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PhD research funding

A list of some recently published funding opportunities for phd students, including scholarships, travel grants, awards and more, in all subject areas..

The Rhodes Scholarships for Southern Africa

The rhodes scholarships for australia, methodological studies and educational courses (childhood cancer | sweden), singapore international graduate award (singa), global challenge for safe and secure llms (worldwide), the rhodes scholarships for west africa, the rhodes scholarships for germany, the rhodes scholarships for bermuda, new grants are added daily- check back regularly for new funding opportunities., to see all funding opportunities and benefit from extensive eligibility filters, sign up for our premium research funding database., advertising : premium members do not see google ads., find more funding faster with our premium funding database..

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• PhD Funding – Explore Your Options

PhD Funding Options

Finding funding for a PhD can seem challenging, but it may not be as hard as you think.

In fact, there are a wide range of options available: from Research Council studentships and doctoral student loans to funding from universities and independent charities , as well as a wide range of other PhD scholarships.

We've filled this section with detailed guides to all the different types of postgraduate funding that could be available for your PhD. You can also read our quick overview of the main options, or check out our advice on applying for PhD funding .

Who funds PhDs? And how do scholarships and studentships actually work? If you're new to PhD funding, start with this simple guide.

How do you actually go about applying for PhD funding? Our guide offers some simple advice and answers common questions students may have.

You may be able to get a PhD loan of up to £27,892 for a UK doctorate. Our guide explains eligibility, applications and repayments.

A range of scholarships may be available to help you fund a PhD. Our guide explains the different types of award with tips for making a successful funding application.

The seven UK Research Councils provide government studentships for PhD research in different subject areas. Our simple guide explains how this funding works, what you can get and how to apply successfully.

Universities often have funding available for their PhD students, with support ranging from full studentships to fee waivers, small grants and other partial funding. Our guide explains the kinds of award an institution might offer and shows you where to start looking for them.

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External Funding for Graduate Students

Resources for cornell graduate students and a selection of external funding opportunities., internal funding for faculty, postdocs & students, find funding opportunities.

GrantForward : A searchable database of grants from over 14,000 sponsors that uses specialized data-crawling technology to constantly update its extensive database of sponsors and funding opportunities. Search by keywords and advanced filters. Save your favorite searches to receive alerts about new grants, and save your favorite grants to keep track of them. GrantForward also recommends grants to you based on your CV, past publications, and research interests.

• Cornell University has an institutional subscription. Faculty, students and staff with a Cornell netID have free full access. Sign up here using your Cornell email address. 
• Updated daily with new funding opportunities from diverse disciplines, including in the Life and Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, and Arts and Humanities.
• Learn how to make GrantForward work for you :  Click here to access the March 2024 webinar "Using GrantForward as a Grant Seeker". Review  QuickTips  and the  Researcher Welcome Guide .

Several Cornell units have internal funding opportunities for graduate students. You should also talk with your advisor about potential internal funding. Additionally, The Graduate School offers many valuable services and resources, including the Graduate Writing Service and Pathways to Success program. 

Featured Opportunities

Arnold o. beckman postdoctoral fellowship in chemical sciences or chemical instrumentation.

This fellowship supports advanced research by postdoctoral scholars within the core areas of fundamental chemistry or the development and build of chemical instrumentation. Research must be innovative in method, speed or process, or represent new instrument technology. Eligible applicants must be current graduate students anticipated to complete a PhD in the chemical sciences by May 1, 2025; or current postdoctoral researchers with a granted/conferred PhD in the chemical sciences with no more than 18 months cumulative postdoctoral research experience. Additional eligibility restrictions apply.  Submission deadline for mandatory Letters of Intent: September 6, 2024. 

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Blueprint and BRAIN Initiative Diversity Specialized Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Advancement in Neuroscience (D-SPAN) Award (F99/K00 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

This two-phase award will facilitate completion of the doctoral dissertation and transition of talented graduate students to strong neuroscience research postdoctoral positions, and will provide career development opportunities relevant to their long-term career goal of becoming independent neuroscience researchers. This opportunity has multiple application deadlines through 2026.

Recurring Funding Opportunities

Note: The following list is not regularly updated. The summaries are intended for informational purposes and do not replace the sponsor's actual funding opportunity announcement. Program availability, requirements, award amount, and deadlines are subject to change and should be verified with the sponsor.

Women’s Health Research and Innovation

Funding opportunity: bezos earth fund grand challenge, pi research assistance while postdocs and research associates are on parental leave, foundation funding, limited submissions funding opportunities, recurring and prestigious funding opportunities, faculty recognition prizes and awards, early career faculty research funding, grants for women and underrepresented communities.

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Graduate Student Funding Opportunities

Download the most recent file here:, graduate student funding opportunities, (xlsx file; updated july 3, 2024).

This is a continuously updated repository of federal and private funding opportunities that are intended for graduate students. The opportunities are pre-sorted chronologically and alphabetically, and can be searched by funding amount and subject matter.

Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, please refer to the sponsor’s funding announcement for complete details on each opportunity.

If you would like to add an opportunity to the list or have any questions, please contact RDT .

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PhD students

Here you find a  selection of funding programmes  for international PhD students by various funding organisations. For more funding opportunities please search our  funding databases .

Selection of funding programmes (alphabetical order):

Collaborative Research Centres

Collaborative Research Centres offer PhD students opportunities to pursue an outstanding research programme that crosses disciplinary, institutional, departmental and faculty boundaries.

DLR-DAAD Research Fellowships

Outstanding PhD students can complete a doctorate in the fields of space, aeronautics, energy, transport, digitalisation and security at an institute of the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

ERA Fellowships – Green Hydrogen

This programme provides funding for a research project or continuing academic training in the field of GH2.

Green Talents

The winners of this competition are invited to visit leading German institutions of environmental and sustainability research. Furthermore, Green Talents awardees can complete a research stay at an institution of their choice.

Individual Doctoral Projects at Fraunhofer Institutes

PhD students can complete a doctorate while working on exciting projects in cutting-edge areas of technology involving state-of-the-art equipment at a Fraunhofer institute.

Individual Doctoral Projects at Leibniz Institutes

PhD students can complete a doctorate while working in an excellent interdisciplinary research environment at a Leibniz institute.

Individual Doctoral Projects at Max Planck Institutes

PhD students can complete doctoral projects within the scope of research work conducted at a Max Planck institute.

International Max Planck Research Schools

PhD students can complete a doctorate in a structured programme offering excellent research conditions at one of the 68 International Max Planck Research Schools (IMPRS).

International Visiting Researchers at Max Planck Institutes

International researchers can conduct independent research at a Max Planck institute. The programme aims to strengthen cooperation and promote networking between Max Planck institutes and their international partners.

Leibniz Graduate Schools and Leibniz ScienceCampi

PhD students will find ideal conditions for completing a doctorate in a structured doctoral programme that can be pursued at either a Leibniz institute or a partner university.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks

PhD students receive structured doctoral training within these networks, which are formed jointly by different European institutions.

Max Planck Schools

The Max Planck Schools are a joint graduate programme run by German universities and research organisations. They offer ambitious bachelor’s and master’s graduates excellent conditions within a unique scientific network, and provide structured and fully funded PhD programmes in three interdisciplinary research fields: cognition, matter to life and photonics.

Munich Aerospace: PhD Scholarships

Munich Aerospace PhD scholarships allow talented young scientists to focus exclusively on the research work at hand and on attaining a timely doctoral degree.

PhD Fellowships

The Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds awards PhD Fellowships to outstanding early career researchers who wish to carry out an ambitious scientific PhD project in basic biomedical research at an internationally leading laboratory.

Research Grants – Bi-nationally Supervised Doctoral Degrees/Cotutelle

The aim of this programme is to support doctoral degrees at the student’s home university with integrated research phases in Germany.

Research Grants – Doctoral Programmes in Germany

International PhD students can realise a doctoral project (individually or in a structured programme) at a state or state-recognised German university or non-university research institution.

Research Grants – One-Year Grants

International doctoral candidates can carry out research primarily as part of a doctoral project at a state or state-recognised university or non-university research institution in Germany.

Research Training Groups

Research Training Groups are set up by universities and pursue a focused research programme. They offer a structured PhD programme relating to an innovative, peer-reviewed research topic.

RISE Professional

This programme enables students in the fields of natural sciences, engineering or computer science from North America, the United Kingdom or Ireland to gain serious practical experience in a German company or research institution with strong industry ties.

Travel Grants

The Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds (BIF) awards travel grants to PhD students and postdoctoral researchers from all over the world.

More information:

Search funding databases.

More funding programmes are available for international researchers. For more information you can either search the funding databases or go straight to the websites of the funding organisations.

PhD Student Funding Overview

At Yale, you can earn your doctorate at our expense. 

Our funding packages for Yale PhD students are among the most generous in the world. Every PhD student receives a fellowship for the full cost of tuition, a stipend for living expenses, and paid health coverage, though the details of your funding package will differ depending on your academic program. On average, doctoral students receive more than $500,000 in tuition fellowships, stipends, and health premium benefits over the course of their enrollment. Full PhD funding normally extends for a minimum of five years, unless your doctoral program is of shorter duration, e.g., Investigative Medicine, Law, Nursing, and Public Health. 

The main categories of funding available to PhD students are detailed below. Our Programs & Policies handbook contains additional information about funding and fellowship opportunities available at the Graduate School, along with applicable policies. 

If you have questions about your funding, you can ask your program registrar or DGS, Graduate Financial Aid, or Associate Dean Robert Harper-Mangels.

Types of Funding for PhD Students

University Fellowships (UFs) are provided through the Graduate School and do not require teaching in Yale's Teaching Fellow Program. UFs are often used during the initial year(s) of your doctoral program to cover your stipend and tuition, when you are engaged in coursework and identifying an adviser.

For official policies governing University Fellowships, including information on deferring a UF, please see our Programs & Policies Bulletin .

In subsequent years and in most programs, your stipend will be funded by a teaching fellowship or a research assistantship.

Teaching Fellowships (TFs) are contingent on teaching Yale's Teaching Fellow Program (TFP). While you are on a TF, a portion of your stipend is compensation for teaching. The rest of your stipend will come from other sources, depending on your department or program. See the Teaching Fellow Funding page for more information.

The teaching portion of your stipend is subject to federal tax withholding, so you will notice a difference in your paycheck in teaching versus non-teaching semesters.

In lieu of teaching in the Teaching Fellow Program, PhD students in the humanities and social sciences may choose to undertake one of the available Professional Development Opportunities . These positions allow you to gain professional experience at a library, museum, or other office on campus relevant to your studies. 

If you are in the natural sciences, your funding will likely come from training grants and faculty research grants at some point during your enrollment. In most programs, you may only join a research group that has active grant funding. Please consult with your DGS, if you have questions about this aspect of your funding package.

We strongly encourage you to compete for external fellowships. Winning an external award in a national competition, whether sponsored by a public or private agency, is a significant honor. External fellowships may be subject to our Combined Award policy. Please be sure to review our External Fellowships & Awards page to understand how external awards interact with university funding.

An external fellowship may also offer you added flexibility in your program. 

• If you are a student in the natural sciences, an external fellowship may allow you to pursue a project or idea that is otherwise not eligible for financial support through your adviser’s research funding. 
• If you are a student in the humanities or social sciences, an external fellowship might allow you to defer a University Fellowship (UF) to a subsequent term or year. 

You can search for external fellowships through the Yale Student Grants Database , other university search engines (e.g., UCLA ), and commercial sites .

You must notify the Graduate School of any external awards you receive. 

• Send a copy of your award letter to the Financial Aid Office at [email protected] .
• If your award is subject to the Combined Award policy, then you will receive a combined award letter via email when your award has been processed, outlining your updated funding package. 

For any questions and concerns regarding your combined award letter, please contact the Graduate School Financial Aid Office via email at [email protected]. Associate Dean Robert Harper-Mangels can also advise regarding our Combined Award policy.

Additional GSAS Financial Support

Phd stipends.

An overview of information relevant to the PhD stipend.

Health Award

The Graduate School provides Yale Health Basic Coverage at no cost to all students (Master's and PhD) who are enrolled at least half-time in degree-seeking programs. In addition, all PhD students registered at least half-time receive a Health Fellowship Award that covers the cost of Yale Health Hospitalization/Specialty Care Coverage.

Featured Resource

Family Support Subsidy for Parenting PhD Students

PhD students who are registered full-time in any year of study are eligible for the family support subsidy to assist with child-related expenses.

Dean's Emergency Fund

The Dean’s Emergency Fund enables terminal master’s and PhD students in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences to continue making academic progress despite unanticipated, extreme financial hardships that cannot be resolved through fellowships, loans, or personal resources. The maximum award for eligible requests is $2,000.

Conference Travel Fellowship (CTF)

https://gsa.yale.edu/ctf

By partnering with the MacMillan Center and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, graduate students with representatives in the Graduate Student Assembly are eligible for annual conference travel funding of up to $800.

PhD Student Travel Health Fellowship

If you are a PhD student traveling for dissertation research, the Graduate School provides a Travel Health Fellowship to cover the cost of required immunizations and prescription drugs at Yale Health.

Graduate Financial Aid Office

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THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

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Graduate Research Grant

The Graduate Research Grant (GRG) is intended to help PhD and MFA students and postdoctoral fellows in historically underfunded disciplines meet expenses related to scholarly research and creative endeavors.

Note:   Students traveling outside of the United States must adhere to all graduate student travel policies.   Failure to do so could result in revocation of the award.

• Monday, October 16, 2023, 11:59 pm (Letters of recommendation due Friday, October 20 by 11:59 pm)
• Monday, January 22, 2024, by 11:59 pm (Letters of recommendation due by Friday, January 26, 11:59pm)
• Monday, April 15, 2024, 11:59 pm (Letters of recommendation due by Friday, April 19, 11:59pm)

Eligibility

PhD students, MFA students, or postdoctoral fellows in the following schools/disciplines:

• Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences (humanities and social sciences projects)
• School of Education and Social Policy
• School of Communication (humanities and social science projects)
• School of Music
• Kellogg School of Management (social science projects)
• Clinical Psychology (social science projects) 

At the time of application, PhD students must have completed at least 3 quarters of full-time, full tuition registration. (An exception may be made for students who will commence working on the project in the summer after their first year). MFA students must have completed at least 1 quarter of full-time registration.

Postdoctoral trainees must have at least a one-year appointment at Northwestern University.

Students who have exceeded the time limitation for their degree are not eligible.

A student may receive only one grant equivalent to $3,000 (or multiple grants whose cumulative total may not exceed $3,000) under this program during his or her graduate career at Northwestern. Applicants who have applied before and have not received an award may apply again.

