challenges, while still making exceptional achievements. 

    • Likelihood to finish the degree program to which they were admitted. 

Graduate Division Contact:  Questions can be directed to fellowships@exchange.uci.edu

Overview
UCI is a public research university proudly serving the state of California while reaching across the country and world. Inclusive excellence animates our core research, teaching and service mission. This commitment refers to building and sustaining a campus community where all expect equity, support diversity, practice inclusion, and honor free speech. Graduate students play an indispensable role in realizing this commitment. 

The Inclusive Excellence Ambassador Fellowship will provide a $5,000 summer stipend to support the research of PhD and MFA students who have shown a commitment to inclusive excellence. Fellows will also be expected to remotely mentor incoming graduate students who are first-generation and/or from a minority serving institution, and help them prepare for the start of their graduate studies at UCI. This fellowship requires participation in a mandatory virtual training, more details to follow.

Call for nominations: April 29, 2020
Application/Nomination Deadline: 
May 13, 2020

For more information contact: Daniel Fabrega at dfabrega@uci.edu

Details

Funding Package

Below are tips to consider as you prepare your statement regarding your commitment to inclusive excellence.

  1. Being personally committed to the idea of diversity is necessary but not sufficient.
  2. Describe how the activities in your statement promotes or advances equal opportunity for under-served populations and/or under-represented racial and ethnic minorities. Please note: This may vary depending on what part of the educational pipeline that you are referring to and/or field you are describing.
  3. Clarify the nature of your involvement. Were you involved in a single activity or multiple activities; did you serve in a leadership or other key role?
  4. Discuss the significance and/or impact of the activity or activities. Relationship to evidence-based best practices or research literature; institutional context—such as laboratory, department, college or school or profession or field; and scope of impact.
  5. Address the extent to which the activity or activities have been recognized. Supported through a competitive funding source; results published or discussed in a learning community or conference of practitioners or presented in a poster session; selected for an award or other form of commendation; or formed part of a larger enterprise such as a committee report, taskforce recommendations or effected transformation in other ways.
  6. Be specific. If possible, provide references or citations. Avoid generalities.

Finally, please visit the UCI Office of Inclusive Excellence to learn more about the campus Inclusive Excellence Action Plan. The dedicated website outlines the principal pillars of the Action Plan, describes the associated goals and metrics, and identifies ways that members of the UCI community can #ActforInclusion.

 

At the end of the summer, awardees will need to provide a 500 word max report on what they did for their research and/or inclusive excellence over the summer.

Fellowship Eligibility:

  • All applicants must be currently enrolled graduate students at UCI, who are in good academic standing and meet one of the criteria below:
    • PhD student: have completed at least four quarters of doctoral study and plan to complete their doctoral degree after Spring 2021
    • MFA student: currently enrolled student who plans to complete their degree Spring 2021 or later.

 

Application Components:

  • Fill out the google application form. Upload the following documents as accessible PDF in the form:
    • 500 word or less statement that addresses the fellowship criteria above
    • Brief (20 words or less) statement of support from your dissertation advisor, graduate program advisor, or department chair

Deadline:

  • Submit your application via Google form by Noon Pacific Time, Wednesday, May 13th
  • Awardees will be notified May 27th 

Overview
The James Harvey Scholar award provides financial support to graduate students who demonstrate outstanding past academic achievement as well as future promise, have financial need, and are completing a publishable thesis or dissertation on homosexuality or the life or works of James Harvey.

Call for nominations: October 19, 2021
Application/Nomination Deadline:
November 23, 2021

For more information contact: Sonia Lepe at slepe1@uci.edu

Details

Award Amount
This award provides resident fees and a stipend of $6,000 during Spring Quarter of the academic year of the award. Nonresident supplemental tuition and professional degree supplemental tuition are not included.

Eligibility
· Students must be pursuing a Ph.D. or master’s degree. Students enrolled in self-supporting programs are not eligible.
· Must be in good academic standing
· Must demonstrate financial need
· Must have advanced to candidacy and be in their final year of study
· Must be writing a thesis or dissertation on homosexuality or the life or works of James Harvey. Priority will be given to students researching male homosexuality.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Complete the application form, obtain the signature of the Graduate Associate Dean in your school and send to ganzivin@uci.edu with the following
· James Harvey Scholar Application Form – with all signatures
· U.S. citizens apply for FAFSA – attach a copy of confirmation. International students – statement of financial need from faculty advisor or department chair.
· Recommendation letter from faculty advisor or department chair
· Statement of research, written for reviewers in other fields – approximately one page
· Current Curriculum Vitae (CV)
· Unofficial transcripts through Spring Quarter

Overview
The La Verne Noyes Fellowship provides financial support to graduate students who demonstrate outstanding past academic achievement as well as future promise, have financial need, are U.S. citizens, and are descendants of World War I U.S. Army or Navy veterans.

Call for nominations: October 19, 2021
Application/Nomination Deadline:
November 23, 2021

For more information contact: Sonia Lepe at slepe1@uci.edu

Details

Award Amount

This award provides a stipend of $3,000 during Spring Quarter of the academic year of the award.

Eligibility
· Students must be U.S. citizens pursuing a Ph.D. or master’s degree. Students enrolled in self-supporting programs are not eligible.
· Must be in good academic standing and demonstrate financial need.
· Must be the direct descendant of a World War I U.S. Navy or Army veteran. Note that the veteran must have served for at least four months between April 6, 1917 and November 11, 1918. Priority will be given to descendants of those killed in action.

