:show_git_badge: true .. include:: ../_people.rst .. _fellowships: ================================================ Graduate Fellowships and Funding Opportunities ================================================ This page collects fellowship and funding opportunities relevant to Berkeley Astronomy PhD students, along with a running history of program applications. If you have applied to any of these fellowships, win or lose, consider sharing your materials via the :doc:`contributing guide ` to help future students. Anonymous entries are welcome. .. note:: Deadlines and award amounts change year to year. Always verify details on the official program website before applying. ---- University Fellowships ----------------------- Listed here are fellowships administered by UC Berkeley and/or the Graduate Division. These are typically awarded as part of graduate admissions and do not require a separate application. Chancellor's Fellowship ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ A merit-based fellowship offered to select incoming PhD students as part of their offer of admission. No application is required; it is included with the offer letter. Many students in the department receive it each year. .. list-table:: :widths: 20 80 :stub-columns: 1 * - Award - $20,000 * - Duration - First year only * - Eligibility - Incoming PhD students (no application required) .. dropdown:: Berkeley Astronomy application history .. list-table:: :header-rows: 1 :widths: 10 30 20 40 * - Year - Applicant - Outcome - Materials * - 2025/26 - |ElizaDiggins| `Eliza Diggins `__ - ✅Awarded - - Berkeley Fellowship for Graduate Study ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ A Graduate Division fellowship for continuing PhD students. Criteria and amounts vary by year and department. Contact the Graduate Division or your graduate advisor for details. .. list-table:: :widths: 20 80 :stub-columns: 1 * - Eligibility - Continuing PhD students .. seealso:: `Berkeley Graduate Division Fellowships `__ .. dropdown:: Berkeley Astronomy application history .. list-table:: :header-rows: 1 :widths: 10 30 20 40 * - Year - Applicant - Outcome - Materials * - - - - - - - *No entries yet — add yours via the* :doc:`contributing guide `\ *.* ---- Federal Fellowships -------------------- The fellowships in this section are funded by US federal agencies and are typically open to students at any accredited US institution. Many have specific eligibility criteria related to citizenship, field of study, or stage of graduate education, so check the details before applying. NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The GRFP is the flagship federal graduate fellowship and one of the most broadly applicable for early-career US researchers. It funds three years of study usable over a five-year window at any accredited US institution. Astronomy students typically apply under *Astronomical Sciences* or *Physics*. Honorable Mention is a real and recognized outcome worth listing on your CV. .. list-table:: :widths: 20 80 :stub-columns: 1 * - Award - $37,000 stipend + $16,000 cost-of-education allowance per funded year * - Duration - 3 funded years (usable over 5) * - Eligibility - US citizens and nationals; one application allowed, in year 1 or early year 2 of a PhD program; college seniors applying before enrollment are also eligible * - Deadline - Third week of October annually (exact date varies by field) .. seealso:: `NSF GRFP website `__ .. dropdown:: Berkeley Astronomy application history .. list-table:: :header-rows: 1 :widths: 10 30 20 40 * - Year - Applicant - Outcome - Materials * - 2025/26 - |ElizaDiggins| `Eliza Diggins `__ - ✅Awarded - - * - 2025/26 - |BenJacobsonBell| `Ben Jacobson-Bell `__ - ✅Awarded - - * - 2025/26 - |AnastasiaWei| `Anastasia Wei `__ - ✅Awarded - - DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (CSGF) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Highly selective fellowship for PhD students doing computationally intensive research. Fellows must complete a 12-week practicum at a DOE national laboratory. This is a notable draw for students interested in HPC, large-scale simulations, or connections to national lab science. .. list-table:: :widths: 20 80 :stub-columns: 1 * - Award - $45,000 stipend + full tuition + $1,000 