• The maximum award amount is $3,000.
• Awards are for a twelve-month period (beginning from the date funds are awarded). Unused funds do not roll-over past the end date of the award and are not available for use after the award end date listed in the award notification .
• Awards will not be granted for retroactive payments.
• Awards will not fund projects/expenses that don’t relate to the applicant's research/creative work, nor will they fund seminars/skills-building not related to the dissertation or overall scholarly project.
• Students may utilize grant funds only while active students in The Graduate School at Northwestern. Should students graduate or otherwise depart the University prior to completion of the project and/or expenditure of funds, funds will no longer be available for us e . 
• Postdoctoral fellows may utilize funds only during their appointment at Northwestern. Once an appointment ends, unused funds must be returned to The Graduate School.
• This award only provides funding for non-compensation expenses (i.e., no expenses are permitted on Northwestern payroll such as salary, add pay, special pay, temp pay, etc.)

Awards are typically announced at the end of the quarter and available starting the quarter following the application deadline.

Review process

Recipients of grants are determined at the quarterly meetings of the Graduate Research Grant committee. All applications are reviewed by a faculty committee. Decisions are based on the committee’s final evaluations and the availability of funds. This is a competitive award. Far more applications are received than can be funded.

Applications are evaluated based on the following criteria:

• The impact of the project on the field and the impact on the author’s own research or creative work
• The likelihood for the project to exert a sustained, powerful influence in the field
• For creative projects, plan and aims for the medium-specific impact (ways in which the work will reach and affect audience, community, and/or field) 
• How the project addresses an important problem or a critical barrier to progress in the field
• Potential for knowledge, technical capability, and/or practice to be improved
• Potential for successful completion of project to influence the concepts, methods, technologies, or interventions that drive this field 
• For creative projects, contribution to artistic field and place of the project in the applicant’s current work and future trajectory
• How the project challenges and seeks to shift current research paradigms by utilizing novel theoretical concepts, approaches/methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions
• Refinement, improvement, or new application of theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions
• Originality of the project
• Is the research design sound and are the overall strategy, methodology, and/or analyses well-reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the project?
• Feasibility of work plan, budget, schedule and project outline
• Potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success are presented 
• Applicant is capable of completing the proposed work given their level of training and as evidenced by prior work and letters of recommendation 
• If required, has IRB approval been granted?
• For digital humanities projects, feasibility of the project goals and Northwestern’s ability to supply necessary technical knowledge, facilities and support pre- and post-award supported training are crucial considerations. Applicants are urged to consult the Digital Humanities Library Guide or Media and Design Center .
• Recommendation letter addresses the specific proposal/project

Application instructions

Please note that grantees are responsible for obtaining all regulatory approvals. TGS does not check compliance and funding does not imply any approval of research practices (such as those involving human subjects or animal care and use.)

The materials described below must be submitted by the deadline via The Graduate School  online grant/fellowship application tool .

• The description should present the conception, definition and organization of the work and plan of study. Include information about sources used, the thesis and the interpretive stance of the research.
• The applicant should include a statement that articulates the anticipated impact of the work (on the field, community, and/or audience).
• If the grant is for work on the dissertation, include a chapter outline and a summation of progress to date, such as research already completed or chapters already drafted. If the grant is for work leading to the MFA thesis, include an overall project plan and summation of progress to date.
• The description of the proposed project should be written in plain language, free of jargon. Committee members who may not have specialized knowledge of an applicant’s area of study.
• The applicant must provide a clear and compelling description how the use of the awarded funds would materially benefit the student’s progress through their program and/or what role the results of this funding would play in the larger research project.
• Applicants proposing a research project that requires IRB approval must include approval confirmation OR a statement of where in the process IRB approval is.
• For proposals related to digital humanities training opportunities, include description of the training opportunity , a n explanation of how the training opportunity will result in the necessary proficiency/skills/knowledge and how it relates to the dissertation project , and a statement about Northwestern’s ability to supply the necessary technical knowledge, facilities, and/or support in order to make the project feasible.
• Artists submitting a proposal for a creative project must also include work samples from the artistic medium in which they normally work.  These samples may be either from past work or from the creative work in progress (for which a proposal is being submitted). The proposal should illuminate what the grant reviewer is meant to note when looking at these samples.  See the guidelines below for submitting samples of creative work. Creative work samples do not count toward the 5-page limit, but carry their own limitations, outlined below.*
• Endnotes, references, IRB approval confirmations, or pictures do not count toward the 5-page limit, but may not exceed three additional pages.
• Acquisition of research materials unavailable locally or via microfilms, photographs, photocopies, etc.
• Travel costs for travel necessary for successful completion of the project/research. This includes airfare, ground transportation, commercial vehicle rental, lodging, and meals while traveling.
• On rare occasions, funds may be approved to reimburse subjects from outside the University for tests and experiments or to pay technical or clerical aides if their services are essential to the research project. Decisions about whether payment for services will be permitted will be based on the justification provided by the applicant for why the service is essential and why the work cannot be done by the applicant themselves.  The budget should include specifics of how the individuals providing services will be identified, who they are, how they will be selected, and the specific rate of pay.
• Payees may not be employees, faculty, or students on Northwestern's payroll, because the funds cannot be used for add pay, temp pay, special pay or other forms of payroll . It may be possible to pay those individuals with “ stored value cards ” instead.) Contact The Graduate School's Financial Team with questions.
• Artistic supplies beyond what would be considered normal and customary in the field.
• Construction, rental or purchase of special equipment not available on campus. The possibility of renting or leasing (rather than purchasing) such items as audiovisual and photographic equipment should be explored. All merchandise purchased with University funds is the property of the University.
• Access to software, databases or collections
• Fees related to skills-building/workshops/seminars to obtain training in technologies necessary for the dissertation or overly scholarly project (e.g., text encoding and analysis, data visualization, programming and coding languages, games and gaming, multimodal narrative and platforms, etc.)
• Payroll expenses through Northwestern such as salary, additional pay, temp pay, or special pay
• Travel expenses not directly related to the project
• Costs of preparing the dissertation
• Travel to consult with members of the dissertation committee
• Retroactive charges for expenditures incurred or committed prior to review and approval of the GRG application
• Computers or other electronic devices. Such devices are generally used for many different activities/projects and/or for personal use and therefore are not allowable.  In specific situations, the purchase of computers or other electronic devices required specifically for the conduct of the proposed research may be allowed.  In such cases, the proposed cost must be well-justified in the budget and proposal and the applicant must indicate how the device will be used solely or primarily for the research/project in question.

Applicants must list any other applications, either funded or pending, to support the proposed project.  Any changes in the status of pending funding must be communicated to  [email protected]

• Curriculum vitae (PDF)
• Unofficial Northwestern transcript (PDF)
• The letter of recommendation must address the specific proposal.
• When submitting the application via the online application tool, applicants will have an opportunity to invite a faculty member to submit a letter of recommendation. (Note: Faculty member must be invited using their  primary Northwestern email address .) See the "Deadline" section, above, for recommendation letter deadlines. Applicants should notify the intended letter-writer in advance of entering their name in the online application tool.  Applicants can check the status of the recommendation letter or change the recommender via the online application tool. 

Applicants resubmitting an application

If your application was denied in a previous cycle and your proposed project has not changed significantly, include the following:

• A point-by-point response to the reviewers’ comments. This can be up to one page included in the research description, but does not count against the page limitation. 

Resubmitted proposals that do not conform to these requirements will be returned without review. 

Email [email protected]  for more information.

*Guidelines for including work samples

For creative project proposals.

Cinema and media:

• Filmmakers, videographers and artists working in film, video and media should submit one sample of a film, video or new media work (no longer than 5 minutes).
• Note whether the sample is a complete work or an excerpt and what role (director, co-director, writer, etc.) you played in creating the piece.
• If desired, submit a 75-word description with the work sample.

Creative and dramatic writing:

• Fiction, creative non-fiction and other creative prose writers (including writers of graphic novels) should submit a complete work or excerpt of no more than 5, double-spaced pages total (including any images, if working in mixed-media/graphic language arts).
• Poets should submit no more than 5, single-spaced pages of their work.
• Screenwriters and playwrights should submit up to a 5-page writing sample of a play, screenplay or teleplay (either a complete work or an excerpt of one or more works).
• Note whether the sample is a complete work or an excerpt, and whether the work is finished or in progress.

Performance and theatre:

• Directors and performers should submit a portfolio of recent work in the form of a PDF or PowerPoint presentation (no more than 10 images) or audio/video files (no more than 5 minutes in duration) that may be accessed on the internet. 
• Directors working on devised pieces or adaptations may instead submit a writing sample, following the guidelines for the relevant discipline as described above.
• Note whether the sample is a complete work or an excerpt, whether the work is finished or in progress, and what role (director, co-director, writer, etc.) you played in creating the piece.

Visual arts:

• Visual artists should submit a portfolio of recent work in the form of a PDF or PowerPoint presentation. This may include up to 10 images and/or links to digital or audio files—totaling no more than 5 minutes in duration—that may be accessed on the internet.
• If desired, submit a 75-word description along with the work sample.

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•       Financial Aid       Grants for Graduate School Students

Grants for Graduate School Students

Tips for securing funds for advanced degrees.

For those who want to advance in their careers, graduate school can be a good investment to help them meet their goals. However, this investment can be extremely costly, so students may rely on different types of financial aid to help them pay for their advanced education. Grants are an excellent form of financial aid because, like scholarships, they do not have to be paid back. This guide discusses the places where students can find grants and how they can increase their chances of winning them.

FAQ: Understanding Grants for Graduate School

Students who are looking for funding for their graduate studies may have many questions about how to receive grants. The following are the answers to some of those questions.

What is a grant for graduate school?

Grants are a form of financial aid that do not have to be repaid and are often provided to students based on their financial need. In some cases, the organization providing the grant may also consider other factors, like academic performance, when awarding these funds.

Who is eligible to receive a grant in grad school?

Generally, students must be enrolled in an accredited college or university in order to be eligible to receive a grant. Also, depending on the award, there may be other eligibility requirements, such as minimum grade point average, type of degree program, and research goals.

What’s the difference between grants and fellowships?

Grants are generally offered to students based on their financial need, while fellowships are often based on academic achievement and research.

What is the application process like?

The application process for grants is similar to that of scholarships. In some cases, as with some governmental awards, students can be considered by filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. In other cases, students are required to fill out a separate application to receive a grant, and in addition to being asked for financial information, they may be required to submit a statement about their academic achievements and goals.

What are the different types of grants for grad students?

Grants can be provided by public and private sources, such as government agencies, professional organizations, corporations, and the schools that students attend. Some grants are provided based on the students’ demographic or the field of study they’re pursuing.

• Federal. The federal government offer grants to graduate students that are based on financial need, including the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant , Fulbright Grants , and Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants .
• State. Just as students can receive grants from the federal government to fund their graduate studies, they may also be able to receive grants from the state they live in. For example, the Colorado Graduate Grant provides up to $5,000 for students who demonstrate financial need, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources offers $2,000 grants for earth science graduate students to conduct research.
• School specific. Schools want to attract the best students to their graduate programs, so they may offer grants to help those who show promise pay for their education. For example, the State University Grant Program is available to graduate students attending schools in the California State University system, and Michigan State University provides funding for master’s and doctoral fine arts students through its University Fellowship Programs .
• Organization and corporate grants. Professional and non-profit organizations, as well as private companies, offer grants to help students get the advanced education they need to enter their professions—which goes a long way toward building a strong workforce.
• By demographic. Demographics may also play a role in the grants that graduate students can receive. Some grants are provided to members of a certain race, for example, to help bridge the gap of underrepresentation in a specific field.
• By field. Colleges and universities, as well as professional organizations, may offer grants based on what program the student is enrolled in.

Recommended Online Programs

Students can find grants in a variety of untapped places. There are community-based organizations that provide scholarship support in various interest areas (e.g., business) and there are small trusts/foundations often administered by community foundations and local banks. In addition, many national organizations provide scholarship and grant support for students who meet their defined criteria. Students should monitor philanthropy websites and take the time to do Internet searches. A number of professional organizations also sponsor writing/research competitions that often come with scholarships or cash prizes.

Patricia E. Salkin, Provost and CAO of Graduate and Professional Divisions at Touro College

18 Grants for Graduate School

Grants for graduate school can come from a variety of sources, so students should be aware of all of their options in order to win as many awards as they can. The following are some examples of these grants, and the qualifications students are expected to have in order to win them.

Federal Grants for Graduate Students

U.s. department of education: teacher education assistance for college and higher education (teach) grant.

Award: Up to $4,000

Deadline: Late October

Graduate students who are studying to become teachers can receive this grant in exchange for committing to work at schools in low-income areas for a minimum of four years. Students are eligible to receive this award if they are preparing to teach in numerous subject areas, such as mathematics, foreign language, science, special education, and English. In addition, applicants must have at least a 3.25 grade point average or score above the 75th percentile on college admissions exams.

U.S. Department of Education: Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant

Award: Up to $6,095

Deadline: Varies

This grant is available to students whose parent or guardian died during military service in Afghanistan or Iraq after September 11, 2001. Applicants must be under the age of 24 or enrolled in college when their parent or guardian died.

U.S. Department of State: Fulbright Grants

Award: Varies

Fulbright Grants are designed to promote international studies and research projects. Some of the countries that students may use the grant to study in include Australia, Germany, Uganda, Indonesia, and Portugal.

Fellowships for Graduate Students

Dolores zohrab liebmann fund: dolores zohrab liebmann fellowships.

Award: Full tuition plus $18,000 stipend

Deadline: Early January

Based on academic performance and financial need, these fellowships are available to students enrolled in graduate programs in the natural sciences, humanities, or social sciences. Students must attend one of the organization’s designated colleges or universities in order to receive this annual award. Fellowships are renewable for up to three years.

Institute for Humane Studies: Humane Studies Fellowship

Award: Up to $15,000

Deadline: Mid-February

Designed to support teaching and scholarship in the humanities and social sciences, this fellowship is available to students enrolled in doctoral programs on a full-time basis. In order to qualify, students should be studying areas such as sociology, history, political science, economics, and law. Applicants should describe the research they intend to conduct and explain how it will advance classical liberal ideas.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine: Ford Foundation Fellowship Programs

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine provides predoctoral, dissertation, and postdoctoral fellowships through the Ford Foundation Fellowship Programs. These awards are available to students in a variety of academic disciplines, including archaeology, history, earth sciences, computer science, and art and theater history. In addition, students must demonstrate high academic performance and the ability to contribute to the field as a teacher or researcher.

Organization & Corporate Grants for Graduate Students

American cancer society: doctoral training grants in oncology social work.

Award: $20,000

Deadline: Mid-October

This grant is available to doctoral students studying social work who want to conduct oncology research. This is a two-year award that may be renewable.

