Graduate Fellowships for STEM Diversity Grant

Graduate Fellowships for STEM Diversity Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Graduate Fellowships for STEM Diversity
Amount: US $27,000
Last Updated: August 29, 2025

Summary

The Graduate Fellowships for STEM Diversity (GFSD) aims to increase the number of American citizens with graduate degrees in STEM fields, focusing on a diverse applicant pool. Founded in 1989, GFSD supports various disciplines, including Astronomy, Biomedical Engineering, and Physics, through partnerships with universities and employers. Each fellowship can last from two to six years, with an annual fee of $27,000, covering both expenses for fellows and operational costs for GFSD. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and meet specific academic requirements.

Overview

Background Formerly known as the National Physical Science Consortium (NPSC), was founded in 1989 “To increase the number of American citizens with graduate degrees in STEM fields, emphasizing recruitment of a diverse applicant pool.” Graduate Fellowships for STEM Diversity (GFSD) is a partnership between federal agencies & laboratories, industry, and higher education institutions. GFSD has a strong partnership with the University of Southern California. GFSD is a registered US nonprofit (501c3). We are only able to support our fellows through partnerships and generous donation of our sponsors. Fields of Study Though the fields supported can vary annually depending on employer needs, in general GFSD covers the following: Astronomy, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geology, Materials Science, Mathematical Sciences, Physics, and their subdisciplines, and related engineering fields: Chemical, Computer, Electrical, Environmental, Mechanical. Duration:Initial support may be for two or three years, or for a full six years, depending on the employer-sponsor. Fellowship renewal will be reviewed in partnership with employer-sponsor on an annual basis. Amount: The charge to the employer for each student supported is $27,000 annually, of which $20,000 is the fellow’s expense allowance and $7,000 is GFSD’s fee to support its operations. (The charge is subject to change at the discretion of the GFSD Board of Directors.) Location or Type of Institution: Any participating GFSD University or College Additional Requirements Applicants must be accepted at a participating GFSD-member university or college and progress through a full-time study program leading to a graduate degree in the physical sciences or related engineering fields. Fellows must complete one or two summer internships, as the sponsoring employer requires. To continue in good standing, fellows must submit a transcript annually as well as any forms and information that GFSD requests. Fellows must perform satisfactorily in their summer internship and during the academic year. A fellow who switches his or her field of study to one not of interest to the sponsoring employer will likely have support terminated.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. GFSD welcomes applications from any qualified U.S. citizen who has the ability to pursue graduate work at a GFSD university partners. Applicants at any stage of their graduate program may apply, as long as they will be available to accept two summers of paid internship. Employers may nominate GFSD fellows directly, obviating the selection process. These fellows may enroll for either a Master’s or a PhD degree.

Ineligibility

Those who already possess a doctoral degree are ineligible.