Application Process
Complete the application form, obtain the signature of the Graduate Associate Dean in your school and send to slepe1@uci.edu with the following:
· La Verne Noyes Fellowship Application Form – with all signatures
· Apply for FAFSA – attach a copy of confirmation
· Recommendation letter from faculty advisor or department chair
· Statement of research, written for reviewers in other fields – approximately one page
· Current Curriculum Vitae (CV)
· Unofficial transcripts through Spring Quarter
· Copy of birth certificate and family tree showing the relationship to the WWI veteran with qualifying service
· Copy of the veteran’s active duty or honorable discharge document, or other documentation showing qualifying service for at least four months between April 6, 1917 and November 11, 1918, including documentation that the relative died in combat (if applicable).

OVERVIEW 
The Miguel Velez Scholarship provides financial support to graduate students who demonstrate outstanding past academic achievement as well as future promise, have financial need, and are citizens and residents of a Latin American country. Preference is given to citizens of Colombia.

Call for nominations: October 19, 2021
Application/Nomination Deadline:
November 23, 2021

For more information contact: Sonia Lepe at slepe1@uci.edu

Details

AWARD AMOUNT

This award provides resident fees and a stipend of $6,000 during Spring Quarter of the academic year of the award. Nonresident supplemental tuition and professional degree supplemental tuition are not included.

ELIGIBILITY
· Students must be citizens of a Latin American country and pursuing a Ph.D. or master’s degree. Students enrolled in self-supporting programs are not eligible. 
· Must be in good academic standing and demonstrate financial need. 
· Students who are citizens of Colombia or who can prove descent from the donor, Miguel Velez, will be given preference. 
· Students from a Latin American country who have AB 540 status are also eligible to apply.

APPLICATION PROCESS 
Complete the application form, obtain the signature of the Graduate Associate Dean in your school and send to slepe1@uci.edu with the following:

  • Miguel Velez Scholarship Application Form – with all signatures
  • Statement of financial need from faculty advisor or department chair
  • Recommendation letter from faculty advisor or department chair
  • Statement of research, written for reviewers in other fields – approximately one page
  • Current Curriculum Vitae (CV) 
  • Unofficial transcripts through Spring Quarter
  • Copy of passport page showing citizenship in a Latin American country. Residency will be verified via the student information system. DEADLINE 12 p.m. (noon), November 23, 2021

OVERVIEW 
The National Science Foundation (NSF) offers fellowships to students in the early stages of pursuing a research based Master’s or Ph.D. degree. The Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) affords our nation’s research leaders of tomorrow exceptional funding with three years of graduate support worth thousands of dollars.

Call for nominations: TBD
Application/Nomination Deadline: 
TBD

For more information contact: Kayleigh Anderson at kayeiga@uci.edu

Details

AWARD INFO

GRFP Fellows Receive the Following:

ELIGIBILITY

You are eligible to apply for an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship if you:

  • Are a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or permanent resident alien; and
  • Are a graduating senior, or have completed a B.A./B.S. degree, or are in the first year or the first semester of the second year in graduate school at the time of the application deadline; and
  • Did not previously apply to NSF GRFP as a graduate student*; and
  • Are pursuing a research-based master’s or doctoral degree in GRFP-supported disciplines, including: chemistry, computer and information science and engineering, engineering, geosciences, life sciences, mathematics, physics and anatomy, psychology, social sciences and STEM education.
  • Applicants who have completed more than twelve months of graduate study may be considered eligible if they have had an interruption in graduate study of at least two consecutive years prior to August of the year they are applying. To be eligible, applicants must not have attended graduate school for two years prior to August 1 of the year applying. Applicants also cannot be entering a graduate program in the fall of the year they are applying to the NSF GRFP. A statement describing the extenuating circumstance is required in the application.

*Note: Beginning in the 2017 cycle, graduate students only have one opportunity to apply.

APPLICATION PROCESS

NSF GRFP Proposals are evaluated on two merit review criteria: Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts

Intellectual Merit

  • Ability to plan and conduct research
  • Excellence when working both independently and on a team
  • Aptitude in interpreting and communicating research findings

 Broader Impacts – Activities and projects that:

  • Integrate research and education
  • Communicate your methodology and findings to a diverse audience
  • Encourage diversity and enable full participation
  • Enhance global scientific and technical understanding
  • Benefit society

CONTACT INFO

For more information about the NSF GRFP and resources available for UCI applicants, please contact:

Kayleigh Anderson-Natale
Postdoctoral and Professional Development Manager
949-824-5196

RESOURCES AT UC IRVINE

Take advantage of the various on-campus resources to assist you as you prepare, write and improve the caliber of your fellowship application. Funding workshops provide students with an overview of the NSF GRFP, writing tips on the application essays, and tips from fellow students and faculty reviewers.  Writing consultants at the Graduate Resource Center assist students in polishing their writing by providing comments and suggestions on grammar and clarity. Some Schools and/or graduate programs provide resources to students applying for the NSF GRFP.

Graduate Division and GRC Resources:

  • Summer and Fall quarter workshops at the GRC.
  • Dr. Kayleigh Anderson-Natale holds fellowship advising hours every week at the GRC. She is available to discuss application questions and provide feedback on fellowship applications. Schedule an appointment by calling 949-824-3849 or email (grc@uci.edu).
  • IDr. Celina Mojica is also available to discuss application questions and provide feedback on applications. Please email to schedule an appointment.
  • Writing Consultants at the GRC
    • Due to high demand, students are strongly encouraged to make an appointment online.
  • Fellowship Application SamplesStudents may view successful NSF GRFP applications at the GRC.