Geological Society of America: Graduate Student Research Grants

Award: Up to $5,000

Deadline: Early February

The Geological Society of America offers grants for students in geological sciences master’s and doctoral programs who are conducting research. Applicants must be a member of the organization in order to receive the award.

University Film and Video Association: Carole Fielding Student Grant

Award: Up to $1,000

Deadline: Mid-December

Graduate students enrolled in film and televisual arts programs are eligible to receive this grant. Applicants should provide an in-depth description of their research project with information on proposed budget, how the project will advance the field, and how they plan to present their findings. Students must be sponsored by a professor who is a member of the University Film and Video Association.

Grants for Graduate Minorities

American anthropological association: aaa minority dissertation fellowship program.

Award: $10,000

Deadline: Early March

This grant is available for doctoral anthropology students. Applicants must be a member of an underrepresented racial group, such as Pacific Islander, African American, Latino, and Asian American. In addition, students must demonstrate academic excellence.

American Society of Criminology: Ruth D. Peterson Fellowship for Racial and Ethnic Diversity

Award: $6,000

The Ruth D. Peterson Fellowship for Racial and Ethnic Diversity is available to minority students--such as Asians, Latinos, and African Americans--enrolled in a doctoral criminal justice or criminology program. Students must demonstrate acceptance in a criminology or criminal justice Ph.D. program, as well as financial need.

Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board: Indian Student Assistance Grant

Award: Up to $1,100

This grant is available to Wisconsin graduate students who are at least 25 percent Native American. In order to receive this award, students must be enrolled at the University of Wisconsin, independent colleges and universities, proprietary institutions, or tribal colleges in the state.

Grad School Grants for Women

American association of university women: career development grants.

Award: Up to $12,000

Deadline: Mid-November

This grant is designed to help women get the education they need to advance in their careers. Eligibility requirements include enrollment in an advanced degree program and financial need.

American Physical Society: M. Hildred Blewett Fellowship

Award: Up to $45,000

Deadline: Early June

The American Physical Society provides this fellowship to female physics students who are returning to their studies after a hiatus. In order to be eligible, students must have completed some work toward their physics doctoral degree.

Zonta International Foundation: Amelia Earhart Fellowship

This award is designed to encourage women to pursue the aerospace sciences or aerospace engineering fields. Students should be enrolled in an aerospace studies doctoral program to receive this award.

Field-Specific Grants for Grad School

American psychological association: grants in aid for students.

Deadline: Late September

The American Psychology-Law Society, which is a division of the American Psychological Association, offers grants to graduate students who want to conduct research on psycholegal issues. Applicants must submit information describing their project and its significance.

National Science Foundation: Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Award: $34,000

This fellowship is for students enrolled in research-based science, technology, engineering, and mathematics graduate degree programs. Applicants must be enrolled in an eligible degree program in order to be considered for the award.

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program: Graduate Student Grant Program

This grant is provided for master’s and doctoral students who want to do research related to sustainable agriculture issues for their degree program. Students who receive funding may work on their projects for up to 36 months.

When students seek funding (that will not need to be repaid) for graduate studies, they typically look at two sources: graduate assistantships and fellowships. However, graduate assistantships tend to be the most plentiful funding source. Students can be awarded one of three types of competitive graduate assistantships: graduate teaching assistantships, graduate research assistantships, and graduate administrative assistantships. These assistantships pay students' tuition and/or a monthly stipend.

Kimberly L. Douglass, Associate Dean at Middle Tennessee State University College of Graduate Studies

7 Expert Tips to Landing Grad School Grants

Once students have found the graduate school grants they are eligible for, they need to present themselves in the best way in order to win them. The following tips can help students increase their chances of winning these awards.

Search organizations that cater to a profession.

Pay attention to writing., explain a low grade point average., tailor information., incorporate history., build a relationship with faculty members., always look for funding opportunities., additional resources to help pay for grad school.

Graduate students can never have too much information about funding their education. The following are additional resources that students can use to help them find financial aid.

• Understanding Financial Aid for Graduate School
• Top Scholarships for Graduate Students
• Paying for Your Master’s Degree

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• Funded PhD programmes 2024 UK

Funded PhD research programmes 2025 UK

The University of Brighton regularly invites applicants for fully-funded PhD studentships across all its disciplines. 

These allow motivated, high-calibre applicants for research degrees to join our thriving academic community and contribute to our rich and innovative research environment. 

Our processes also often allow us to support promising candidates for applications to external funders and we regularly welcome self-funded applicants to programmes across all disciplines.

We will be advertising University of Brighton studentships later in the year. Meanwhile, please visit our PhD funding advice page  for current offers or see below for further general advice about applying for a funded PhD in the UK. 

Visit our PhD disciplinary programme lists

What UK PhD studentships are available ?

Depending on the discipline area, applicants for postgraduate research study may be:

• applying to work on specific, defined research projects
• applying to work with an academic department or individual with specific interests
• or applying with a self-identified research topic proposal.

When available, studentships are open to home and international students and will be given to candidates who best fulfil the promise outlined by these academic departments.

Students may like to review the funding opportunities listed at the foot of the page or visit our  PhD funding advice page  . 

Please enable targeting cookies in order to view this video content on our website, or you can watch the video on YouTube .

Can you be a researcher? Professor Bhavik Patel reassures applicants of all backgrounds that they can study for a PhD and aim for a research career. 

How do I apply for a PhD studentship?

The application for financing schemes will usually involve:  

• submitting a full application through the university's PhD application portal, our University of Brighton portal is accessible from the  PhD funded projects webpages . You will upload your research proposal as part of this process.
• The submission must include two letters of reference, academic qualifications, a proposed project approach, a personal statement and your CV (resumé).
• Shortlisted applicants are likely to be invited for interview.

What does PhD funding include?

The funding for the PhD usually covers the full fee and a stipend at the UKRI rate plus an allowance of £1,500 per year for researcher training for three years (or part-time equivalent). 

Successful candidates benefit from expert supervisory teams, a programme of postgraduate researcher development workshops and membership of specialist, interdisciplinary research centres and groups. There will be introductions to a network of relevant researchers, careers advice and opportunities for interaction within and beyond the university. Through this, our PhD students have the best start possible towards ambitious careers that make use of their research degrees.

The University of Brighton fosters research careers and will provide doctoral training, attentive and expert supervision and access to world-class laboratories and equipment. 

We are renowned as a leading applied university, with pioneer academics in disciplines from sport science to design history and applied science research that translates efficiently to the global challenge of worldwide health and wellbeing. Our strategy of 'practical wisdom' leads to real-world partnerships and beneficiaries across all disciplines while the development of community-university partnership practices have placed us among the best universities for many aspects of co-produced research and innovation.

We pride ourselves on the ways we work in partnership with those outside higher education, across the European Union and internationally. Through our research collaborations we work with a wide range of universities, both internationally and with universities in the UK. We are also founding members of two UKRI Doctoral Training Partnerships which, this year, are dealt with outside our University of Brighton studentship offer. We learn constantly from our involvement in these, and our rich resources are offered across all doctoral research programmes.

Recently the University of Brighton celebrated its performance in the Research Excellence Framework (REF2021) and the Knowledge and Exchange Framework (KEF2023). Over 87 per cent of our submitted impact case studies in REF2021 were rated as having 'outstanding' or 'very considerable' impact beyond academia. We are dedicated to developing this quality work with new students. Read more about the review of our research and knowledge exchange performance in REF2021 . Also, read more about our KEF2023 results, which placed Brighton in the top tier for economic and social benefits .

How will you build a relationship with your supervisor? Professor Annebella Pollen and Dr Tom Ainsworth are among those offering advice. This film was made by the University of Brighton for UKRI and also features academics from other institutions.

How do I increase my chances of getting a PhD studentship?

You must be able to show your suitability for a UK research degree if you wish to apply for fully-funded studentships.

This includes evidence either of a relevant and successful academic background or equivalent relevant professional/expert background in the applied subject area. Applicants from overseas will also have to fulfil any English language and visa requirements.

This will be true for studentships in the UK across most of the UK universities. It is usual for applicants either to have completed (or be about to complete) a masters degree, have an exceptional undergraduate record and references, or demonstrate the equivalent scholarly potential.  

Supervisory staff and research students at the University of Brighton consider how important diverse thinking and inclusive practice are to their doctoral studies.

Can I get PhD funding at the University of Brighton?

We have a long-standing annual programme of funded PhD opportunities across all our disciplines, including several rooted in research council (UKRI) partnerships .

The initiatives allow postgraduate study for UK-based students as well as study in the UK for international students (depending on the PhD programme). 

We are also keen to encourage students who might be able to self-fund their doctoral studies. Studying part-time, for example, is likely to prove more affordable and more easily balanced with professional life than you'd imagine. 

We are dedicated to providing a welcoming and supportive atmosphere and structure for your studies. Show us your own qualities and your suitability for programmes as they become available and we will look forward to receiving your application. 

Insitutions and funding bodies for PhD study

On the Funding pages of our website we post advice as to the regular and specific funding opportunities available through the University of Brighton, its partners and networks. 

These include  Doctoral Training Partnership  and University of Brighton PhD studentship calls,  individual studentship projects , University of Brighton  international research scholarships  and our  alumni scholarships  for current and past students. 

We also include below some of the major funding options for international students wanting to do a PhD with us, each of which may support all or part of your studies.

Worldwide international funding schemes for PhD research

The british council.

The British Council offers a search engine for UK courses, institutions (including the University of Brighton) and scholarships.

Find out more about scholarships and funding through The British Council.

The Gen Foundation

The Gen Foundation considers applicants living in all countries. It is a charitable trust which principally provides grants to students/researchers in natural sciences, in particular food sciences/technology.

Find out more about grants to students and researchers from The Gen Foundation .

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN)

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is dedicated to improving the quality of life of those in need, mainly in Asia and Africa, irrespective of their origin, faith, or gender. Our multifaceted development approach aims to help communities and individuals become self-reliant.

Find out more about research funding through the Aga Khan development network .

The Open Society Foundations

The Open Society Foundations are active in more than 120 countries around the world, using grant-giving, research, advocacy, impact investment, and strategic litigation to support the growth of inclusive and vibrant democracies. The four main themes of the Open Society Foundations are climate justice, equity, expression, and justice and they will award grants and fellowships throughout the year to organisations and individuals who share those values. The Open Society Foundations look for grantees who have a vision and whose efforts will lead to lasting social change.

Find out more about postgraduate funding through The Open Society Foundations .

International Education and Financial Aid

The International Education and Financial Aid (IEFA) provides students from all over the world comprehensive information on financial aid for studying abroad. Using the IEFA website, you can easily search the IEFA database for scholarships, grants, loan programs, and other options available to help finance your international education.

Find out more about international PhD research funding through the IEFA .

The Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds 

The Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds (BIF) awards PhD fellowships of two to three-and-a-half years to outstanding junior scientists worldwide who wish to pursue an ambitious PhD project in basic biomedical research in an internationally leading laboratory.

Find out more about the Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds fellowships .

Resource sites for international PhD research funding

Internationalstudent.com.

InternationalStudent.com is a leading online resource for international students around the world providing advice pages for studying in the USA, UK and Australia for international students, plus a dedicated study abroad center for US students who want to travel abroad.

Find out more about international study through InternationalStudent.com .

ScholarshipTab

ScholarshipTab is an online portal that connects international students to available scholarship opportunities round the world.

Find out more about the Scholarship Tab resource .

International Education and Financial Aid (IEFA)

The IEFA provides students from all over the world comprehensive information on financial aid for studying abroad. Search the IEFA database for scholarships, grants, loan programs, and other options available to help finance your international education.

Find out more from the International Education and Financial Aid website .

The European Funding Guide 

Scholarships and grants for students from the European Union

Find out more through the European Funding Guide  

The Americas: Postgraduate doctorate funding from institutions and bodies to study in the UK

• Marshall Scholarship:  Provides for United States students to study abroad.
• Benjamin A Gilman International Scholarship provides for United States students to study abroad.
• American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid
• Global Affairs Canada International Scholarships Program
• Canadian Centennial Scholarship Fund
• Canada's Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
• The Bolsas Lideres Estudar Program provides for Brazilian students studying in the UK .

Asia: Postgraduate doctorate funding from Asian institutions and bodies to study in the UK

The Charles Wallace Bangladesh Trust

The Charles Wallace Burma Trust

China and Hong Kong

Great Britain – China Educational Trust is a charity that promotes mutual understanding between the UK and China and aims to build long-term connections between the two countries. It delivers awards contributing towards university tuition fees and living expenses for Chinese nationality students studying for a PhD in any subject at a UK university.

Great Britain China Centre Chinese Student Awards  offers scholarships of up to £3,000 for citizens of China and Hong Kong studying for a PhD in any subject at a UK university

The Hong Kong People Association (HKPA)  aims to provide financial aids for further university education to students from Hong Kong who are not able to afford international tuition fees. 

The Charles Wallace India Trust  offers PhD funding for study in the arts, heritage conservation or the humanities.

The Inlaks India Foundation

The JN Tata Endowment award funds 90 to 100 scholars across disciplines ranging from the sciences to management, law and commerce and the fine arts.

The KC Mahindra Education Trust

The Persia Educational Foundation Abdolreza Ansari Scholarship   is designed to support the education of students of Iranian descent enrolled in a Master or Doctorate programme in human rights or public service in the UK.

Momeni Iranian Financial Assistance Scholarships  offer partial funding scholarships for international students of Iranian descent towards a PhD in any subject.

The Kenneth Lindsay Scholarship Trust

The Anglo-Jewish Association (AJA)  provides funding for Jewish students to study a Masters or PhD in the UK.

The Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies  funds students of macroeconomics with a view to them working at the International Monetary Fund.

The Charles Wallace Pakistan Trust

Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan . The HEC offers government scholarships for Pakistani students to study abroad in various countries, including the UK.

Saudi Arabia

The Cultural Bureau of the Embassy of Saudi Arabia (SACB)  offers scope for full tuition fees and supporting fees for PhD level study.

Agency for Science, Technology and Research

The Thai Office of Educational Affairs 

Europe: Postgraduate doctorate funding from European institutions and bodies to study in the UK

The European Funding Guide  - Scholarships and grants in the EU.

France -  Entente Cordiale scholarships for postgraduate studies  provide funding to help students enrolling for a Masters or a PhD qualification in the UK or in France.

Italy -  Il Circolo Italian Cultural Association is a UK-registered charity based in London with the mission to support deserving students with awards and scholarships.

Norway - Lanekassen  - The Norwegian student loans and grants awarding body supports Norwegian students studying overseas.

Scandinavia - Fundraising.how  - article database offering funding advice for Scandinavian students.

Sweden - CSN -  loans and grants for Swedish students studying overseas.

Australia: funding for PhD study in the UK

The Australia Day Foundation  offers grants to young Australians for fees and course materials.