academic allowance per year * - Duration - Up to 4 years (renewed annually) * - Eligibility - US citizens and LPRs; undergrad seniors, first-year PhD students, or students matriculating into a PhD program by fall of the application year * - Deadline - Mid-January annually .. seealso:: `DOE CSGF website `__ .. dropdown:: Berkeley Astronomy application history .. list-table:: :header-rows: 1 :widths: 10 30 20 40 * - Year - Applicant - Outcome - Materials * - 2025/26 - |ElizaDiggins| `Eliza Diggins `__ - ✅Awarded - - * - 2025/26 - |NoahSteigler| `Noah Steigler `__ - ✅Awarded - - NASA Future Investigators in Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ A NASA Science Mission Directorate grant where the graduate student designs and leads the research proposal. The student is listed as the "Future Investigator" and the faculty advisor serves as the PI of record. Astronomy students typically submit under the *Astrophysics* division or whichever SMD division best matches their science. .. list-table:: :widths: 20 80 :stub-columns: 1 * - Award - Up to $50,000/year (approximately $40,000 toward stipend) * - Duration - Up to 3 years * - Eligibility - US citizens and nationals enrolled full-time in a master's or doctoral STEM program * - Deadline - Early February annually (check NSPIRES under the current ROSES solicitation) .. seealso:: `FINESST on NSPIRES `__ `Astrobites application guide `__ .. dropdown:: Berkeley Astronomy application history .. list-table:: :header-rows: 1 :widths: 10 30 20 40 * - Year - Applicant - Outcome - Materials * - - - - - - - *No entries yet — add yours via the* :doc:`contributing guide `\ *.* DOE Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ A research supplement that funds a PhD student to conduct thesis-relevant research at a DOE national laboratory for 3 to 12 consecutive months. This is a supplement to an existing stipend, not a standalone fellowship. Well-suited for students whose research overlaps with national lab capabilities such as instrumentation, computing facilities, or unique datasets. .. list-table:: :widths: 20 80 :stub-columns: 1 * - Award - Up to $3,000/month living supplement + up to $2,000 travel reimbursement * - Eligibility - US citizens and LPRs; enrolled full-time PhD students whose thesis research aligns with DOE Office of Science priority research areas * - Deadline - Two solicitation cycles per year (roughly May and November) .. seealso:: `DOE SCGSR website `__ .. dropdown:: Berkeley Astronomy application history .. list-table:: :header-rows: 1 :widths: 10 30 20 40 * - Year - Applicant - Outcome - Materials * - - - - - - - *No entries yet — add yours via the* :doc:`contributing guide `\ *.* DoD National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ A DoD-sponsored fellowship for early-career PhD students in fields relevant to national defense. Astronomy students may be competitive under *Physics*. Full tuition coverage is a notable benefit. .. list-table:: :widths: 20 80 :stub-columns: 1 * - Award - $3,600/month ($43,200/year) + full tuition and fees * - Duration - Up to 3 years * - Eligibility - US citizens and nationals; applicants must be within the first two years of graduate study and have at least 3 years remaining in their program * - Deadline - Mid-November annually .. seealso:: `NDSEG website `__ .. dropdown:: Berkeley Astronomy application history .. list-table:: :header-rows: 1 :widths: 10 30 20 40 * - Year - Applicant - Outcome - Materials * - - - - - - - *No entries yet — add yours via the* :doc:`contributing guide `\ *.* ---- Private and Foundation Fellowships ------------------------------------ These fellowships are funded by private organizations, foundations, or companies. They often have specific focus areas such as applied research, cross-disciplinary training, or international collaboration. Hertz Fellowship ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ One of the most selective graduate fellowships in the US. The multi-stage interview process is notable on its own; interviewers probe how you think, not just what you know. Hertz emphasizes applied research with societal impact. Astronomy students have been competitive under physics. The stipend is portable and renewable for up to five years. .. list-table:: :widths: 20 80 :stub-columns: 1 * - Award - $38,000/9-month stipend + cost-of-education allowance * - Duration - Up to 5 years (renewed annually) * - Eligibility - US citizens and LPRs; college seniors and first-year PhD students intending to pursue a PhD in applied physical or biological sciences, mathematics, or engineering * - Deadline - October 31 annually .. seealso:: `Hertz Foundation website `__ .. dropdown:: Berkeley Astronomy application history .. list-table:: :header-rows: 1 :widths: 10 30 20 40 * - Year - Applicant - Outcome - Materials * - 2025/26 - |AnastasiaWei| `Anastasia Wei `__ - ❌Not Awarded - - Jane Street Graduate Research Fellowship ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Annual fellowship from the quantitative trading firm Jane Street for PhD students in CS, math, physics, statistics, and electrical engineering. International students are eligible. Astronomy students can apply under *physics*. If you already hold another fellowship, Jane Street will coordinate funding with your university. .. list-table:: :widths: 20 80 :stub-columns: 1 * - Award - $45,000 stipend + full tuition and fees * - Duration - 1 academic year (renewable) * - Eligibility - PhD students (domestic and international) with at least 1 year remaining, at accredited institutions in the US, Canada, UK, Europe, Australia, or New Zealand * - Deadline - November annually .. seealso:: `Jane Street GRF website `__ .. dropdown:: Berkeley Astronomy application history .. list-table:: :header-rows: 1 :widths: 10 30 20 40 * - Year - Applicant - Outcome - Materials * - - - - - - - *No entries yet — add yours via the* :doc:`contributing guide `\ *.* Quad Fellowship ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ A cohort-based fellowship for STEM PhD students from Quad nations (US, Australia, India, Japan) and the 10 ASEAN countries. The focus is on building cross-country connections in science and technology. Less selective than most fellowships on this page and a good networking opportunity. .. list-table:: :widths: 20 80 :stub-columns: 1 * - Award - $20,000 one-time stipend * - Eligibility - Current or incoming full-time STEM PhD students who are citizens or LPRs of the US, Australia, India, Japan, or an ASEAN country * - Deadline - Spring annually .. seealso:: `Quad Fellowship website `__ .. dropdown:: Berkeley Astronomy application history .. list-table:: :header-rows: 1 :widths: 10 30 20 40 * - Year - Applicant - Outcome - Materials * - - - - - - - *No entries yet — add yours via the* :doc:`contributing guide `\ *.* Templeton TEX Fellowship (Theory-Experiment Cross-Training) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ For PhD students in fundamental physics, astronomy, or cosmology who want to spend a year cross-training in the complementary discipline (e.g., an observer doing a year of theory, or a theorist joining an experimental group). You need a primary advisor at your home institution and a cross-discipline advisor who may be elsewhere. The fellowship must conclude before you are awarded your PhD. .. list-table:: :widths: 20 80 :stub-columns: 1 * - Award - Up to $250,000 total (covers fellow salary, advisor support, travel, and materials across the full project period) * - Eligibility - PhD students in physics, astronomy, or cosmology who are not yet in their final year * - Deadline - Rolling / annual; check the Templeton Foundation website for the current cycle .. seealso:: `Templeton TEX website `__ .. dropdown:: Berkeley Astronomy application history .. list-table:: :header-rows: 1 :widths: 10 30 20 40 * - Year - Applicant - Outcome - Materials * - - - - - - - *No entries yet — add yours via the* :doc:`contributing guide `\ *.* Hearts for Humanity (H2H8) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ A small grant for UC Berkeley-based students. The application is minimal and the bar is low. Worth applying if you need a bit of supplemental funding. .. list-table:: :widths: 20 80 :stub-columns: 1 * - Award - Small amount (varies by cycle) * - Eligibility - UC Berkeley-based students .. seealso:: `H2H8 website `__ .. dropdown:: Berkeley Astronomy application history .. list-table:: :header-rows: 1 :widths: 10 30 20 40 * - Year - Applicant - Outcome - Materials * - - - - - - - *No entries yet — add yours via the* :doc:`contributing guide `\ *.*