Students are encouraged to apply for national competitive fellowships. Award recipients who are successful in obtaining a competitive fellowship may be eligible for a merit award. Below are the fellowships most commonly applied for by DBBS students.

American Heart Association (AHA) Predoctoral Fellowship

The AHA Predoctoral Fellowship is a one-to-two-year fellowship for pre-doctoral students who intend to pursue careers in biomedical and medical research, medicine, and/or clinical investigation focused on improving global cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and brain health. Accepted fellows receive a stipend and health insurance coverage.

Eligibility & Requirements:

  • Must be a current full-time student in biomedical and/or medical post-baccalaureate program with an emphasis on research
  • Must be a current member of the AHA

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American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Future Leaders Mentorship Fellowship

The ASM Future Leaders Mentorship Fellowship (FLMF) is a 2-year online program that matches master’s and doctoral students in the microbial sciences with experts (mentors) across varied career sectors. This program will facilitate mutual leadership growth and learning, help participants build their mentoring portfolios, provide networking opportunities with ASM members and non-students alike and increase social capital between fellows and mentors.

Eligibility & Requirements:

  • Must be a current member of the ASM
  • Be a master’s and/or doctoral graduate student.
  • Demonstrate an interest in microbial sciences and seek mentorship in navigating their career trajectory.
  • Commit to a 2-year collaboration with mentoring relationships of current and incoming cohorts.

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Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Research Participation Program at the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)

The ORISE Research Participation Program at the DoD offers a wide variety of research opportunities across STEM disciplines that are open to current students as well as postgraduate and post-doctoral scholars. Each program within ORISE has its own stipend and timelines.

Eligibility & Requirements:

  • Must be a current student OR have completed a terminal degree within five (5) years of application – varies by program
  • Must be a U.S. citizen or hold appropriate immigration status – varies by program

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The National GEM Consortium Fellowship

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

Eligibility & Requirements:

  • Must be a senior, masters student, or graduate of an accredited engineering or applied science program at the time of application.
  • Must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0/4.0.
  • Must contractually agree to intern with a GEM Employer member the Summer immediately after sponsorship.

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National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship Program

The NDSEG Fellowship program is designed to increase the overall number of Americans earning doctoral degrees in science and engineering disciplines, particularly those of military importance. The fellowship is a three-year award and open to current graduate students. Accepted fellows receive an annual stipend, tuition assistance, and health coverage.

Eligibility & Requirements:

  • Must be a U.S. citizen, natural (i.e., native residents of U.S. territories – Guam, American Samoa, etc.), or hold dual U.S. citizenship
  • Must be within first two years of doctoral program
  • Must be engaged in an NDSEG discipline (e.g., biosciences, cognitive/neural/behavioral science)

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National Institutes of Health (NIH) Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral National Research Service Awards (F31)

NOTE: Check the NIH website for the most current opportunities

The NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Fellowships support mentored research training of promising doctoral students in biosciences and biomedical programs. All accepted fellows receive an annual stipend and training/mentoring opportunities.

Eligibility & Requirements:

  • Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Must be a current student in a doctoral research program
  • Must identify as a member of an underrepresented group in STEM (diversity-specific F31 only)

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National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF-GRFP)

The prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing research-based master’s or doctoral degrees in STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — or in STEM education.

The five-year fellowship provides three years of financial support that can be used at accredited U.S. institutions. This support includes an annual stipend and a cost-of-education allowance covering tuition and fees.

Eligibility & Requirements:

  • Be a US citizen, US national, or permanent resident
  • Intend to pursue a research-based Master’s or PhD program in a GRFP-supported field
  • Be enrolled in an eligible program at an accredited United States graduate institution, with a US campus, by fall following selection
  • Have completed no more than one academic year of full-time graduate study (or the equivalent)

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The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans

The Soros Fellowships for New Americans support the education of immigrants and children of immigrants who are pursuing graduate education in the United States. The fellowship is a two-year award and is open to students who are in the application process or are first-year students enrolled in a graduate program. Accepted fellows receive financial support for tuition as well as an annual stipend.

Eligibility & Requirements:

  • Must be an immigrant or child of non-U.S. citizen immigrants
  • Must be 30 years of age or younger
  • Must be within first two years of graduate program OR be in the process of applying to graduate programs at the time of application

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Other Agencies

To locate other agencies that might fund your area of research go to the sites listed below.

Some have search tools for you to enter various criteria (such as citizenship, area of research interest, etc.). When the information is submitted, the search results will display agencies that provide support based on the criteria entered.