Africa: funding for PhD study in the UK

Sudan -  The Gordon Memorial College Trust Fund (GMCTF)

• Graduate Research Grants

Anticipated Fall 2024

• Academic Venture Fund
• Rapid Response Fund
• Innovation for Impact Fund
• The 2030 Project: Fast Grants
• The 2030 Project: Climate Solutions Fund
• Summer Undergraduate Mentored Research Grants
• Postdoctoral Fellowships
• Sustainable Biodiversity Fund
• Summer Internships

Graduate Funding in Thematic Areas

Cornell Atkinson’s Graduate Research Grants provide direct funding for periods of 6-24 months to students in any doctoral graduate field at Cornell (or terminal degree in fields that do not offer the PhD) in support of innovative research that aligns with our four priority areas: Accelerating Energy Transitions (AET), Reducing Climate Risk (RCR), Increasing Food Security (IFS), and Advancing One Health (AOH).

Cornell Atkinson’s Graduate Research Grants program is supported by generous gifts from Bruce H. Bailey ’74, Dan ’47 and Pat Cornwell, Laurie Paravati Phillips ’78 and Duane Phillips ’78, and other Cornell Atkinson donors.

How to Apply

Eligibility :

• Cornell graduate students

The 2024 Cycle Is Closed :

• Previous Request for Proposals

Questions or More Info:

Fourteen recipients across Accelerating Energy Transitions (AET) , Advancing One Health (AOH) , Increasing Food Security (IFS) , and Reducing Climate Risk (RCR): from Anthropology, Biological & Environmental Engineering, Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Entomology, Global Development, Government, Materials Science & Engineering, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Natural Resources & the Environment, and Soil & Crop Sciences

Made Adityanandana (Global Development)

Mobilization of Surplus Populations for Food Security in Indonesia’s Resettlement Project

Advisor: Jenny Goldstein

Aditya is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Global Development. His research examines agrarian transformation, food security, and population resettlement in Indonesia. Population resettlement has been integral to state-led agricultural projects since the Dutch colonial government relocated landless poor to the archipelago’s periphery in the early 20th century. Following independence, the Indonesian government has continued resettlement with the aim of bolstering food production. With its focus on the recent agri-food megaproject in Central Kalimantan, this research offers a vantage point in understanding the potential and constraints of distributive policy in ensuring reproduction of smallholders and securing food production.

Alonso Alegre-Bravo (Biological & Environmental Engineering)

Seeking a More Justice Oriented Indicator for Access to Electricity in Rural Communities of Latin America: The Guatemalan Case

Advisor: Lindsay Anderson

Alegre-Bravo’s dissertation examines rural electrification challenges in Latin America from a public policy and community perspective. Despite high rates of access to electricity in the region, rural communities describe electricity service as unstable, unaffordable, and unpredictable. Lack of or poor access to electricity hinders efforts to reduce inequality and poverty. Alegre-Bravo’s current research explores this discrepancy between official access to electricity metrics and the perceptions and realities of electricity access in rural communities in Guatemala. His work examines characteristics of electricity service, such as quality, availability, predictability, and affordability, in three rural communities in western Guatemala and the impact of unfulfilled electricity needs on these communities. His research highlights the limitations of current access to electricity indicators and will inform policymakers on how to include rural communities to achieve a just energy transition.

Alyssa de Villiers (Soil & Crop Sciences)

The Effects of Protective Sorption and Environmental Conditions on the Enzymatic Decomposition of Cellulose

Advisor: Carmen Enid Martinez

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is relevant to climate change in two crucial ways: Its turnover rate affects carbon dioxide addition to the atmosphere, and its buildup confers soil health benefits that promote agricultural resiliency in the face of a changing climate. Cellulose is arguably the most abundant biopolymer on Earth and is a major recurring source of organic carbon in both natural and agricultural ecosystems. Cellulose has a faster turnover time than the more recalcitrant lignin, making it a shorter-term control on SOC levels. In this research, de Villiers will examine the sorptive protection afforded to cellulose and low molecular weight organics under a variety of environmental conditions while integrating the use of density functional theory as a methodological technique to predict binding affinities of molecules at soil surfaces. This will further our understanding of the factors controlling cellulose decomposition rates and how we might push systems toward carbon accrual.

Songtao Guo (Materials Science & Engineering)

Combustion of Liquid Fuels at Elevated Pressures

Advisor: C. Thomas Avedisian

The combustion of liquid fuels emits soot particles, significantly impacting global climate change. Biofuels, while offering some reduction in emissions, are not exempt from this issue, particularly at high pressures. This study aims to investigate how pressure affects soot formation during the combustion of liquid fuels. Guo will examine the burning of an isolated droplet in a setup that encourages one-dimensional gas transport. This method is designed to establish a correlation between soot volume fraction and pressure, which could be crucial in identifying optimal operating conditions for engines to minimize soot emissions. This study will explore a range of pressures from atmospheric levels up to approximately 20 atm, focusing on a specific biofuel, iso-butanol. The insights gained from this study are anticipated to extend beyond iso-butanol, offering broader implications for reducing soot emissions across various fuel types.

Tamar Law (Global Development)

Mangroves for the Future: The Socio-Political Dimensions of Coastal Restoration

In 2021, the United Nations declared a global decade of ecosystem restoration, marking a rise in rehabilitating ecosystems to address climate change worldwide. As part of this effort, Indonesia, home to over a quarter of the world’s mangroves, is completing extensive coastal mangrove restoration to reduce climate risk. Mangroves are essential green infrastructure, protecting against sea-level rise and storm surges. Moreover, they are extremely effective blue carbon sinks, referring to atmospherically significant carbon stores within coastal ecosystems. The growth of blue carbon is central to Indonesia’s low-carbon development plan and climate targets. My research project seeks to understand the politics of Blue Carbon governance by examining how state actors, locals, corporations, and scientists negotiate the restoration of Indonesia’s mangrove ecosystems. Taking a multi-sited ethnographic approach, this project combines semi-structured interviews, participatory mapping, transect walks, and document analysis to examine the social and political dimensions of mangrove restoration for blue carbon in Indonesia.

Alexandra Lim (Chemistry & Chemical Biology)

Tuning Carbon Capture From Air at Hydroxide Sites in Metal-Organic Frameworks

Advisor: Phillip Milner

Carbon capture and sequestration and direct air capture are key initiatives to minimize anthropogenic CO2 emissions and combat global climate change. Current technologies are largely limited to aqueous amine scrubbers, which are prone to oxidative and thermal degradation. Lim has demonstrated rapid CO2 capture with metal-azolate framework Co2(OH)4(btdd) – a porous, crystalline framework constructed from organic linkers and inorganic nodes – through HCO3- formation at nucleophilic OH- sites within the framework pores. This material was prepared using a novel and generalizable route: oxidation of the Co(II) metal center to a Co(III) halide followed by anion exchange to install the M–OH site. The proposed work aims to synthesize a library of M–OH-containing MOFs in order determine the key structure/property relationships that underpin their reactivity toward CO2 and suitability for direct air capture.

Laura Martinez (Entomology)

Investigating the Role of a Promising Volatile Control Technique on the Surrounding Insect Communities

Advisor: Jennifer Thaler

Crops grown for human consumption are greatly affected by pests. Most of these crop losses can be prevented or reduced through adequate pest control. Pesticide use can be effective but has a major impact on non-target organisms and contributes to negative impacts on human health. Integrated pest management strategies like biocontrol and organic chemical controls are sought-after alternatives. Recent findings show that behaviorally active chemicals, including predator odors, can have a protective effect on crops by deterring pests. However, these findings remain unexplored on larger agricultural scales, and their impact on the surrounding communities, including off-target organisms, remains unknown. This project investigates how a synthetic predator pheromone, isolated from the spined soldier bug, is affecting the broader agricultural community to explore if it could be used as a realistic, organic approach for pest management.

Tobias Mueller (Entomology)

Quantifying the Impacts of Antimicrobial Pesticides on Solitary Bee Microbiomes

Advisor: Scott McArt

Pollination, primarily from bees, benefits over 70% of the major food crops across the globe. During crop pollination, however, bees are exposed to high levels of pesticides. While the toxicological effects of insecticides on bees are relatively well understood, little is known about the impact of antimicrobial pesticide sprays, which unlike insecticides, are applied during bloom, when bees are actively pollinating. These antimicrobials are known to disrupt essential microbial associates of social honeybees, however, no studies have assessed their impacts on solitary bees, which represent 90% of bee diversity and are among the most important pollinators in many agricultural systems. Mueller’s work focuses on filling this gap and better understanding how commonly used antimicrobials are shifting solitary bee microbiomes and impacting their development.

Horace Owiti Onyango (Natural Resources & the Environment)

Harmful Algal Blooms: Exposure From Drinking Water for Small-Scale Fishing Households in Lake Victoria, Kenya

Advisor: Kathryn Fiorella

This study addresses the significant threat posed by harmful algal blooms (HABs) to water-dependent communities, particularly small-scale fishing communities near Lake Victoria, Kenya. Harmful microcystins from HABs can adversely affect human and animal health. The vulnerable fishing households, reliant on contaminated water sources, face risks to their liver, nervous system, and overall well-being. Despite their use of indigenous knowledge, the transparency of cyanobacterial HABs necessitates conventional testing to minimize exposure. Through a hybrid study design integrating biological tests and socioeconomic assessment, my research aims to determine the extent and factors of microcystin exposure in drinking water from source to glass. This unique focus on household drinking water distinguishes the study, contributing valuable information to the global dialogue on microcystins, contextual risk factors, and the vulnerability of small-scale fishing communities to HAB risks. The findings aim to inform strategies for anticipating, responding to, and recovering from the impacts of toxic algae.

Christina Pan (Government)

Power Beyond the Party: Trade, Industry Origins, and Local Government in China’s Clean Energy Transition

Advisor: Jeremy Lee Wallace

Pan’s research examines the domestic politics in clean energy transitions in developing economies. Her dissertation explores the state-society interaction in the clean energy industry and aims to conceptualize and explain the role of subnational actors – local governments and private entrepreneurs – across different clean energy-related sectors and across different time periods in China. In her project, Pan explores the factors that shape dynamics between different pro-clean energy groups in the domestic clean energy transition. Using comparative case analysis together with interviews, archives, and statistical analysis, this project sheds light on understanding the multi-level nature of government subsidy strategies in China, unpacks the idea of China’s state capitalism in the context of clean energy transition, and provides significant implications for the U.S. and the EU’s clean energy-related trade policies.

Roderick Wijunamai (Anthropology)

The Promise of Oil Palm in India’s Northeastern Borderlands

Advisor: Sarah Besky

Wijunamai is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Anthropology. His research is at the intersection of economic anthropology, political geography, and critical Indigenous studies. Taking the case of Nagaland in India’s Northeast, Wijunamai’s Ph.D. project examines how indigenous geographies affect, and are affected by, the making of a self-sufficient national economy. India is the world’s largest importer of edible oil. To contain its increasing demand, the government of India launched the National Mission for Edible Oil-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) in 2014. Nagaland – alongside other Northeastern states – is one of the key sites where production is concentrated. Grounded in a long-term ethnographic fieldwork, Wijunamai’s research explores the confluence of a national economy and Indigenous livelihood strategies through the lens of India’s oil palm development.

Henry Williams (Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering)

Digital Twin for Multi-Use Solar Farm Design and Management

Advisor: K. Max Zhang

Large-scale solar farms have potential to be co-located with agriculture and ecosystem services, but the current lack of robust modeling tools is a critical barrier for the adoption of these multi-use designs. This project involves the development of an innovative digital twin platform for solar farm modeling and management, built on the intersection of 3D modeling, microclimate simulation, and internet-of-things data. The digital twin will be used to design and customize 3D representations of solar farms, allowing for robust modeling and data analysis. This project is at the forefront of a major shift in the renewable energy sector and aims to achieve real-world impact with key industry partners.

Adele Woodmansee (Soil & Crop Sciences)

Agricultural Biodiversity for Climate Adaptation in the High Atlas: Exploring Underutilized Cereal Crops and Cereal Mixtures

Advisor: Andrew McDonald

Woodmansee’s research looks at underutilized cereal cropping practices in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco. The High Atlas Mountains conserve in situ diversity for several Mediterranean crops, but this diversity is threatened by rapidly intensifying droughts and socioeconomic change. Cereal crops play an important role for both food and fodder in the High Atlas, but there are major gaps in knowledge about the extent and distribution of cereal diversity. Woodmansee will investigate millets and rye, underutilized cereal crops. She will also investigate cereal species mixtures (i.e., maslins), which have increasingly recognized value for adaptation but have been previously unstudied in Morocco. The project will include collections, surveys, and mother-baby trials that combine controlled irrigation trials with participatory farmer trials. This research will provide extensive knowledge about local cereal cropping practices in an understudied potential hotspot for cereal diversity.

Liming Zhao (Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering)

Modeling and Design of Sustainable Low-Carbon Living Building Materials

Advisor: Jingjie Yeo

The manufacturing of cement and concrete damage repair, crucial to construction, contributes significantly to CO2 emissions with an annual production rate of over 4 billion metric tons. The living building material, a mixture of concrete and ureolytic bacteria, is a promising sustainable alternative, the bacteria of which aid in reducing cement production and facilitating its repair via biomineralization activity, a process converting CO2 into carbonate. However, the efficiency of biomineralization is greatly affected by bacterial neighboring heterogeneous chemical and structural conditions, necessitating more quantitative studies. By developing a novel individual-based simulation model, Zhao aims to quantify the effects of the chemical and mechanical environment around each bacterial cell and, thereby, unveil the regulatory mechanism of the environmental factors on biomineralization in concrete.

Fifteen recipients across Accelerating Energy Transitions (AET) , Advancing One Health (AOH) , Increasing Food Security (IFS) , and Reducing Climate Risk (RCR): from Anthropology, Biological & Environmental Engineering, Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Communication Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Global Development, Masters of Public Health, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, and Soil & Crop Sciences

Bayu Ahmad (Chemistry & Chemical Biology)

Visible Light Photo-switchable Carbon Dioxide Capture From Air (RCR) 

The rising carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere has become a serious threat, and its removal is necessary to reduce future climate risk. Current carbon capture technologies are mainly based on amine-based scrubbers, which face challenges such as susceptibility to oxygen and water and large parasitic energy costs. With this funding, Ahmad seeks to develop a photochemical capture-and-release system that harnesses solar energy to provide the energy required to remove carbon dioxide from air. The proposed system promises to be more energy efficient and resistant toward water and oxygen than current technologies, enabling a new low-cost strategy for selective carbon capture from emission streams and air.