The GRC is located at 3100 Gateway Student Center. Click here for a map and directions from Ring Road.

RESOURCES AND LINKS

  • The National Science Foundation (NSF) Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students (INTERN) is a supplemental funding opportunity that provides graduate students supported by NSF grants with internship and training opportunities at non-academic institutions to help students gain knowledge, skills, and experience in preparation for successful long-term careers. Read the full opportunity here: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21013/nsf21013.jsp

    NSF will consider supplemental funding requests for up to an additional six months of graduate student support on active NSF grants with the following goals:

    1. To provide graduate students with the opportunity to augment their research assistantships or NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) fellowships with non-academic research internship activities and training opportunities that will complement their academic research training;
    2. To allow graduate students to pursue new activities aimed at acquiring professional development experience that will enhance their preparation for multiple career pathways after graduation; and
    3. To encourage the participation of graduate students from underrepresented groups such as women, persons with disabilities, underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), veterans, and persons from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Eligibility

  • To be eligible, graduate students must have completed at least one academic year in their graduate programs (master’s or doctoral) and be making satisfactory progress towards the completion of their degrees.
  • Either be working under a PI with an NSF grant OR be a current NSF Graduate Research Program Fellow.
  • GRFP Fellows must be active, either “on tenure” or “on reserve” during the entire period of the proposed internship.
    • If a Fellow is “on tenure” no stipend or tuition can be requested as part of the budget.
    • If a Fellow is “on reserve” funds for stipend and tuition during the interval of the internship will be considered.  The maximum stipend that will be considered is 2,833/month.

Activities Supported

The PI/co-PI of an active NSF award may request supplemental funding for one or more graduate students to gain knowledge, skills and experiences that will augment their preparation for a successful long-term career through an internship in a non-academic setting, including the following:

  • For-profit industry laboratories or industry research and development groups;
  • Start-up businesses, such as (but not limited to) those funded through the NSF’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program;
  • Government agencies (all levels) and National Laboratories;
  • Museums, science centers, and other informal learning settings;
  • Policy think-tanks; and
  • Non-profit organizations.

It is expected that the internship will be research-focused in a STEM field or in STEM education research and will be on-site at the host organization unless a specific exception to this is granted due to extenuating circumstances by the cognizant program officer.

Award Details

  • NSF plans to fund approximately 260 proposals in 2021
  • Funding requested cannot exceed $55,000 per student, per 6-month period
  • Allowable costs:
    • Travel
    • Tuition and fees
    • Health insurance 
    • Additional stipend
    • Temporary relocation costs
  • Tuition and fees will be considered only for the time of the internship

Submission Process and Deadline

  • March 29, 2022: Submit supplemental funding requests to Graduate Division.
  • April 15: NSF’s target date for each fiscal year. The Graduate Division will submit vetted applications by this date. 

Expect the review and processing for an INTERN proposal to take at least seven months. Carefully review the application components and instructions.

Apply Here

Sign-in to CampusGroups with our UCI credentials to submit your application: https://cglink.me/2eo/s50482

Contacts

Pre-Application: Questions about applying to NSF Intern can be directed to Dr. Kayleigh Anderson-Natale at kayleiga@uci.edu

Post-Application: Questions on the status of your application can be directed to Sonia Lepe at slepe1@uci.edu.

Application ComponentsInstructions     
A 2-page summary that describes the internship.The request must include a concise statement from the graduate student describing how the activity will better prepare the graduate student to enter the workforce.     
Resume (up to 2 pages)

Resume contains (but not limited to) the following information: 

  1. Educational Preparation
  2. Summary of graduate coursework completed
  3. Professional employment history
  4. Publications
  5. Other information relevant to the proposed internship
     
A letter of collaboration from host organization

A letter of collaboration from an authorized official at the organization which will host the student that describes

  • the internship opportunity and 
  • the mentoring that will be provided to the student during the internship. 
  • This letter should include a statement confirming that neither the graduate student nor the PI has a financial interest in the organization hosting the internship.
     
A letter from the PI (Dean Gillian Hayes)

A letter from the PI (Dean Hayes) that confirms that the student meets the eligibility requirements specified in this DCL. The letter must describe 

  • how the proposed internship activity will contribute to the student’s graduate education experience and 
  • how it may impact time to degree. 
  • The PI must describe activities that are synergistic with the scope of the PI’s NSF Grant to be supplemented.
     
NSF awardee and host organization Agreement

The NSF awardee and the organization hosting the graduate student must agree in advance as to how intellectual property (IP) rights will be handled. 

  • A signed agreement on IP (including publication and patent rights) must be submitted prior to the award of the supplemental funding. 
  • NSF is responsible neither for the agreement reached nor the IP information exchanged between the NSF awardee and the host organization.

DOWNLOAD AGREEMENT TEMPLATE HERE

     
Budget

A budget and a clear justification for all requested budget costs. 

  • Include the proposed internship start and end date in the budget justification. 
  • The amounts for each budget line item requested must be documented and justified in the budget justification as outlined in the NSF PAPPG.
  • The budget should incorporate indirect costs in accordance with UCI’s approved/negotiated indirect cost rate.

