Fellowships and Awards
Department Awards
For all spring awards, grad students get nominated, usually by faculty.
UMD Graduate School Awards and Fellowships
Every award is different, so exploring the website is the quickest way to learn more.
This list includes the Dean's Fellowship, the $5000/year bump provided to many Physics graduate students for their first year.
External Grad Student Fellowships
Note: If you get an external fellowship, your tax life might be more complicated. Check out the taxes section of the Living in College Park page for some tips and info.
NSF GRF:
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
The National Science Foundation funds fellows for three years during a fellowship period of five years. Only first-year grad students who are US citizens are eligible.
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.
See sample successful materials »
Tips for Successful Applications:
The NSF application has two very specific criteria that they care about: intellectual merit and broader impacts. Everything in your application materials should relate back to these in clear and obvious ways. Some people even explicitly use these terms to make it clear.
NSF GRF reviewers seem to particularly like it when the research proposal is extraordinarily plausible, in the sense that the plan is well-reasoned, feasible, and well-motivated, and they also like it when you make concrete references to the tools you have available (what equipment at UMD, what labs, etc.).
The NSF has very specific formatting requirements. Follow them.
In addition to the sample materials and tips here, there are tons of advice articles about the NSF GRFP (like this one) and plenty of sample materials available online!
Hertz Fellowship:
Fannie and John Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowship
Fannie and John Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowship
The Hertz Foundation funds Hertz fellows for up to five years. This fellowship is only open to first-year grad students who are also US citizens.
There are no recent Hertz winners from UMD physics.
Tips for Successful Applications:
The Hertz Foundation is patriotically oriented: one of the defining features of the Hertz Fellowship is its moral commitment fellows take to make their "skills available to the United States in times of national emergency." This should be considered heavily when framing application materials.
A unique feature of the application process is the interviews. These will cover a wide range of topics from knowledge of the natural sciences to moral and ethical topics. Come prepared with intelligent questions.
They really like applicants who are trying to tackle big problems in science that have significant societal impacts. Try to think big and connect your research to an important goal.
After applications are reviewed there are two rounds of interviews. These interviews are intense and with prior Hertz fellows in your field. You should be prepared to discuss past, present and future research as well as answer logic game questions.
DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship:
Congressional, State Department, and Member Society Fellowship
Congressional, State Department, and Member Society Fellowship
The DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship offers four years of full funding, including tuition and a $45,000 stipend and $1000 academic allowance. The fellowship is focused on students interested in exploring science using computational methods, or developing computational methods for use in scientific research. Incoming students as well as first year students are eligible to apply (some more details here). Each year they award approximately 30 fellowships.
Recent Physics Department Fellows:
Jacob Bringewatt (2018-2022)
Elizabeth Bennewitz (2022-2026)
Tips for Successful Applications:
In addition to transcripts and letters of recommendation there are two main components to the application: (1) the personal statement and (2) the program of study.
The personal statement is where you can state your research interests, discuss prior work and outline your future plans, including your program of study.
As part of the fellowship, they require you to complete a program of study covering courses you will take in your discipline, computer science and math. It is an important part of the application.
DOE SCGSR:
Dept. of Energy Science Graduate Student Research Fellowship
Dept. of Energy Science Graduate Student Research Fellowship
The DOE Fellowship fully funds grad students who've achieved candidacy to spend time performing research at a national lab. Only US citizens are eligible.
The goal of the SCGSR is to prepare graduate students for STEM careers aligned with the DOE Office of Science mission, which is to, “deliver the scientific discoveries, capabilities, and major scientific tools to transform the understanding of nature and to advance U.S. energy, economic, and national security.”
Tips for Successful Applications:
Applications must propose research that's aligned with one or more of the Priority Research Areas (these vary with every application call!), and they must involve use of government-funded equipment and the expertise of national lab staff.
DoD NDSEG:
National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship
National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship
The Department of Defense fully funds grad students for three years. Only US citizens are eligible, and you must have at least three years left in your graduate studies.
The goal of the program is to encourage promising scientists to perform research and build networks in (broadly defined) research areas designated by the Department of Defense. Approximately 500 fellowships are awarded each year,
Humorous blog post from a woman who studied fish noses for her DoD research »
Tips for Successful Applications:
Applicants must propose research that's aligned with an agency, a discipline, and a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). Put in plenty of effort to determine suitable choices to all three of these for your research, and make them all a clear part of your application. Don't use an expired BAA!
Post-grad Fellowships
In addition to the fellowships listed below, there are numerous postdoc fellowships offered by host institutions. Check their individual websites to see what they might offer.
AAAS STPF:
Science and Technology Policy Fellowships
Science and Technology Policy Fellowships
Fellows serve yearlong assignments in DC and become part of an influential network of awardees.
AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships (STPF) provide opportunities to outstanding scientists and engineers to learn first-hand about policymaking while contributing their knowledge and analytical skills to the federal policymaking process.
Tips for Successful Applications:
The evaluation criteria are fairly specific, and are outlined here.
More application and interview tips from the Genetics Society of America and an interview with a former fellow.
AIP Science Policy Fellowships:
Congressional, State Department, and Member Society Fellowship
Congressional, State Department, and Member Society Fellowship
The American Institute of Physics offers a variety of fellowships in science policy. Fellows serve yearlong assignments in DC, and must be members of AIP or the member society at the time of the application.
Tips for Successful Applications: Coming soon!