Marvi Ahmed (Global Development)

Assembling the Development Frontier: Identity, Climate Vulnerability, and Agrarian Livelihoods in the Indus Delta Region (IFS)                                 

Advisors: Fouad Makki , Wendy Wolford , and Sarah Besky

Ahmed’s research examines how neoliberal logics of community development entangle with socio-ecological relations in Sindh, Pakistan, a space that has long remained a frontier of agricultural extraction, ethno-nationalism and now acute climate vulnerability. Challenging the notion of climate change as the great leveler, she examines how pre-existing hierarchies profoundly condition climate vulnerabilities and how these dynamics are reshaped through the development frontier. In 2022, rising temperatures and intensified monsoon rains led to unprecedented “super floods” in the greater Indus delta region in Sindh. The region is lined with large export-oriented agricultural estates employing landless sharecroppers caught in cycles of debt bondage organized along caste lines, where low-caste communities form the most dispossessed groups. This precarity also makes them ideal candidates for donor-funded community development projects, urging improvement through market-driven initiatives such as entrepreneurship and microcredit. Examining how structural inequalities shape lived experiences of “empowerment-based” interventions and climate vulnerability sheds critical light on the work of development in an age of climate crisis.

Charlotte Albunio (Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering)

Additive Manufacturing and Burning Characterization of Wildfire-prone Tree Species (RCR)

Advisor: Sadaf Sobhani

Albunio’s research aims to help categorize the burning behavior of wood species that are commonly found in wildfire prone areas. Understanding this behavior is essential for creating models that will help predict how wildfires will spread. These models will have a serious impact on reducing the risks associated with wildfire spread, including increased health complications and destruction of communities. Previous research has been done to categorize wood burning, however the innate heterogeneity of wood has barred scientists from being able to create meaningful databases. To overcome this hurdle, Albunio will use additive manufacturing to control the properties of wood. This will be informed by X-ray data from naturally occurring wood as well as thermogravimetric analysis to determine the material’s thermal stability.

Camille Blevins (Ecology & Evolutionary Biology)

Closing Critical Knowledge Gaps in Ecosystem Methane Flux Under Sea-Level Rise (RCR)              

Advisor: Jed Sparks

Blevins, who uses the pronouns they/she, is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology working with Dr. Jed Sparks. Blevins’ research focuses on methane flux dynamics within coastal tidal wetlands during major environmental disturbances, such as sea-level rise. The proposed work will examine three critical methane flux pathways during a salt marsh restoration event that will elucidate a mechanistic understanding of surface methane flux pathway dynamics within coastal wetlands. The proposed work will leverage isotope analyses and infrared imaging to pinpoint changes to the methane production and consumption (oxidation) balance. Their work aims to provide the most comprehensive mechanistic representation of methane flux from this ecosystem with an eye toward identifying generalizable terms that can be applied to similar areas experiencing sea-level rise.

Aneesh Chandel (Soil & Crop Sciences)

Empirical Measurements and Improved Model Representation of Hydraulic Redistribution as a Control on Function of Semiarid Woody Ecosystems (RCR)   

Advisor: Yiqi Luo

Chandel is a soil and crop sciences Ph.D. student in the Luo lab at Cornell University whose research focuses on improving the model representation of plant-mediated water distribution between soil layers as a control on the functions of dryland ecosystems. Drylands cover more than 40% of the land surface and play a dominant role in global carbon sequestration. The current Earth system models are unable to simulate dryland ecosystem function, partly due to a poor representation of plant-available water dynamics. Chandel aims to utilize long-term observational data collected in AmeriFlux core sites in dominant dryland woody biomes in the Southwestern U.S. and employ the data assimilation approach to develop a robust dryland ecosystem model.

Liting Ding (Anthropology)

Living With Salinity: Development and Expertise in Sustainable Aquaculture for Building Climate-Resilient Mekong Delta (AET)

Ding is a Ph.D. student mentored by Dr. Sarah Besky in the Department of Anthropology. Ding works with Vietnamese and international scientists, development consultants, and aquaculture farmers to tell a story of lives entangled with economic promises, expertise in rural development, and climate change. With this funding, Ding will conduct field research in Vietnam to explore sustainable aquaculture development as a solution for the climate-resilient future of the Mekong Delta. This project intends to understand the discourses surrounding sustainable aquaculture and the production of expertise in climate adaptation. By interviewing aquaculture scientists, development agency consultants, and other stakeholders engaged in sustainable aquaculture research and implementation, this project examines how technological innovation and transnational partnerships on sustainable aquaculture address climate change mitigation and create socio-economic impact.

Giancarlo D’Orazio (Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering)

Leveraging Micro-Additive Manufacturing to Enable High Performance Electrochemical CO2 Conversion (AET)

CO 2 reduction reactors are an effective means of transforming waste carbon dioxide into carbon neutral or negative fuel and chemical sources. In these reactors, gaseous CO 2 flows into one side of the cell. In these cells, a porous membrane, called a gas diffusion electrode (GDE), separates the gas from a water-based electrolyte. As the cells operate, the electrolyte environment begins to change as new chemicals are evolved, and over the course of tens of hours the GDE will eventually flood. The research proposed will overcome these shortcomings and reduce flooding potential of the GDE via additive manufacturing. This will improve the operational lifespan of these reactors, enabling a long-term scaling solution to converting excess CO 2 into carbon neutral or negative fuels and other chemical products.

Jarvis Fisher (Global Development)

Food Self-Sufficiency, Agroecology, and Rice Production in Senegal (IFS)

Advisor: Rachel Bezner Kerr

Fisher is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Global Development. His research is focused on two approaches to food security in Senegal. For years, Senegalese government officials have promoted rice self-sufficiency by intensifying irrigated production in targeted riverine regions. Fearful of the social and ecological effects of these programs, a national agroecological coalition has formed to reject this approach and achieve food security through ecological intensification and local food sovereignty. Fisher’s project examines the transformative effect these two approaches have had on systems of rice production; their influences on farmer decision-making; and the analytical frameworks that have informed their design, implementation, and evaluation.

Sabrina Marecos (Biological & Environmental Engineering)

Effect of Metallophore Production on Mineral Dissolution With Gluconobacter Oxydans (AET)

Advisor: Buz Barstow

Marecos is a Ph.D. student in Buz Barstow’s lab in the Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering. Her research focuses on harnessing the bioleaching capabilities of the microbe Gluconobacter oxydans for the biomining of critical metals used in sustainable energy technologies. She is interested in understanding the effect of chelating compounds on the bioleaching capabilities of G. oxydans , with the aim of determining how they contribute to the mineral dissolution mechanism. This research will provide important insights regarding potential factors involved in the production of small-chelating molecules called metallophores, relevant properties of the biosynthesis genes that encode them, and the extent to which their production contributes to bioleaching. By studying the impact of metal-chelating molecules, this study aims to expand the understanding of mineral dissolution by G. oxydans and pave the way for more efficient biomining moving forward.

Jessica Noll (Population Medicine & Diagnostic Sciences)

Characterization of the Biological Function of African Swine Fever Virus P30/P32 Protein (IFS)

Advisor: Diego Diel

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a complex virus that threatens the swine industry worldwide. African swine fever (ASF), caused by ASFV, is a hemorrhagic transboundary disease of high social and economic impact with mortality rates reaching up to 100% in domestic pigs. Due to the high complexity of the virus, there are no vaccines or therapeutics available for ASF. Noll’s research is focused on the characterization of antibody and T cell responses against the high immunogenic protein p30/p32 of ASFV. Through a diverse array of assays, she is currently dissecting the function of antibodies elicited by p30/p32 as well as investigating the activation and function of T cell populations upon stimulation by p30/p32. The understanding of the immunological mechanisms stimulated by p30/p32 can lead to the rational development of novel subunit vaccines against ASF.

Timothy Ravis (Global Development)

Understanding Resistance to Geothermal Energy in Indonesia (AET)

A dvisor : Jenny Goldstein

Geothermal energy is subsurface heat that can be used to generate renewable, low-carbon electricity. Because of its relative abundance in Indonesia, experts see it as a cornerstone to that country’s energy transition. Yet uncertainty about its effects and profitability slows geothermal development across Indonesia. This research explores impediments to geothermal development by focusing on how development agencies, scientists, investors, and local residents negotiate the construction of new energy landscapes in Indonesia. It studies how these actors create certainty around geothermal development. Geological uncertainty motivates new financial schemes to shift the burden of investment risk to the state. Struggles over land affected by geothermal contributes to police militarization and the reworking of colonial-era laws differentiating surface and subsurface rights to property in land. Thus, this project explores both the impediments to a clean energy transition in Indonesia and how political power is produced alongside the resources that power industrial society.

Maria Rivera (Soil & Crop Sciences)

Enhanced Rock Weathering and the Persistence of Soil Organic Carbon (RCR)

Advisor: Johannes Lehmann

Enhanced rock weathering (ERW) is a carbon dioxide removal strategy that amends soils with crushed magnesium and calcium silicate rock to accelerate carbon capture in soils. The effect of ERW on soil organic matter has received little attention, but past literature in organo-mineral associations suggests potential for organic carbon accrual. Through experiments, Rivera will learn the basic mechanisms by which magnesium and calcium silicate minerals extracted from ERW influence soil organic matter persistence. The findings will contribute to a holistic understanding of ERW as a carbon dioxide removal strategy, improve model predictions for ERW, and contribute to IPCC’s knowledge for enhanced weathering, a strategy now necessary for mitigating anthropogenic climate change.

Ellie Socha (Ecology & Evolutionary Biology)

How Do Winter and Nutrient Conditions Interact to Regulate Year-Round Plankton Communities? (AOH)

Advisor: Meredith Holgerson

Climate change is shortening our winters, causing lakes to have less snow and ice cover, which is in turn influencing phytoplankton and food resources in lakes year-round. Yet, limnologists have long ignored winter periods in lakes, meaning that we have a poor understanding of how changing winter conditions will influence plankton, including phytoplankton and their zooplankton predators. This study aims to examine plankton communities year-round across a gradient of lakes with varying nutrient concentrations (from low to high productivity). The results of this research will inform how lake biological communities function throughout the year and give us insight into how communities may shift due to changing winter conditions. The findings will be especially relevant to One Health, as winter conditions coupled with lake nutrients shape phytoplankton communities, and ultimately control primary productivity, energy flow in food webs, toxin production, and lake oxygen availability.

Eric Teplitz (Public & Ecosystem Health)

Public and Ecosystem Health Impacts of Aquaculture Systems in Lake Victoria, Kenya (AOH)

Harmful algal blooms are a global phenomenon that are increasing in frequency, duration, and scale as a consequence of anthropogenic nutrient pollution. Concurrently, aquaculture production systems, which are pivotal to achieving food security yet impact aquatic ecosystem health, are proliferating rapidly. Navigating the food systems transitions required to balance environmental health with human nutrition is a key challenge. The Lake Victoria system in East Africa is an emblematic model of these co-occurring challenges: Persistent harmful algal blooms are increasing in scale as a nascent cage aquaculture industry undergoes explosive growth to meet increasing demand for fish. Cyanobacteria-producing harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) are highly prevalent in Lake Victoria and involve production of a potent liver toxin known as microcystin that accumulates in fish populations. Teplitz’s project will investigate the risk of human toxicosis through farmed and wild-caught fish consumption, characterize the spatiotemporal occurrence of cyanoHABs, and identify relevant fish health challenges.

Amanda Vilchez (Communication)

Let’s Talk About Bats: Citizen Science for One Health in Peru (AOH)

Advisor: Bruce Lewenstein

Bats are widely known as vectors for viruses such as rabies. However, their essential roles in the ecosystem are ignored as pollinators, seed dispersers, and pest controllers. This dichotomy of bats as a health threat and an essential part of the ecosystem has big implications for humans, bats, and the ecosystem. “Let’s talk about bats” is a citizen science project that seeks to improve human health, the bat community, and ecosystem services through a cooperative national sampling of bats’ distribution in Peru’s urban and rural areas. This study considers the participation of non-scientists in obtaining information about bats’ species and their presence using acoustic methods. As a result of non-scientists participation in the study and systematic conversations with scientists, Vilchez expects to encourage positive perceptions of bats and decrease negative interactions with them. Simultaneously, bat distribution information obtained by non-scientist participation will be relevant to future bat conservation measures around Peru.

Ten recipients across Accelerating Energy Transitions (AET) , Advancing One Health (AOH) , Increasing Food Security (IFS) , and Reducing Climate Risk (RCR): from Animal Science, Entomology, Food Science & Technology, Global Development, Horticulture, Plant Biology, Plant Breeding & Genetics, Science & Technology Studies, and Soil & Crop Sciences

Martin Abbott (Science & Technology Studies)

Redrawing Risk in FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program: “Equity in Action” or Equity Inaction? (RCR)

Martin Abbott is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Science and Technology Studies. His research is concerned with the scientific and social nature of urban flooding, risk, and map-making. This research focuses on New Orleans and how the Federal Emergency Management Agency has refined the city’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps. These maps form the backbone of FEMA’s trillion-dollar National Flood Insurance Program and are among governments’ most powerful tools to minimize the impact of flooding and adapt cities to climate change. Martin’s preliminary analysis shows that urban flood risk is underestimated, poorly understood, and disproportionately affects low-income groups and minorities.

Nikita Agarwal (Food Science & Technology)

Grape Pomace Waste, as Natural Alternatives for Antibiotic Growth Promoters in Poultry Feed (AOH)

Nikita Agarwal is a PhD student working with Dr. Elad Tako on finding natural and sustainable alternatives to antibiotics in poultry feed. Antibiotic growth promotors pose a risk of increasing antibiotic-resistant microbes that can spread to humans through meat consumption. On the other hand, the wine and grape juice industry produces over 70 million tons of grape pomace “waste” annually. This low-cost by-product is a rich source of phenolic acids, which leads to soil pollution when discarded. With the funding from Cornell Atkinson, Nikita’s research will aim to reclassify this waste as a co-product by evaluating its effects on various aspects of poultry gut health.

Jenny Berkowitz (SIPS Horticulture)

Developing a Soil Health Index for Urban Agricultural Soils to Support Food Security (IFS)

Jenny Berkowitz is a Ph.D. student co-advised by Thomas Björkman and Jenny Kao-Kniffin. Her work examines processes for developing soil health practices that fit farmer and community goals. This study seeks to utilize participatory methods to build off New York City Farmer experience and create an Urban Soil Health Index. Urban farming has gained widespread enthusiasm for its immense potential to increase food security, particularly for the many urban growers who are people of color and from working-class backgrounds that experience food insecurity. Urban farmers have developed their own methods for assessing their soil health, some of which are not included or addressed in current rural soil health metrics. When farmers test their soils for standard health parameters, they have no guides to compare the “optimal” or “aspirational” ranges they would expect to see. The Urban Soil Health Index will be created by and for urban farmers to address these gaps.