Contact your department’s budget advisor for support and approval.

     

Overview

The overall goal of the NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) program is to help ensure that a diverse pool of highly trained scientists is available in appropriate scientific disciplines to address the Nation’s biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs. More information about NRSA programs may be found at the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) website. The primary purpose of the NRSA is to ensure the TRAINING of independent research scientists.

 Structure of NIH
  • Organization of institutes
    • NIH is one of eight agencies that make up the Department of Health and Human Services. NIH awards, by far, the most grant money to U.S. universities to support biomedical research.
    • There are 25 Institutes and Centers under the umbrella of NIH. Each has its own mission.
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH) Fellowship

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Fellowship

Award Info

  • Predoctoral Applicants will receive a stipend of $23,376.
  • Postdoctoral Applicants will receive a stipend amount based on years of experience.
  • The NIH will provide funds for tuition, fees, health insurance, and training related expenses. Refer to the NIH notice: NOT-OD-16-047 for further information.
  • Award budgets are composed of stipends, tuition and fees, and institutional allowance
  • NRSA support is limited to 5 years for predoctoral trainees, and 3 years for postdoctoral fellows.

Eligibility

Eligibility Criteria

  • To be eligible for a Kirschstein-NRSA Individual Fellowship (F30, F31, F32), the fellowship applicant must be a U.S. citizen, a non-citizen national, or have been lawfully admitted to the U.S. for permanent residence before the award is issued. U.S. non-citizen nationals are persons born in lands that are not States but are under U.S. sovereignty, jurisdiction, or administration, e.g., American Samoa. Individuals on temporary student visas are not eligible for NRSA support. More for information, visit page I-97 of the Individual Fellowship Application Guide for NIH and AHRQ.

Application Criteria

  • All NIH applications submitted in support of biomedical and behavioral research are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system according to the following criteria:

Overall Impact/Merit

Reviewers will provide an overall impact/priority score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood that the fellowship will enhance the candidate’s potential for, and commitment to, a productive independent scientific research career in a health-related field, in consideration of the scored and additional review criteria.

Scored Review Criteria

Reviewers will consider each of the review criteria below in the determination of scientific merit, and give a separate score for each. An application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact.

Fellowship Applicant

  • Are the applicant fellow’s academic record and research experience of high quality?
  • Does the applicant fellow have the potential to develop as an independent and productive researcher in biomedical, behavioral or clinical science?

Sponsors, Collaborators, and Consultants

  • Are the sponsor(s) research qualifications (including successful competition for research support) and track record of mentoring appropriate for the proposed fellowship?
  • Are there (1) evidence of a match between the research interests of the applicant fellow and the sponsor (including an understanding of the applicant’s research training needs) and (2) a demonstrated ability and commitment of the sponsor to assist in meeting these needs?
  • Are the qualifications of any collaborator(s) and/or consultant(s), including their complementary expertise and previous experience in fostering the training of fellows, appropriate for the proposed research project?

Research Training Plan

  • Is the proposed research plan of high scientific quality, and does it relate to the applicant fellow’s training plan?
  • Is the training plan consistent with the applicant fellow’s stage of research development?
  • Will the research training plan provide the applicant fellow with individualized and supervised experiences that will develop research skills needed for his/her independent and productive research career?

Training Potential

  • Does the proposed research training plan have the potential to provide the applicant fellow with the requisite individualized and supervised experiences that will develop his/her research skills?
  • Does the proposed research training have the potential to serve as a sound foundation that will lead the applicant fellow to an independent and productive career?

Institutional Environment & Commitment to Training

  • Are the research facilities, resources (e.g. equipment, laboratory space, computer time, subject populations), and training opportunities adequate and appropriate?
  • Is the institutional environment for the scientific development of the applicant fellow of high quality, and is there appropriate institutional commitment to fostering the applicant fellow’s training as an independent and productive researcher?

Additional Review Criteria

As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will evaluate the following additional items while determining scientific and technical merit, and in providing an overall impact/priority score, but will not give separate scores for these items.

Protections for Human Subjects

For research that involves human subjects but does not involve one of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46, the committee will evaluate the justification for involvement of human subjects and the proposed protections from research risk relating to their participation according to the following five review criteria: 1) risk to subjects, 2) adequacy of protection against risks, 3) potential benefits to the subjects and others, 4) importance of the knowledge to be gained, and 5) data and safety monitoring for clinical trials.

For research that involves human subjects and meets the criteria for one or more of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46, the committee will evaluate: 1) the justification for the exemption, 2) human subjects involvement and characteristics, and 3) sources of materials. For additional information on review of the Human Subjects section, please refer to the Human Subjects Protection and Inclusion Guidelines.

Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Children

When the proposed project involves clinical research, the committee will evaluate the proposed plans for inclusion of minorities and members of both genders, as well as the inclusion of children. For additional information on review of the Inclusion section, please refer to the Human Subjects Protection and Inclusion Guidelines

Vertebrate Animals

The committee will evaluate the involvement of live vertebrate animals as part of the scientific assessment according to the following five points: 1) proposed use of the animals, and species, strains, ages, sex, and numbers to be used; 2) justifications for the use of animals and for the appropriateness of the species and numbers proposed; 3) adequacy of veterinary care; 4) procedures for limiting discomfort, distress, pain and injury to that which is unavoidable in the conduct of scientifically sound research including the use of analgesic, anesthetic, and tranquilizing drugs and/or comfortable restraining devices; and 5) methods of euthanasia and reason for selection if not consistent with the AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia. For additional information on review of the Vertebrate Animals section, please refer to the Worksheet for Review of the Vertebrate Animal Section.

