Qualcomm PhD Travel Grant Program
Overview
The ECE Department invites applications for the Qualcomm PhD Travel Grant. Qualcomm is providing $10,000 in total annual funding to support multiple PhD students to meet travel related expenses for presenting research work at major conferences, and workshops. A small preference will be given to candidates with research that aligns with Qualcomm’s key research areas (see below for a list).
Eligibility
Open to all ECE Ph.D. students.
Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate a connection between their research and Qualcomm’s focus areas, which include but are not limited to:
Signal Processing and Wireless Technologies
– Wireless communication and signal processing
– Wireless systems research and development
– Modem hardware R&D
– RF and analog or mixed signal systems
– RF or mm-wave circuit design and SoC integration
– Audio, video, speech, and multimodal processing, including XR and VR
– Wireless sensing and communication systems
Location, Navigation, and Autonomous Systems
– GNSS and location technologies
– Positioning and navigation algorithms
– Aerospace and navigation applications
– Autonomous vehicle software for perception, planning, and control
Semiconductor, VLSI, and Hardware Architecture
– Semiconductor and VLSI design
– Low-power circuit and system design
– Digital design and hardware systems
– CPU and GPU architecture
– High-performance processor and system architecture
– Hardware software co-design
– Physical design and verification
– Embedded systems, firmware, and hardware for advanced SoC platforms
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
– Machine learning for hardware or communication systems
– Cloud ML and AI engineering, including large language models
– Generative AI and LLMs
– Quantization techniques for AI models
– ML compilers and optimization toolchains
– AI robustness, secure AI systems, and adversarial resilience
– AI security
– Applied ML or AI for communication, sensing, or device intelligence
Software, Computing, and IT Infrastructure
– Software engineering for ML and AI systems
– System-level software development
– Application and mobile development
– Object-oriented programming
– IT engineering and network infrastructure
– DevOps and distributed computing
– Cloud systems and services
Additional Emerging Areas: Students whose research does not fall directly into the categories above are still strongly encouraged to apply, as the program supports a wide range of innovative work that contributes to the broader fields of electrical and computer engineering.
The proposed travel must have a clear academic or research purpose, such as:
Presenting/attending a major conference, symposium, workshop, or training related to Qualcomm’s research areas.
Conducting collaborative research visits at universities or labs.
The student’s faculty advisor must attest that this travel cannot be supported by a current research grant or charitable grant.
Funding
Total available funding for multiple travel grants: $10,000 per year.
The amount of each award will be determined by the department based on the nature of the application and the destination of travel, with an emphasis on supporting essential expenses such as airfare and conference registration fees.
Awards are made on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted.
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit a single PDF that includes:
Cover Page – Name, advisor, expected graduation date, and travel details (conference, university visit, or event).
Research Summary (≤1 page) – Description of your research, its relevance to Qualcomm’s interests, and how this travel supports your work.
Supporting Document – Conference paper/abstract, invitation letter, or research plan.
Budget Estimate – Itemized cost breakdown and total requested amount.
Advisor Endorsement – Short statement confirming academic standing and research relevance, and attestation that the travel cannot be fully covered by a grant.
Indicate prior history of departmental travel grants not funded by a faculty advisor. Preference will be given to students who are availing the travel grant for the first time.
Selection Criteria
Applications will be reviewed based on:
Quality and impact of the proposed work
The stature of the conference or the workshop
Applicant’s academic progress and justification for travel
Strength of advisor’s endorsement
Relevance to Qualcomm’s research domains
How many times prior to the application has the student availed of departmental support toward travel and research presentations.
Submission and Contact
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all funds are allocated. Further details regarding the submission process, including the upload portal and deadlines for review, will be communicated by the ECE Department. Applicants should ensure that all required materials are compiled into a single PDF before submission.
Applicants can expect an answer within a week of submission.
For questions or additional information, students may contact the following individuals or organizations or consult with their faculty advisor.
• Ann Rausch, Graduate Program Advisor, arausch@umn.edu
• Kyle Dukart, Chief of Staff, kdukart@umn.edu
• Murti Salapaka, Director of Graduate Studies, murtis@umn.edu
• ECE Graduate Students Group, ecegradsgroup@umn.edu