Lauren Brzozowski (SIPS Plant Breeding & Genetics)

Leveraging Plant Immune Responses for Increased Food Security (IFS)

Lauren Brzozowski is a postdoctoral research associate advised by Dr. Jean-Luc Jannink in Plant Breeding & Genetics. As a plant breeder, she is interested in breeding new plant varieties for sustainable agricultural systems, especially those that contribute to ecological pest management. Lauren currently focuses on genetic research of phytochemicals in oat ( Avena sativa ) that contribute to plant disease resistance and to human health. Funding from the Atkinson Center will support her work in conducting new research to test whether oat varieties have different immune responses that can increase antioxidants and disease resistance. Studying how plants vary in their immune responses is a promising research area for breeding plants for resistance to pests and disease. This work can improve oat cultivation practices and provide a basis for studying other crop plants to promote food security in our changing climate.

Mohammad Irfan (SIPS Plant Biology)

Investigating the Role of Carotenoids in Improving Sustainable Agriculture of Sweet Potatoes Under Water Stress (IFS)

Mohammad Irfan is a postdoctoral research associate working with Gaurav Moghe in the Plant Biology Section of the School of Integrative Plant Science. He works in the field of plant-specialized metabolic pathways and high-value phytochemicals, such as anthocyanins and carotenoids of sweet potato, a nutritious superfood. The primary aim of this project is to address food security issues and improve the sustainable agriculture of sweet potatoes. Using transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches, he will investigate the role of carotenoids in sweet potato’s response to water-challenging conditions, which is expected to affect sweet potato yields in the coming decades as per future climate predictions. This project also aims to study the carotenoid’s metabolism during the sweet potato’s interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi during water stresses.

Morgan Irons (SIPS Soil & Crop Sciences)

The Effects of Bacterial Organic Adhesives on Carbon Sequestration in Soils for Climate Change Mitigation (RCR)

Morgan A. Irons (she/her/they/them) is a Ph.D. candidate working with Johannes Lehmann to examine how bacterial organic adhesives affect carbon mineralization and sequestration through organo-organic and organo-mineral interactions in aggregates. The proposed work will use atomic force microscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and spectroscopy techniques to obtain a mechanistic understanding of the spatial and chemical complexity of bacterial organic adhesive in soil aggregates, understand how that, in turn, confers persistence to other soil organic matter and carbon, and determine the chemical and surface morphology mechanism of adhesion between model bacterial species and relevant organic and mineral substrates. As soil contains the largest terrestrial pool of organic carbon (OC), understanding how OC occludes and turns over in soil is integral to accurately predicting and managing carbon sequestration and long-term soil fertility. The research will thus contribute to a more holistic understanding of how soil microbiomes affect carbon cycling and contribute to the development of more informed management strategies for combatting climate change and soil degradation.

Rachelle LaCroix (SIPS Soil & Crop Sciences)

Does Plant Litter Type and Microbial Diversity Effect Soil Organic Matter Molecular Diversity? (RCR)

Rachelle LaCroix is a Ph.D. candidate advised by Dr. Johannes Lehmann in Soil and Crop Sciences. Rachelle’s research is focused on identifying soil biogeochemical mechanisms that contribute to long-term storage of soil organic carbon. The funding provided by the Cornell Atkinson grant will enable her, with the help of her undergraduate researcher Caleb Levitt, to better understand the role of plant litter type and microbial diversity on the decomposition of soil organic matter. Improving our fundamental understanding of complex biogeochemical processes will increase our ability to adapt soil management policies to a changing climate.

Andres Ortega (Animal Science)

Abomasal Infusion of Nutritionally Non-Essential Amino Acid for Evaluation of Overall Amino Acid Utilization and Productive Efficiencies in Lactating Dairy Cattle (IFS)

Andres Ortega is a Ph.D. Candidate mentored by Dr. Mike Van Amburgh, whose group works to further develop the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS). The CNCPS is a nutritional model used by dairy farmers around the world to formulate cattle diets and predict productive performance. Andres’s research focuses on amino acid (AA) chemistry methods and metabolism in dairy cows in support of lactation and other nutrient demands. He is interested in developing novel methods to analyze the AA composition of different substrates using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to better characterize the chemical composition of various model components. In this study, he will examine the role and energetic demand of non-essential AA for milk and milk component synthesis.  The objective is to be able to improve diet formulation and further improve productive efficiency. This can result in less N excreted into the environment and lower feed costs for dairy producers.

Annika Salzberg (Entomology)

Trap Crops for Flea Beetle Control in Cabbage Fields (IFS)

Annika is a Master’s student in Katja Poveda’s lab in the Department of Entomology. As an agroecologist, her research centers around landscape ecology and the effect of landscape simplification on insect body size, abundance, and diversity–and subsequently how these factors affect crop damage and yields. She will use her Cornell Atkinson funding to conduct applied agricultural research into managing flea beetles through trap cropping in New York State. Determining viable trap crops will provide a new and more sustainable pest control practice for local growers, decreasing the frequency and/or amount of pesticides needed to maintain yields, and minimizing detrimental effects of pesticide sprays on surrounding ecosystems.

Camillo Stubenberg (Global Development)

Energy Transition as Last Resort: The Adoption of Decentralized Renewable Energy Technologies in the Wake of State Absence and Fossil Fuel Shortages in Lebanon (AET)

Camillo Stubenberg is a Ph.D. Student in the Department of Global Development. He is advised by Lori Leonard, Jenny Goldstein, and Sara Pritchard. Camillo will use this funding to conduct field research in Lebanon in the fall of 2022, examining the rushed adoption of off-grid and renewable energy technologies in Lebanon, where an interlocking political and financial crisis has led to a total breakdown of the country’s electricity sector. In the summer of 2021, a convergence of political, financial, and infrastructural crises led to severe fuel shortages. Without the diesel necessary to run both the state’s power plants and private backup generators, the country was quite literally plunged into darkness. As a result, households, communities, and businesses are scrambling to access off-grid and renewable energy systems. The project aims to answer three related questions. First, how does an energy transition take place in the “absence” of fossil fuels and state regulation? Second, how do emerging green energy startups alter electric connections and reconfigure existing political and social patterns? And finally, how does connection to decentralized and renewable infrastructure affect end-users’ energy behavior and political outlook? By shedding light on the ongoing dynamics in Lebanon, this research provides insights both for the design of renewable energy systems as well as policies aimed at fostering energy transitions across the globe.

Increasing Food Security (IFS): Five recipients from Global Development, Horticulture, and Masters of Public Health

Maria Arnot (Masters of Public Health)

Effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing on Adult Dietary Changes

Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) launched a  Produce Prescription Program  in Tompkins County in 2018 to prescribe fruits and vegetables as medicine for high-risk participants with low food security, low income, and diet-related health issues. Simultaneously, this program supports local organic farmers who grow and sell the fresh produce that is provided to program participants weekly. By 2020, the program had expanded to 75 participants. Working with Baz Perry at CCE, Master of Public Health candidate Maria Arnot will assess the effectiveness of motivational interviewing on the participants’ dietary changes through this program. While research shows that motivational interviewing can be influential in promoting lifestyle changes, especially in substance abuse treatment, minimal research is available as to how this can be applied to dietary behavior changes, particularly when paired with existing produce prescription programs

Emily Baker (Global Development)

Participatory Agrobiodiversity Mapping Informs Sustainable Livelihoods, Food Security, and Socio-ecological Resilience

Emily Baker is a Ph.D. student studying smallholder farmers’ cultivation and understanding of agricultural biodiversity in the Rwenzori Mountains of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and western Uganda. Diversified agroforestry and home garden systems have gendered implications for smallholder social and ecological resilience, livelihoods, and food security. Working with  Rachel Bezner Kerr , Baker seeks to understand the ways that intersectional and intergenerational agrobiodiversity knowledge and agency are linked with macro drivers of social and environmental change, and can inform policy approaches and community decision-making for local conservation, food security, and equitable approaches to social and ecological resilience.

Emily Hillenbrand (Global Development)

Engaging Men to Improve Gender Equality, Food Security, and Sustainable Livelihoods in Malawi

Emily Hillebrand is a Ph.D. candidate working with  Rachel Bezner Kerr , examining processes and implications of gender-transformative approaches and shifting masculinities in Burundi and Malawi’s agriculture development. Her research will be conducted in partnership with  Soils, Food, and Healthy Communities (SFHC), a farmer-led non-profit organization that addresses the challenges of soil infertility, climate change, food insecurity, and gender inequality in Malawi. This study will be carried out in 10 SFHC target communities, reaching more than 300,000 people, to examine the effects of a gender-transformative intervention on couples’ key household negotiations related to food security, nutrition, and livelihood strategies. The study will pay particular attention to how men participate in gender activities and what factors contribute to their engagement and personal changes.

Connor Lane (Horticulture)

Apple Microbiome Responses to Preharvest Chemical Treatments Affecting Ethylene Production

Connor Lane is a Ph.D. student advised by Jenny Kao-Kniffin . While plant microbiomes are increasingly recognized as important for the optimal functioning of agricultural systems, little is known about fruit-associated microbiomes. The apple microbiome is of interest due to the role microbes play in apple diseases and spoilage during postharvest storage. In this study, Lane proposes investigating the microbiome response to different plant growth regulators that slow ripening and spoilage by limiting ethylene production. He will also examine the apple microbiome’s functional traits. These findings on microbial dynamics related to treatments with postharvest effects will pave the way to a greater understanding of food spoilage and dietary effects on the human gut microbiome.

Yejin Son (Horticulture)

Uncovering the Role of Polyphosphate Accumulating Organisms and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Soil for Enhanced Soil Health and Carbon Sequestration

Healthy soils are fundamental for food security, but intensive farming practices have negatively impacted various aspects of soil health, including soil aggregation and carbon storage. Soil microorganisms, especially certain fungi, aid soil organic carbon sequestration, but much remains unknown about these collaborative effects. Advised by  Jenny Kao-Kniffin , Ph.D. student Yejin Son’s research aims to discover how polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) recovered from manure could work with these fungi to sequester organic carbons in the rhizosphere of Irish Potato, potentially leading to improved food security and agricultural techniques, as well as increased use of PAOs as a phosphorus biofertilizer option and climate change mitigation.

Reducing Climate Risk (RCR): Four recipients from Architecture, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Soil + Crop Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine

Laurel Lynch (Soil + Crop Sciences)

Defining Fundamental Tradeoffs Between Microbial Activity and Soil Carbon Sequestration

Laurel Lynch is a postdoctoral associate advised by  Johannes Lehmann  in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences. As an ecosystem ecologist, she is interested in how microbial and environmental drivers influence the molecular composition of dissolved organic matter. With this funding, Laurel seeks to better understand how the composition and spatial distribution (between soil horizons and across landscapes) of microbial residues shape systems-level Carbon cycling. These natural climate solutions have the potential to meet ~40% of the carbon reductions needed to keep climate warming below 2°C and confer co-benefits, such as wildlife habitat, improved human health outcomes, and better air and water quality.

Prince Ochonma (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering)

Accelerated and Sustainable Bio-Hydrogen Generation with Integrated Carbon Capture and Storage Technology for Advancing a Negative Emissions Future

Prince Ochonma is a Ph.D. student in the Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, advised by  Greeshma Gadikota . This project involves developing accelerated and sustainable bio-hydrogen generation with integrated carbon capture and storage technology, to advance a negative emissions future by producing H2 from renewable biomass sources with in-situ CO2 capture. The building blocks for this technology include water, aqueous or solid biomass, and alkaline resources such as industrial residues or naturally occurring minerals. This technology could be integrated with a bio-refinery and adapted to utilize agricultural or dairy waste generated in rural communities, or food waste in rural and urban regions. Sophomore Claire Blaudeau also received a supplemental undergraduate grant to assist with this research.

Ranaivo Rasolofoson (College of Veterinary Medicine)

Drowning and Climate Change in Small-scale Fishing Communities Around Lake Victoria

Ranaivo Rasolofoson is a postdoctoral research associate in the College of Veterinary Medicine, advised by  Kathryn Fiorella . He is interested in investigating the impacts of environmental programs and environmental changes on human wellbeing and environmental outcomes. With support from Cornell Atkinson, Rasolofson will explore the potential effects of climate change on drowning deaths in small-scale fishing communities in low-income country settings, to raise awareness on the necessity of effective measures to mitigate the effects of climate change of such communities.

Yang Yang (Architecture)

Energy and Mobility-aware Urban Design: A Mobility Simulator Assisting Urban Design Decision-making for Mitigating Energy Consumption and Transportation Emissions

Yang Yang is a master’s student advised by  Timur Dogan  in the Department of Architecture. She will use funding from Cornell Atkinson to develop a mobility simulator to aid urban design decision-making for mitigating energy consumption and transportation emissions. The research is expected that it will enhance the design and planning of mobility solutions, energy use, and urban form. This could facilitate the early discovery of synergies that lead to better cities with lower energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Increasing Food Security (IFS): Four recipients from Entomology, Soil and Crop Sciences, Natural Resources, and Plant Breeding and Genetics Reducing Climate Risk (RCR): Four recipients from Architecture, Anthropology, Biological and Environmental Engineering, and Soil and Crop Sciences

Ashley Jernigan (Entomology)

Elucidating the Effect of Soil Fauna on Crop Yields through Nutrient Cycling (IFS)

Ashley Jernigan is a PhD student in  Kyle Wickings ’ lab in the Department of Entomology. She is interested in the effect of soil microarthropods on crop productivity and agroecosystem functioning. Her research explores how changes in microarthropod abundance and community composition impacts nutrient cycling and plant pathogen transmission and suppression. With this funding, Ashley is completing a project investigating how alterations to microarthropod abundance and community composition impacts soil nitrogen cycling and plant nutrient acquisition under different fertilizer treatments. Elucidating these important agroecosystem relationships will allow for improved management of crops and will lead to increased system resiliency.

Eugene Law (Soil and Crop Sciences)

Soil Carbon Storage and Soil Structure Impacts of ‘Kernza’ Intermediate Wheatgrass (IFS)

Eugene Law is a PhD candidate in Soil and Crop Sciences co-advised by  Toni DiTommaso  ( Weed Ecology and Management Lab ) and  Matt Ryan  ( Sustainable Cropping Systems Lab ). His current research explores the development of cropping systems and market opportunities for two novel perennial grain crops, intermediate wheatgrass and perennial cereal rye, using a systems approach that incorporates aspects of agronomy, ecology, soil science, and economics. He will use funding from the Atkinson Center to expand the breadth of his research on how perennial grain crops might enhance soil health by comparing indicators of soil carbon storage and soil structure regeneration in fields of perennial intermediate wheatgrass and annual wheat.