Biohazards

Reviewers will assess whether materials or procedures proposed are potentially hazardous to research personnel and/or the environment, and if needed, determine whether adequate protection is proposed.

Application Process

Application Overview

  • F30 (dual doctoral degree fellowships, e.g., M.D.-Ph.D, D.D.S.-Ph.D) 
  • F31 (predoctoral fellowships)
  • F31 (predoctoral fellowships – diversity)
  • F32 (postdoctoral fellowships)
  • For a complete listing of Fellowship Program Announcements (PAs), see the F-kiosk.
  • Postdoctoral (F32) – Must have Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent. 
  • Predoctoral (F31) – Must have baccalaureate degree and be enrolled in a Ph.D. program.
  • F-series due receipt dates: April 8, August 8 and December 8

 Application Process

  • Notify your academic program that you plan to submit a NIH NRSA application
  • Applicants should work with their faculty advisor as early as possible to identify which NIH institute is most relevant to support their research and project, and to establish a strong training plan.
  • First time applicants are highly encouraged to give ample time to submit. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant.
  • Start your application by creating an eRA Commons account. All applicants must have an NIH eRA Commons User with “PI” as the designated role to apply for a NRSA Fellowship.
  • To create an eRA Commons account, contact the Office of Research Administration at 949-824-0018.
  • Fellows will need to prepare a SF424 (R&R) Form.
  • Refer to SF424 (R&R) Individual Fellowship Application Guide for NIH and AHRQ to search for specific topics by keyword or to find answers to your questions.
  • All NIH NRSA applications are due to the Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA) office at least 5 to 10 business days prior to the NIH deadline.

Resources at UCIrvine

Writing consultants at the Graduate and Postdoctoral Scholar Resource Center are available to help students to polish their writing by providing comments and suggestions on grammar and clarity.

  • Due to high demand, students are strongly encouraged to make an appointment by calling 949-824-3849.

Other Resources

Otto W. Shaler Scholarship (I)

Overview
The Otto W. Shaler Scholarship provides financial support to international graduate students who have financial need, and who demonstrate outstanding past academic achievement as well as future promise. Each school may submit no more than one application for this award.

For more information contact: Sonia Lepe at slepe1@uci.edu

Call for nominations: October 19, 2021
Application/Nomination Deadline:
November 23, 2021

Award Amount
This award provides resident fees and a stipend of $6,000 during Spring Quarter of the academic year of the award. Nonresident supplemental tuition and professional degree supplemental tuition are not included.

Eligibility
· International students pursuing a Ph.D. or master’s degree. Students enrolled in self-supporting programs are not eligible. 
· Must be in good academic standing and demonstrate financial need.

APPLICATION PROCESS 
Students submit the application materials below to their school representative. Students should check with their school representative for internal deadlines.

  • Otto W. Shaler Scholarship Application Form – with all signatures
  • Statement of financial need from faculty advisor or department chair 
  • Recommendation letter from faculty advisor or department chair 
  • Statement of research, written for reviewers in other fields – approximately one page 
  • Current Curriculum Vitae (CV) 
  • Unofficial transcripts through Spring Quarter 
  • Copy of passport page showing country of citizenship. Residency will be verified via the student information system.
 

Overview
Phi Beta Kappa Alumni Association International Scholarships are for foreign students engaged in their final year of graduate study. Visit the Phi Beta Kappa Alumni Association website for more detailed information about the program.

For more information contact: Sonia Lepe at slepe1@uci.edu

Call for nominations: February 10, 2021
Application/Nomination Deadline: 
12-noon, April 16, 2021

Award Info

One scholarship will be awarded per academic institution, in the amount of $1,000.

Eligibility

  • Candidates should be in their final year of study during the 2021-22 academic year. Evidence of registration for Fall 2021 is required before checks to awardees can be distributed. Students on filing fee in Fall 2021 are not eligible. 
  • Candidates are pursuing a Ph.D. or the usual terminal degree in their field. The only supported terminal Master’s degree at UCI is the MFA. Professional degrees (MBA, JD, MD) are not supported.
  • Candidates should be returning to their home country soon after earning their degree.
  • Candidates must demonstrate both academic excellence and significant need.
  • Candidates are not limited to persons who come from underdeveloped or developing countries.
  • Awards are to be made without discrimination on the basis of sex, race, age, or creed.
  • Repeat awards will not be considered.

Application Process

  • Students must complete the PBK Application Form.
  • Faculty must complete the PBK Faculty Recommendation Form.
  • A completed application must include the following:
    • A fully completed application form
    • A short essay on scholarly and professional ambitions (not necessarily limited to the space provided)
    • Two letters of recommendation from faculty members, including the student’s dissertation chair (for doctoral candidates) 
    • A justification of need (rough estimate)
    • Current unofficial transcript

Overview
The President’s Dissertation Year (PDY) Fellowship is intended for students in their final year of graduate study, who are planning to pursue teaching and research appointments soon after their dissertation fellowship year. This award assists graduate students with the completion of their dissertation, and enhances their qualifications as candidates for university faculty teaching and research appointments by providing professional opportunities needed to successfully obtain a faculty appointment.

