Fellowships 101: Introduction to External Funding for Graduate School

Fellowships allow you to receive a salary and tuition, set your own research agenda, earn prestige and develop career enhancing networks. In this session we’ll cover the basics, including where to search for funding and what goes into a successful application. Learn about opportunities to work in national and international labs. External funding is not just for U.S. citizens! We’ll discuss options for international students as well. Fall 2025 information sessions will be announced soon.

Email Betty madige@rpi.edu for more information.

Fall 2025 Information Session to be announced soon:  Students interested in the NSF GRFP, which provides 3 years of tuition and salary to graduate students in 30 STEM disciplines, are encouraged to attend this introduction to the program. We discussed the benefits, eligibility, and the selection criteria for strong candidates. We will also offer an overview of our successful BOOTCAMP program.  (Attendance is not mandatory to participate in the Bootcamp.) Each year, Rensselaer students successfully earn this award. U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents are eligible. 

Spring or Summer Bootcamp: 1st and 2nd year graduate students (fall 2025) and rising seniors are encouraged to register for this proven 4 week virtual program (no classes required) to develop strong applications to the NSF GRFP. This asynchronous online virtual program of self-paced activities is designed to help you develop strong application statements. Note: international students that may be eligible for and NSF Dissertation Improvement grant may benefit from participating in this Bootcamp. Email madige@rpi.edu for information. August 4th - 25th.  

Please see this OVERVIEW of the benefits of the NSF GRFP and what to expect during the Bootcamp.

Register for the Bootcamp.

INDIVIDUAL FEEDBACK IS AVAILABLE YEAR ROUND.  Email madige@rpi.edu for review of your 2025 application documents.

Eligibility: 

• U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident
• Undergraduate seniors and either first or second year graduate students. You may apply once as a senior and once more as either a first or second year graduate student.
• Applicant may not hold a Masters unless earned more than 2 years ago and not currently enrolled in graduate school. If you earned a duel bachelors and masters as an undergrad, you are eligible if they were conferred on the same day.
• 30 plus STEM fields (No MD, MD/PHD, or human subject clinical research)

Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation Scholarship Program: The Department of Defense SMART program offers a generous stipend, tuition, and the opportunity to work in DoD laboratories doing work in your field/discipline during summers and post graduation. Guaranteed work in your field after graduation. (United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or United Kingdom citizens are eligible)

National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship:  The NDSEG provides 3 years of stipend and tuition for PhD students that are doing work in areas that meet specific needs of the military as indicated in Broad Agency Announcements. This session will discuss eligibility, benefits, and approaches to creating a strong application. (United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or United Kingdom citizens are eligible)

Register for the spring 2025 virtual information session on April 30th at noon. 

Spend two afternoons learning powerful strategies for crafting strong statements for grant and fellowship applications. The first session will focus on content and the second on revision strategies.  Even the best writers will take away new strategies! Sessions will be in person and run during fall/spring of 2025-2026. Look for session announcements here.  

Fulbright is a U.S. State Dept. program that offers U.S citizens with a bachelor’s degree grants to engage with others in ~140 countries in multiple ways:

Research Study/Awards Design your own projects, affiliate with, or take classes at an academic or research institution. Many students do thesis or dissertation research abroad. Special grants are available in the arts, journal and communications, business, STEM, and public health advocates. Consider the Fulbright- National Geographic Storytelling Fellowship.

Teach English Abroad Spend a year teaching English at the elementary, high school, or post-secondary school level.

Earn a Graduate Degree Below is a sample of the many opportunities available:

Masters in Creative Industrial Design OR Energy Engineering in Taiwan

Masters in many fields in Israel

Architecture study in Milano Italy

PhD in: cancer, neurologic and psychiatric disorders, population health, biomaterials and

regenerative medicine, or vascular biology in Ireland

Look for the fall information session to be announced soon. For applications submitted fall of 2025; travel will take place fall of 2026.

Students seeking to travel during the 2026-2027 academic year should expect to complete the required RPI application process in August of 2025. Contact your Fulbright Advisor for details ASAP. Email madige@rpi.edu 

GEM Fellowship partners with over 120 top universities and 75 employers to support graduate students earning Masters and PhDs in over 35 STEM fields.  Undergraduate seniors and current graduate students may apply to be fully funded for up to five years (presuming adequate annual progress). If sponsored, the student will spend at least one paid summer internship at the sponsoring employer. Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents at the time of application.  GEM does focus on increasing diversity in graduate education, but will accept an application from any qualified candidate that employers may be seeking. Professional development and networking opportunities are some of the great benefits for participants. 

The next information session will take place in early fall of 2025. Please contact the advisor, madige@rpi.edu, at ANY time with questions about this program.

LEADERSHIP LAB: The Craft of Writing Effectively All graduate students and post-docs can improve their writing for publication and grant/fellowship applications. This presentation by Larry McEnerny, Director of the University of Chicago’s Writing Program, is highly recommended.

Writing in the Sciences Stanford University (free self-paced online course) This course covers everything from sentence-level issues like wordiness and verb choice to formatting a manuscript and communicating science to a non-technical audience. It is highly recommended by graduate students and faculty alike.

Writing Resources and Publications: Improve your writing with these guides and books recommended by the National Association of Fellowship Advisors. Many are available through the RPI library or can be purchased online.

• C.V. Tips and Tricks Do's and Don'ts for creating professional and effective C.V.s
• Resumes and Cover Letters for PhD Students Guide provided by Harvard University Office of Career Services. Many excellent examples.
• Find more writing resources, attend a workshop, or schedule a consultation on any communication project at the Center for Global Communication+Design.