Ryan Lepak (Natural Resources)

Tracing Sources of Mercury Contamination in Freshwater Fisheries Across Space and Time (IFS)

Ryan Lepak is a postdoctoral research associate working with  Peter McIntyre  in the Department of Natural Resources, Casey Dillman, Cornell Museum of Vertebrates and the Mercury Research Laboratory in the US Geological Survey. His research focuses on understanding current and past sources of neurotoxic methylmercury to freshwater fisheries of central Africa by measuring stable isotope tracers in fish preserved in museums worldwide. The support from SBF will allow Ryan to visit and subsample fish from European museums that predate many instances of anthropogenic mercury contamination like mercury-mediated small-scale artisanal gold mining which has expanded rapidly in this region in unregulated ways. Accessing greater spatial and temporal coverage from museums specimens will allow Ryan to better inform the region of the extent of contamination and inform these impoverished nations of realistic baselines they may strive to achieve for safer fish consumption.

William Stafstrom (Plant Breeding and Genetics)

Modeling Mycotoxin Risk in a Tanzanian Smallholder Farming System (IFS)

Will Stafstrom is a Plant Breeding and Genetics graduate student working in  Dr. Rebecca Nelson ’s maize disease lab. He studies various ways of mitigating the harmful effects of mycotoxins produced by maize fungal pathogens. His research spans multiple scales from the genetic basis of mycotoxin resistance to landscape wide indicators of mycotoxins. His work supported by the Atkinson Center will focus on modeling mycotoxin risk in a smallholder farming system in Tanzania by integrating local surveys of mycotoxins with remote sensing datasets of environmental factors. This project intends to improve understanding of mycotoxins’ relationship with environmental conditions and to develop a useful tool for predicting mycotoxin risk areas on a yearly basis.

Allison Bernett (Architecture)

Early Design Decision-making Framework for Simulating Building Energy, Carbon, and Cost (RCR)

Allison is pursuing a master of architecture degree and working in  Dr. Timur Dogan ’s Environmental Systems Lab in the architecture department. Prior to Cornell, Allison worked as a sustainability consultant. Her research in the lab focuses on developing an early design decision-making building simulation framework that when furnished with basic inputs generates design options that can be filtered by energy performance, carbon footprint, and cost criteria. Given that architects make critical early design decisions on orientation, massing, and structure that significantly affect the energy use and carbon footprint of the design, such a framework aims to better inform these initial decisions, reducing time and cost while improving building performance.

Luisa Cortesi (Anthropology)

The Flood Room (RCR)

Luisa Cortesi (PhD, Yale, Forestry and Environmental Studies and Anthropology) is currently the S.H. Taylor postdoc in Anthropology and STS. She is an environmental anthropologist, interested in the environmental knowledge of increasingly disastrous waters, in particular floods and toxic drinking water, and environmental justice. She works primarily in North Bihar, India, a place that is recurrently flooded and increasingly so, where she asks under which conditions are people better equipped to face a disaster.

Alexa Schmitz (Biological and Environmental Engineering)

Extracting Rare Earth Elements with Engineered Microorganisms for Sustainable Energy (RCR)

Alexa is a postdoctoral researcher with the  Barstow  Lab in the Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering. Her research focuses on the development of an efficient and sustainable solution to the growing demand for rare earth elements in light of their utilization for renewable energy technologies, especially wind turbines. In collaboration with researchers at the Idaho National Lab, Alexa is using the bacterium,  Gluconobacter oxydans , to extract these critical metals from end-of-life waste materials via its production of strong, but biodegradable, organic acids. This bioleaching process will hopefully replace some of the more harmful technologies currently in place for rare earth extraction. Funding from the Atkinson Center will support Alexa’s development of whole-genome knockout collections in  G. oxydans , allowing her to comprehensively identify genes underlying the bioleaching process that can be targeted for improvement through bioengineering.

Itamar-Ariel Shabtai (Soil and Crop Sciences)

Can Improved Drainage Water Management in Peat Soils Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emission and Optimize Crop Yields? (RCR)

Itamar Shabtai is a postdoctoral fellow in the School of Integrative Plant Science working in  Johannes Lehmann ’s lab. He is interested in how soil water content can be managed to stabilize organic carbon in the soil. Peat soils contain more organic carbon than all the forests of the worlds combined but their degradation under agricultural use is responsible for 6% of all anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Itamar will leverage ACSF funding to study how improving the water budget of agricultural peat soils can minimize peat carbon decomposition. This work will help develop management tools to reduce CO2 emissions from agricultural peat soils.

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Post-PhD Research Grant

• Doctorates in Anthropology
• Doctorates in Related Fields
• Independent Scholars

This grant program funds individual research projects undertaken by doctorates in anthropology or a closely related field. Our goal is to support vibrant and significant work that furthers our understanding of what it means to be human. There is no preference for any methodology, research location, topic, or subfield. The Foundation particularly welcomes proposals that integrate two or more subfields and pioneer new approaches and ideas.

Award Money

The maximum Post-PhD Research Grant is $25,000. Grants are nonrenewable. There is no limit to the duration of the grant, and applicants may request funding to cover distinct research phases (for example, two summers) if this is part of the research design. Wenner-Gren awards do not include funds to cover institutional overhead or any fees related to the administration of our grants and fellowships.

Application Deadline

Application deadlines are May 1 (for project start dates between January 1 and June 30 of the following year) and November 1 (for project start dates between July 1 and December 31 of the following year). The application portal opens 2 months before the deadline. It takes us 6 months to complete the review process and arrive at a final decision.

Who Can Apply

Qualified scholars of any nationality or institutional affiliation are eligible. Independent scholars and senior scholars are welcome to apply. Individuals who are within 5 months of receiving their doctorate or equivalent degree may apply, but they must complete their degree before the start date listed on their application form.

Most grantees must fulfill all the requirements of their existing award and submit their final report before applying for a new award. But if you have a Conference and Workshop Grant, a Global Initiatives Grant, or a Historical Archives Program grant, you are welcome to apply; if so, please contact us for more information if this situation applies.

Unsuccessful applicants are welcome to reapply. But as part of their resubmission, they must explain how they have addressed the reviewers’ concerns, along with any changes to their plans.

Our reviewers assess the quality of the proposed research, its potential contribution to anthropological knowledge, and its adherence to the principles articulated in our mission, including a commitment to fostering an inclusive vision of anthropology. We expect applicants to draw inspiration from a broad range of scholarship, including relevant work in English and other languages. Please refer to “ Motion of the 32nd RBA: Diversify Information and Education about the Global Anthropologies of Foreign Researchers and Anthropology Students .”

Successful proposals have the following features:

• A well-defined research question
• A detailed description of the evidence that will be sought
• A feasible plan for gathering and analyzing this evidence
• A discussion of the applicant’s qualifications to carry out the research
• A compelling account of the project’s potential to advance anthropological knowledge and transform debates in the field.

Applicants whose research is oriented toward primatology or primate conservation must demonstrate the broader anthropological relevance of their work. The Foundation supports work on language structure and endangered languages, but only when it is grounded in anthropological concerns.

To present your project in the best possible light, please follow all instructions for completing your application. Use all the available space to describe your project. If you have questions, contact us at [email protected] or (+1) 212.683.5000.

The application asks for the following:

• General information about you and your project
• An abstract of your proposed project
• Answers to six questions about your project
• A resubmission statement if we declined a Post-PhD Research Grant application previously
• A detailed Plan A budget (Best-case scenario)
• A detailed Plan B budget (Worst-case scenario)
• A bibliography relevant to your proposed project.

The application also asks you to list the permits and permissions required for the proposed project, with the estimated dates by which you expect to secure them. However, please do not submit these documents with your application. If your application is successful, we will request copies of all relevant materials when we notify you of your award.

Applications must be in English. Applicants must submit all forms and other required materials online. If you don’t have adequate internet access to use our system, please contact us at least 1 week before the deadline and we’ll help arrange an alternative method. The online portal opens for applications 2 months before the application deadline.

Before submitting your application, please refer to the U.S. tax information on our website . Non-U.S. applicants should read the information on visa requirements for non-U.S. citizens present or coming to the U.S. as part of their project.

The Foundation requires successful applicants to comply with all U.S. laws. These include but are not limited to regulations governed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which administers U.S. government sanctions programs and regulations relating to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List). Please see the OFAC Guidelines page on our website and consult the U.S. Department of the Treasury for more information.

In compliance with OFAC regulations, the Foundation requires special documentation for projects located in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Crimea (including Sevastopol), the Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic regions of Ukraine, and Russia. The Foundation does not require this documentation at the application stage, but we must receive it before we can release funds.

Please do not send any other materials beyond what the application requests. Do not send transcripts, letters of reference, manuscripts, publications, photographs, or recordings. We will not use this material in the review process, and we cannot return it to you.

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International Funding

While most of the research enterprise at UC Berkeley is funded by the U.S. federal agencies, there are funding opportunities for U.S.-based researchers from international funding agencies as well. Many of those are awarded to researchers in the countries where the funding comes from with U.S. researchers serving as collaborators, while others may fund U.S. researchers conducting research in the country of funding. In addition, there are collaborative programs between international agencies and U.S. agencies. The following list is a non-exhaustive list of international funding agencies, as well as some specific funding opportunities offered by them, and should be taken as an example of the type of opportunities available for U.S.-based researchers.  Pivot  can be used to search for international funding opportunities, as well as domestic ones. Please  reach out to BRDO  to discuss any of these agencies and/or specific opportunities further, or if you would like to recommend additional agencies/opportunities to add. 

• Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe  is the European Union’s key funding program for research, with a annual budget of $100B. While most of its funding is destined for researchers based in the EU, many funding programs can include international researchers as partners in research consortia submitting collaborative research proposals. Horizon Europe funds research in many thematic areas, including health, inclusive societies, civil security, digital industry & space, climate, food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture & environment.

Please see here for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions , the European Union’s program for doctoral education and postdoctoral training.

• European Network of Research and Innovation Centers and Hubs (ENRICH)

ENRICH was launched under Horizon to provide collaboration and commercialization support services to European researchers in other countries, including the US.  ENRICH in the USA  has programs which target various research- and market-oriented concepts at commercially-viable technology maturity levels.

• European Research Council (ERC)

The European Research Council is the European Union’s funding program for key frontier research in all fields, with an annual budget of $17B.  Researchers from anywhere  in the world can apply for ERC grants, provided the research they undertake will be carried out in the EU. 

• Research Collaboration Opportunity in Europe for NSF Recipients

NSF and ERC have signed an agreement to enable U.S.-based scientists and engineers with active NSF awards, particularly those early in their careers, to pursue research collaboration with European colleagues supported through EU-funded ERC grants.

• German Research Foundation (DFG)

The German Research Foundation is the research funding agency of Germany, with an annual budget of $4B. It accepts proposals with  international participation  within its entire portfolio. It maintains 3  U.S. offices , including one in San Francisco. See  here  for more information on international programs.

Swissnex is Switzerland's global network for education, research and innovation. It maintains a local office in San Francisco. See here for their academic programs, fostering international exchange.

• Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) funds the advancement of science in all fields of the natural and social sciences and the humanities, with an annual budget of $1.8B. The  JSPS International Fellowships for Research in Japan  consists of two programs: "Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan” for young researchers and “Invitational Fellowships for Research in Japan” for mid-career and senior researchers.

• UK Research & Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI is the United Kingdom government’s body that directs research and innovation funding and it includes seven Research Councils, including the Medical Research Council (MRC), the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and others. Its annual funding exceeds $11B. UKRI funds  international research  for international researchers who want to work in the UK, as well as for international researchers who want to collaborate with UK researchers.

• NSF NRT US-Ireland Student Mobility Program

Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) is the Irish government’s agency funding basic and applied research in STEM with an annual budget of over $215M. NSF works with SFI to offer supplemental funding to support NRT trainees to pursue additional training in Ireland. This supplemental funding opportunity supports graduate students in research-based master's and doctoral degree programs to develop the skills, knowledge, and competencies needed to pursue a range of STEM careers.  This opportunity  is open only to organizations with active NRT awards that have completed the first year of their award and are not in a no-cost extension year .

Researchers seeking international funding should ensure they are in compliance with UC Berkeley policies on financial transcactions with embargoed or otherwise resctricted destinations, organizations or individuals, as defined by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

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NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

View guidelines, important information for proposers.

All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in this funding opportunity and in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) that is in effect for the relevant due date to which the proposal is being submitted. It is the responsibility of the proposer to ensure that the proposal meets these requirements. Submitting a proposal prior to a specified deadline does not negate this requirement.

The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is to help ensure the quality, vitality, and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing full-time research-based master's and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) or in STEM education. The GRFP provides three years of support over a five-year fellowship period for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant research achievements in STEM or STEM education.  NSF actively encourages submission of applications from the full spectrum of diverse talent in STEM.

NSF GRFP was established to recruit and support individuals who demonstrate the potential to make significant contributions in STEM.  Thus, NSF especially encourages applications from undergraduate seniors and Bachelor's degree-holders interested in pursuing research-based graduate study in STEM.  First- and second-year graduate students in eligible STEM fields and degree programs are also encouraged to apply.

Updates and announcements

Revision notes, grfp 2021 program and application information, program contacts.

The Graduate Research Fellowship Operations Center is responsible for processing applications and responding to requests for information.  General inquiries regarding the Graduate Research Fellowship Program should be made to:

Graduate Research Fellowship Operations Center, telephone: 866-NSF-GRFP, 866-673-4737 (toll-free from the US and Canada) or 202-331-3542 (international). email: [email protected]

Program events

• July 18, 2024 - IOS Virtual Office Hour: Graduate Research Fellowship Program
• August 12, 2024 - DEB Virtual Office Hour: Graduate Research Fellowship Program
• August 15, 2023 - Division of Biological Infrastructure (DBI) Virtual Office…
• August 9, 2023 - MCB Virtual Office Hour: Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Additional program resources

• Non-NSF website with comprehensive information on how to apply, eligibility, phone numbers and email addresses
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the Graduate Research Fellowship Program
• Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials
• List of Fellows and Honorable Mentions

Awards made through this program

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Overview of Student Funding Resources

There are several funding options for Purdue graduate students to explore, including assistantships , fellowships , grants , loans and other financial aid . Financial support for graduate students at Purdue is primarily awarded in the form of assistantships and fellowships. Over 60 percent of graduate students at the University are on assistantships. Furthermore, the Fellowship Office hosts many resources for students applying for fellowships.

Most funding decisions for assistantships are made by each individual graduate program. Some programs fund all of their graduate students, although others fund only a few or provide only partial funding support. If you have a question regarding the funding system for your graduate program, contact your graduate program coordinator .

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PhD in Information Admissions & Funding

Thank you for your interest in applying for admission to the PhD in Information.

Prospective students are required to submit application materials directly to the  University of Arizona Graduate College . Please read the information below and then submit your application prior to the annual deadline:

Application Deadline

Annual deadline for all students.