For more information contact: fellowships@exchange.uci.edu

Call for nominations: Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Application/Nomination Deadline: Monday, May 10, 2021 @ 12 PM (Noon)

Award Info

The funding package includes:

  • One year of fellowship support paid directly by the UCI Graduate Division, including a yearly stipend of $23,000 (paid over a nine-month period, Oct. 1 to June 1) and full resident tuition and fees.
  • Departments also provide a minimum 20% stipend ($4,600) to the fellowship, paid in summer 2021
  • $500 academic travel stipend.
  • Please note: Non-resident tuition is NOT covered by this fellowship award.

Eligibility

  • Nominees must be current UCI Ph.D. students who are in their last year of graduate study and who have advanced to candidacy by Fall 2021.
  • Nominees must be U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents or AB540 status.
  • Nominees must be able to file their dissertation by the summer dissertation filing deadline at the end of the award year (Summer 2022). Financial penalties will be imposed on the program/school if fellows do not file their dissertation by the summer filing deadline at the end of the award year.
  • Nominees may not be past their academic program’s maximum time-to-degree.
  • Nominees must not have previously received dissertation funding from any source in support of a final dissertation year, or during the tenure of this award.
  • Fellows are required to participate in the President’s Dissertation Year Conference hosted by University of California’s Office of the President. Traditionally, the conference is held in Northern California during the fall of the award year; however, the time of year and location are subject to change. Faculty mentors are strongly encouraged to attend.
  • Nominees must qualify as a diversity student as defined by the University of California and demonstrate experience of situations or conditions which were an impediment to advancing to graduate study, such as socioeconomic or educational limitations, the absence of a family member who attended college, matriculation in a school with poor financial or curricular support, having a physical or learning disability or working long hours while attending school.
  • Fellows are required to present a seminar on their dissertation research twice during the award period.
  • Please Note: Fellows are prohibited from being employed as a TA or GSR during the term of this fellowship. GSR employment may not exceed 24% time without exceptional approval.

Application Process

STUDENT INFORMATION:

  • Students should check with their academic program for internal deadlines.
  • Students should fill out an Application Form.
  • Students should e-mail the completed PDY application form to their program along with the following materials:

Students must submit the PDY Fellowship application form electronically to the department, along with the following (please clearly label each section):

  • The student’s dissertation prospectus (max 4 pages, double spaced), which is a timeline for the completion of your dissertation
    • Provide a brief introduction of your dissertation project
    • Provide a summary for each of your dissertation chapters. Include dates of completion and/or prospective completion dates, and plans for completing unfinished chapters.
    • Include a plan for completing the writing and submitting of your dissertation to your committee for review, and when you plan to defend
    • Personal Statement
    • A brief statement of intent from the student regarding career objectives
    • Mentoring plan that includes a timeline of expected progress for completion of the dissertation (this should be co-written by both the student and advisor)
    • Student curriculum vitae (CV)
    • Unofficial transcripts including Winter Quarter 2021 grades
    • A list of proposed seminars (minimum of two) in which the student will present his/her research during the dissertation year
    • A detailed listing of all funding/support received by student
    • Include a written reference from the dissertation advisor
  • Save PDY Fellowship application forms as “PDY APP–SID#” (PDY APP-12345678) and send to your department prior to the department deadline
  • Check your department’s deadlines.

NOTE: Please review both the application and nomination form for all of the required documents.

Departments: Complete the PDY Nomination Form for each student the department is nominating:

  • Check the appropriate citizenship or residency box
  • Minimum 20% ($4,600) matching funds during Summer 2021
  • Save nomination form as “PDY NOM–SID# (PDY-nom12345678)”
  • Combine all documents in PDF Format for students being nominated in the following order:
    • PDY Nomination Form 
    • PDY Application Form
    • Dissertation prospectus
    • Mentoring Plan including a dissertation completion timeline
    • Statement of Intent – student career objectives
    • Dissertation advisor letter of recommendation
    • Unofficial transcripts
    • Student’s CV
    • Listing of seminar presentations
    • Detailed listing of all funding/support
  • Save this new PDF file as “PDY–SID#.pdf”

Schools/Colleges: Submit completed documentation for the top two school nominees and for College of Health Sciences each school/Program in Public Health one nominee to fellowships@exchange.uci.edu and include the following:

  • Rationale
  • Nomination packet for each student the school is nominating

Contact Info

fellowships@exchange.uci.edu

Notes

  • Nominations will be based on the student’s merit and his/her contribution to the diversity of their discipline/graduate program. In accordance with state law, nominees to state-funded programs are not given preferential treatment on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, religion or national origin.

Overview

Public Impact Fellowships highlight and support PhD or MFA students whose current research has the potential for substantial impact in the public sphere. Ideal candidates will be involved in research designed to significantly improve or enrich the lives of Californians and/or national and global communities.  The final selection committee will consider several factors when choosing the awardees, including each student’s presentation, interview, ability to convey their research to a broad audience, academic record, letters of recommendation, degree progress, and potential research impact.

All Schools are eligible to nominate students to compete for a total of 14 fellowships. Four Public Impact Distinguished Fellows will each receive $12,000. Ten Public Impact Fellows will each receive $1,000. Awarded students may choose to accept their awards during Winter or Spring quarter, or over both quarters, at their discretion. 

School nominations must be submitted to the Graduate Division by Friday, October 15, 2021 . Students should consult with their program’s graduate affairs staff member before applying, as Schools and programs typically set earlier internal deadlines.