• Fall 2024: January 20, 2024 Now closed
• Fall 2025: Applications open July 1, 2024

PhD Program Funding

The iSchool successfully supports all PhD students in securing funding, including full tuition plus a stipend for living expenses, through at least four years of the program.

Funding sources may include research assistantships, teaching assistantships or other forms of support. Additional sources of funding may be available, such as summer funding secured through sponsored research and  summer teaching opportunities.

How to Apply

To apply, you must complete the University of Arizona Graduate College online application . Follow these steps:

• Create a GradApp account
• Complete your GradApp profile under "My Account".
• Select "Apply to a Program" from the sidebar.
• Choose "Degree Seeking" under application type and "Information (PHD)" under program of study.
• Choose the semester during which you wish to enter the program.
• Your application should now be initiated under "My Active Applications."

Admission Requirements

Admission to the doctoral program is competitive and based on both your abilities and faculty interest and expertise in your proposed area of study.

The School of Information may deny entry to an otherwise qualified applicant if there is insufficient faculty intellectual overlap for working with that applicant.

A GRE is not required as part of our admissions process.

Our faculty consider the overall package when making candidate evaluations, including:

• An undergraduate or graduate academic record that is indicative of significant achievement (typically a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale)
• A minimum of three letters of recommendation that clearly speak to your promise as a graduate student and as a doctoral student
• A résumé or CV indicating both employment and educational experience to date
• A statement of intent outlining why you are applying to this particular program and what you consider the outcome of doctoral study will be
• An interview, on campus or by phone, with selected members of the faculty may occur

See also minimum admission requirements from the UArizona Graduate College. Also refer to our  information for international applicants  if needed.

Application Checklist

You are required to submit the following materials as part of your online application. Your application will not be processed until all required information is received.

Academic Statement of Purpose

Write a 750-1000   word statement outlining why you are applying to this particular program and what you consider the outcome of doctoral study will be. You need not, at this point, indicate potential dissertation topics, but an indication of the area(s) in which you propose to study would be very helpful to the faculty. 

Transcripts

Upload unofficial transcripts from ALL higher educational institutions attended as part of the online application. (Please note that unofficial transcripts are needed from each individual institution even if they are listed on the final transcript where the degree was issued.)

Official e-transcripts can be sent to  [email protected]  directly from the institution. Official transcripts can be requested after the graduate college has provided requirements in their letter once admittance has occurred.

English Language Proficiency

Proof of English proficiency is required for any international applicant born in a country where English is not the official language. Please check our  English Requirement  list to verify your need to submit an English proficiency test.  These tests must be dated within 2 years of the enrollment term to be considered valid.

Acceptable English Proficiency tests are: 

• Test of English as a Foreign Language  (TOEFL): Minimum score of 79 iBT (or 60 on the revised PBT with no section score lower than 15).  Individual MyBest scores must also be dated within 2 years of the enrollment term to be considered valid.
• International English Language Testing System  (IELTS): Minimum composite score of 7, with no subject area below a 6
• Pearson PTE Academic : Minimum score of 60
• Graduate  English Language Endorsement  from the Center for English as a Second Language (CESL)
• CEPT Full Academic test : Offered by our Center for English as a Second Language (CESL), minimum Total score of 110.

Those exempt from submitting English proficiency scores are:

• Applicants from countries where English is the official language.
• Applicants who have completed a bachelor's or graduate degree at a regionally accredited institution in the United States, or an approved institution in an official English speaking country. Degree must not be older than 2 years from the term of enrollment.
• Applicants who have completed 2 years of full-time academic study must have 48 upper division, graded undergraduate semester units or 30 graded, graduate semester units.

Upload your unofficial TOEFL scores as part of the online application. You must also submit official scores through ETS using institution code 4832.

Letters of Recommendation

Provide email addresses and contact information for three recommenders in the ‘Letters of Recommendation’ section of the online application.

Upload a current resumé or curriculum vitae (CV) as part of the online application in the ‘Supplemental Questions’ section.

Additional Forms

You may also need to complete:

• A domicile affidavit if you wish to have in-state (Arizona) status .  Mail or fax the form directly to the Residency Classification Office.  All students are considered out-of-state residents until domicile affidavits are processed. See Residency Guidelines and also review information about   Proposition 300 .
• A financial guarantee form (international students)
• An immunization form to be sent directly to Campus Health. Students will not be allowed to register for classes until they have met the University's immunization requirements. For more information, see the Campus Health Service's  immunization requirements .

If you have any questions, contact us at [email protected] .

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Announcing the 2024 Thaler-Tversky Research Grant Winners

The Roman Family Center for Decision Research is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s Thaler-Tversky Independent Research Grant for Emerging Scholars: Youngjae Cha, Rui Sun, and Rebecca Wu.

This year’s winners demonstrate a diverse range of research interests and disciplines within behavioral science. Their respective projects explore information-seeking about climate change, the beliefs of emotional expressions across social classes, and unconscious biases about low-and high-paid job-seekers. 

The Thaler-Tversky Research Grant is supported by the generosity of Professor Richard Thaler in honor of Amos Tversky, and provides grants up to $3,000 to support new behavioral science research led by University of Chicago PhD students and principal researchers.

Congratulations to all of this year’s winners! Learn more about their proposed research projects below.

Youngjae Cha

Third-year PhD student, UChicago Psychology Department

Advisor: Shigehiro Oishi

Researcher statement: In his seminal work, Adam Smith posits that as the division of labor advances, individuals may become habitually ignorant outside their specialized areas, impeding their comprehension of broader societal interests. Does the division of labor discourage information-seeking for broader topics, even important social issues like climate change? To test this question, the proposed research aims to investigate whether the division of labor makes people uninterested in information in general—not just a wide range of information, but also information related to important social issues.

Management and organizational psychologists have observed that specialization often entails a cognitive trade-off, necessitating a focus solely on domain-specific information (Dane, 2010). Expanding on this concept, Cha & Oishi (2024) devised a 3D simulation of a motorcycle assembly factory to test whether the division of labor engenders a general tendency to ignore new information. Their study found that individuals working on specialized tasks, such as wheel assembly, were later more inclined to bypass opportunities to acquire trivial knowledge compared to those working on the assembly of a whole bike. This suggests that division of labor within group tasks may dampen curiosity or non-task-related information-seeking behaviors, extending beyond the immediate task environment. However, the experiment lacked both mundane and experimental realism, as they used online factory tasks and trivia quizzes.

To address these limitations, the proposed study will run a group experiment with varying levels of division of labor at Mindworks. We predict that highly specialized team members will be less willing to learn both trivial and climate-related matters compared to less specialized ones. Given the pervasive ignorance surrounding climate change, this study seeks to understand socioecological factors that lead to the prevalence of climate disinterestedness across societies (Lewandowsky, 2021).

Postdoctoral principal researcher, Roman Family CDR

Advisors: Nicholas Epley and Oleg Urminsky

Researcher statement: Our beliefs about others’ emotional expressions depend on their racial, gender, and occupational identities, but what about their social class? In a submitted manuscript (preprint: https://osf.io/preprints/osf/69ryq ), we conducted four studies in the UK, India, UAE, and the US. We investigated beliefs about others’ emotional expressions in relation to the targets’ social class, focusing on self-oriented (e.g., triumphant) versus other-oriented (e.g., gratitude) positive emotions. As predicted, we found that across cultures, people associate higher social class with expressing more self-oriented positive emotions, and lower social class with more other-oriented positive emotions. This finding aligns with previous studies showing that wealthier individuals exhibit more independence and self-focus, while those from lower social classes emphasize relationality and dependence on others (Kraus et al, 2010).

However, an unanswered question is: why is it the case? Where do these beliefs come from? In the next step, I aim to examine the underlying mechanisms. I plan to test two (potentially competing) mechanisms: the bottom-up and the top-down mechanism.

The bottom-up mechanism proposes that this belief is derived from experiences – the expression stereotype is conditioned on feelings (Piff and Moskowitz, 2018) . Specifically, lower-class individuals may experience more other-oriented emotions (i.e. gratitude), whereas higher-class individuals may experience more individual-oriented emotions (i.e. triumphant) in life, thus people generate the corresponding emotional expression beliefs.

The top-down mechanism suggests that the beliefs are crafted through the mental simulation of life in different classes: individuals project emotional stereotypes onto those in hierarchical positions across various domains (such as elite athletes), not just social class, by imagining the emotional expressions associated with different levels of status.

These mechanisms may coexist and operate simultaneously.

Fourth-year PhD student, UChicago Economics Department

Advisors: Joshua Dean, Rachel Glennerster, and Christina Brown

Researcher statement: Inexperienced workers often face a hard time landing the first job because employers need to incur additional costs to discover their ability. A natural response from high-ability novices is to lower their initial wages to attract employers and build a reputation for better jobs in the future. However, this strategy may not work if employers perceive low wages as a signal of poor ability. Consumers often apply a price-quality heuristic when judging new consumer goods (Rao and Monnroe 1989, Wathieu and Bertini 2007, Erdem et al. 2008). If firms apply this same price-quality heuristic to potential hires in the presence of information frictions, they may overlook high-ability novices’ incentive for reputation investment and underestimate their quality. I study whether this is the case in the context of hiring on online freelancing platforms.

This project connects the behavioral literature on the price-quality inference (Dodds et al. 1991, de Langhe et al. 2014, Gneezy et al. 2014) with the labor literature on inefficient hiring of inexperienced workers (Tervio 2009, Pallais 2014, Barach and Horton 2019). The existing behavioral literature focuses on the product market. I draw their insights to study how the non-Bayesian quality inference rule adopted by employers may result in a labor market trap where too few high-ability novices get hired. In addition, I test how this behavioral constraint interacts with the provision of credible quality signals.

• June 26, 2024
• Roman Family Center for Decision Research
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Computer Engineering PhD Program

Doctoral Program

Are you passionate about technological research, innovation, and cutting-edge solutions? Are you ready to advance in your career? Unlock limitless possibilities and elevate your expertise with UTSA’s PhD in Computer Engineering!

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Why Pursue a PhD in Computer Engineering

This program offers doctoral students advanced training in areas considered to form the foundation of Computer Engineering, such as Computer Architecture, VLSI Design, and Engineering Programming. Program curriculum provides a balance of theoretical and research-based courses, which will prepare graduates for advanced careers in engineering, technology, and research.

Daytime and evening courses are offered to provide working professionals with the flexibility to customize their educational experience through full-time or part-time enrollment.

Research Labs and Facilities

Utilizing UTSA’s state-of-the-art labs and equipment, Computer Engineering graduate students are conducting innovative research and refining their technical skills.

Some of the research labs include:

• Autonomous Control Engineering
• Cloud Computing, Quantum Computing
• Control, Computation, and Cybernetic Lab
• Low Power VLSI
• Matrix: AI Consortium for Human Well-Being
• Neuromorphic Artificial Intelligence Lab
• Robotics Lab
• Unmanned Systems Laboratory

Learn From Expert Faculty

From artificial intelligence and machine learning to robotics and automation, UTSA program faculty are conducting innovative research and making meaningful contributions to the field. Our experienced faculty members are dedicated to providing hands-on learning experiences that prepares graduate students for successful careers in academia, industry research, or leadership roles. Learn more about our program faculty!

• Admission Requirements

Application Deadlines

Funding opportunities, career options, admission & application requirements.

Applications are submitted through the UTSA Graduate Application . Please upload all required documents (listed below) on your UTSA Graduate Application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure completion and submission of the application, a nonrefundable application fee, and all required supporting documents are on file with UTSA by the appropriate application deadline.

Applicants are encouraged to have their admission file completed as early as possible. All applications, required documents and letters of recommendation, if applicable, must be submitted by 5:00 PM U.S. Central Time on the day of the deadline. Deadlines are subject to change.

PhD students may qualify for research or teaching positions, for which the Klesse College offers funding related to tuition, medical insurance, and an annual salary of $24,000.

UTSA prepares you for future careers that are in demand. The possible careers below is data pulled by a third-party tool called Emsi, which pulls information from sources like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, online job postings, other government databases and more to give you regional and national career outlook related to this academic program.

Graduate Advisor of Record

Wei-Ming Lin, PhD

210-458-5529

Geography PhD candidate receives prestigious grants for groundbreaking aquaculture research in India

A land-based shrimp aquaculture pond in Odisha, India. Photo courtesy Garima Jain

Before coming to study at Arizona State University, Garima Jain spent 13 years working in her home country of India, as well as other parts of the Global South, researching disaster resilience and post-disaster recovery. 

During her fieldwork in India, she observed a significant number of local farmers shifting from traditional rice cultivation to aquaculture, or the practice of farming fish on land, due to the increased salinity of the soil caused by more frequent storm surges.

While aquaculture is becoming a fast-growing method to meet the global fish demand that also offers an alternative livelihood for those in areas where traditional farming is challenging due to soil and environmental changes, unsustainable aquaculture practices may effectively worsen soil and groundwater conditions, making living in these areas unviable. 

Jain , a geography PhD candidate in the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning at Arizona State University, has recently been awarded two prestigious grants — the U.S. National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement grant and the Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy grant — to begin collecting the kind of data required to develop strategies for disaster recovery and climate-resilient, sustainable development in fragile coastal regions.

The grant funds will enable Jain to collect essential primary data on the socioeconomic and environmental factors influencing the adoption of aquaculture and its impacts on places, which she plans to use to create resources that extend beyond academia, benefiting local communities and policymakers alike.

“I am extremely grateful to the National Science Foundation and the Horowitz Foundation for supporting my fieldwork. The primary data that I'm collecting will be the first of its kind. Even after my research is complete, others can access it for developing new research, ideas and, hopefully, more insights in the future,” Jain said. 

Jain’s research is deeply rooted in practical applications aimed at community engagement and policy development. By collaborating with local communities, government officials and experts, she intends to develop workshops and strategies addressing the dual challenges of climate-driven soil salinity and population growth in coastal areas. Her goal is to empower communities with the knowledge and tools needed to adapt to changing environmental conditions.

“One thing that’s currently lacking is the sense of alternatives for these communities. They know their areas better than I ever will. Through these workshops, they can identify and develop more sustainable solutions themselves,” Jain said.

Beyond her dissertation, Jain plans to publish her findings in open-access journals, ensuring widespread access to her data and methodologies. This approach aligns with her vision of fostering dialogue and collaboration to tackle complex environmental issues.

Moreover, Jain plans to use the grant funds to produce a short film and a graphic anthology to disseminate her findings. These creative outputs aim to engage a wider audience, including nonacademic stakeholders, and contribute to informed policymaking on sustainable aquaculture practices.

Jain’s upcoming fieldwork illustrates how research-driven solutions can help coastal communities adapt to climate-induced vulnerabilities. Her work not only highlights the socio-environmental impacts of expanding aquaculture in India but also offers valuable insights into sustainable practices that can be applied globally.

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