Please use the following forms in preparing nominations:

Call for nominations: September 2, 2021
Application/Nomination Deadline: October 15, 2021

Details

Award Info

Graduate Division Public Impact Distinguished Fellowships: $12,000 to be used as a stipend

Graduate Division Public Impact Fellowships: $1,000 to be used as a stipend

Students who receive full $12,000 awards may not be appointed as ASEs during the award period, but may be appointed as GSRs. Students who receive $1,000 honorable mention awards may be appointed as ASEs or GSRs.

Eligibility

For UC Irvine Public Impact Fellowships, nominees must, at minimum, meet the following criteria:

  1. Have a minimum graduate-level UCI GPA of 3.7
  2. Be a current, full-time doctoral or MFA student 
  3. If a PhD student, be advanced to candidacy by October 15, 2021
  4. Conduct research that has critical public impact. (Examples of relevant research include studies that aim to improve economic opportunity and well-being, health care, social justice, political participation, cultural engagement, and scientific or technical solutions to pressing social issues.)
  5. Be willing to have research spotlighted/featured on both the Graduate Division’s and UCI’s website, brochures and social networks, and be able and available to effectively communicate and discuss their research in lay terms with prospective donors, legislators and/or their staff, and the media during winter and spring quarters.
  6. If selected as a finalist, students must be available to give a brief remote presentation to the selection committee, with no visual aids, immediately followed by a brief interview, on Wednesday, November 15, 2021

Application Process

Schools are asked to collect nominations from each department and forward the most promising nominees, based on merit and the potential public impact of the student’s research. There is no limit to the number of nominations. The final selection committee will consider several factors when choosing the awardees, including each student’s presentation, interview, ability to convey their research to a broad audience, academic record, letters of recommendation, degree progress, and potential research impact.

Instructions for Students

  • Complete the Student Information Form and save it as a Microsoft Word document (please save as “IMPACT APP – SID#.doc”, e.g. “IMPACT APP – 12345678.doc”)
  • Please email the following materials to your program’s graduate affairs staff member:
  1. Completed Student Information Form saved as a Microsoft Word document using the naming convention described above
  2. PDF of the completed Student Information Form with your signature.
  3. Your current CV
  4. Letter of recommendation from your primary faculty advisor/PI

Instructions for Programs/Departments

  • Complete the Nomination Form (please save as “IMPACT NOM – SID#.doc”, e.g. “IMPACT NOM – 12345678.doc”)
  • Complete the Nomination Form and obtain the Program Graduate Advisor’s and Associate Dean’s signatures.
  • Please create a single PDF file for each nominee in this order:
  1. Nomination Form (signed by the Program Graduate Advisor and Associate Dean)
  2. Student Information Form (signed by the student)
  3. CV
  4. Letter of Recommendation from the student’s primary faculty advisor/PI
  • Please save this new PDF file as “IMPACT – SID#.pdf”, e.g. “IMPACT – 12345678.pdf”
  • When all documentation is complete, please send an email to Turner Dahl containing the following documents for each nominated student:
  1. The completed Microsoft Word (.doc) Nomination Form
  2. The completed Microsoft Word (.doc) Student Information Form
  3. PDF of the complete nomination packet (to include all bold items listed above)

Contact Information

Please direct any questions to Turner Dahl at tdahl@uci.edu or (949) 824-0490.

Deadline

School nominations must be submitted to the Graduate Division by Friday, October 15, 2021. Students should consult with their program’s graduate affairs staff member before applying, as Schools and programs typically set earlier internal deadlines.

Notes

  • Students who receive full $12,000 awards may not be appointed as ASEs during the award period, but may be appointed as GSRs. Students who receive $1,000 honorable mention awards may be appointed as ASEs or GSRs.
  • For students already receiving financial aid, acceptance of a Public Impact Fellowship may affect their overall financial need-based support package. In such cases, students are encouraged to consult with the UCI Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. 
  • Students should review the terms of any funding that they have accepted for AY 2021-2022 to ensure that they are eligible to receive additional fellowship funding before applying.
  • Previous winners (full awardees and honorable mentions) are not eligible for this year’s competition.

The Graduate Division is now accepting nominations for the Tom Angell Fellowship, which will be awarded in winter 2021. This fellowship is intended to honor Tom Angell’s contributions as our Graduate Counselor to graduate student wellness and retention. The award is open to graduate students, faculty, and postdoctoral scholars.

Award Amount

One $500 fellowship award will be made to one graduate student; one $500 award will be made to one faculty member; and one $500 award will be made to one postdoctoral scholar. The faculty award must be used as a fellowship to a student of the faculty’s choice. The student and postdoctoral scholar awards must be used to support student/postdoc professional development. 

Submission deadline: Friday, January 29, 2021 at 5:00pm

Submit proposals to: Turner Dahl, tdahl@uci.edu

Call for nominations & application

Qualifications

Faculty Nominees

  1. Must have shown excellent mentorship of UC Irvine graduate students

 Graduate Student Nominees

  1. Must have shown excellent mentorship of fellow UC Irvine students
  2. Must be making satisfactory academic progress

 Postdoctoral Scholar Nominees

  1. Must have shown excellent mentorship of UC Irvine graduate students or fellow postdoctoral scholars. 

*Please confirm that the nominee holds a postdoctoral title with UCI before submitting a nomination.

 Evaluation Criteria

  • Nominee has mentored on a consistent basis throughout their time at UCI
  • Nominee has gone above and beyond the normal responsibilities of their position to create new opportunities for mentorship
  • Nominee has been recognized for their mentorship through receipt of awards or delegation of responsibility in mentorship

Save the Date:  Recipients will be honored at the annual Inclusive Excellence Event hosted by the Office of Inclusive Excellence on March 9, from 2:00pm – 4:00pm.  All nominees and nominators are encouraged to attend (location TBA).

The UC-HBCU Fellowship is a multi-year fellowship for students who have participated in the UC-HBCU Initiative in the last five years 

Students are eligible for up to three years of fellowship support:

  • The student will need to be offered five years of support from the program initially. 
  • UC Office of the President will swap two years of department funding with fellowship support
    • Does include non-resident tuition for year 1
    • Includes two summers funding as well 
  • The Graduate Division will fund one additional year with a $23,000 stipend plus tuition and fees during year 1
  • Department will need to provide support for the additional two years as well as all summers not covered by UCOP

Once an eligible student has been admitted, departments should work contact Mariela Menendez at fellowships@exchange.uci.edu , on the funding package.

UCI Graduate Division is honored to congratulate and recognize the 26 graduate and undergraduate students who received an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Grant along with 27 students who earned an honorable mention. The GRFP is one of the most preeminent honors that a young scholar can receive. In addition to the distinction, the GRFP provides research security and freedom by providing graduate students with $138,000 over three years.

Congrats to these fine scholars!

Elizabeth A Ankrah
Comp/IS/Eng – Human Computer Interaction

Adam Birnbaum
Mathematical Sciences – Statistics

Socorro Cambero
STEM Education and Learning Research – Science Education

Keiland Wade Cooper
Life Sciences – Neurosciences

Riley Elizabeth Cooper
Chemistry – Chemical Catalysis

Pieter Derdeyn
Life Sciences – Artificial Intelligence

Rakia Dhaoui
Chemistry – Sustainable Chemistry

Tri Ngoc Dong
Life Sciences – Neurosciences

Nicholas Duong
Physics and Astronomy – Astronomy and Astrophysics

Thuytien Duong
Life Sciences – Microbial Biology

Salma El-Azab
Materials Research – Metallic Materials

Max Hennessy Fieg
Physics and Astronomy – Particle Physics

Natalia Candelaria Gonzalez
Social Sciences – Sociology

Alexis Danielle Guerra
Geosciences – Biological Oceanography

Jinhyuk Elisha Kim
Geosciences – Artificial Intelligence

Lauren Jenna Merlino
Life Sciences – Physiology

Luis Adrian Ramirez
Engineering – Mechanical Engineering

Heather Carmen Romero Mercieca
Engineering – Bioengineering

Cesar M. Rosales
Social Sciences – Linguistics

Amelia Roskin-Frazee
Social Sciences – Sociology

Bryan Ivan Ruiz
Life Sciences – Cell Biology

Hannah Stober Slocumb
Chemistry – Chemical Catalysis

Andrew Sum
Engineering – Biomedical Engineering

Marixza Torres
STEM Education and Learning Research – Other (specify) – Socioemotional skill le

Valery Celeste Vigil
STEM Education and Learning Research – Artificial Intelligence

Ali Tareq Younis
Chemistry – Other (specify) – Bioinorganic

Honorable Mentions
Anne-Katherine Burns
Physics and Astronomy – Artificial Intelligence

Emily Marie Castro
Life Sciences – Neurosciences

Jordan Anthony Castro
Chemistry – Sustainable Chemistry

Thomas Joshua Cross
Chemistry – Computationally Intensive Research

Isaac Goldstein
Mathematical Sciences – Statistics

Weilin Guan
Engineering – Mechanical Engineering

Nadia Hirbawi
Chemistry – Chemical Catalysis

Christine Ji-Young Kim
Social Sciences – Anthropology, other (specify) – Sociocultural Anthropology

Mahek Suresh Logantha
Physics and Astronomy – Plasma Physics

Zane Gregory Long
Chemistry – Chemistry of Life Processes

Justin Thomas Mulvey
Engineering – Materials Engineering

Nellie Estelle Nelson
Life Sciences – Neurosciences

Phan Nam Phu
Chemistry – Chemical Structure, Dynamics, and Mechanism

Megan Alma Rocha
Chemistry – Chemistry of Life Processes

Isaryhia Maya Rodriguez
Life Sciences – Other (specify) – Molecular Biology

Jonathan Dennis Rodriguez
Mathematical Sciences – Mathematical Biology

Peter Joseph Santiago
Materials Research – Chemistry of Materials

Andrew Schmidt
Engineering – Biomedical Engineering

Allison Taylor Silverman
Social Sciences – Medical Anthropology

Maya Sophia Silverman
Physics and Astronomy – Astronomy and Astrophysics

Diana Sarah Suder
Life Sciences – Structural Biology

Katherine Townsend
Chemistry – Chemistry of Life Processes

Kylie Shizu Uyeda
Chemistry – Chemistry of Life Processes

JoAnne Villagrana
Life Sciences – Genetics

Karla Marlene Viramontes
Life Sciences – Other (specify) – Immunology

Amy Xiuting Wu
Physics and Astronomy – Condensed Matter Physics

Nuodi Zang
Chemistry – Chemical Theory, Models and Computational Methods