As the summer draws to a close and with fall semester imminent, now is the time for students at all levels — undergraduate, graduate, or postdoctoral — to consider applying for many prestigious fellowships and awards.

“Deadlines will be here soon, and we can help you find out which fellowships may be a good fit and provide feedback and support on your applications,” said Kathryn Meehan, prestigious fellowships advisor. “Applications usually require several weeks of preparation, so we encourage students to make appointments early.”

Meehan can provide additional information, timelines, and deadlines for students interested in a number of awards, including the following:

For Sophomores and Juniors

For rising sophomores and juniors with either an interest in research or a commitment to public service, these scholarships provide significant funding and enrichment opportunities:

• Goldwater Scholarship: For sophomores and juniors with research experience who are studying science, technology, engineering, or math. Tech nominates four students each year for this national competition.
• Truman Scholarship: For juniors with public service experience and plans for a career in public service.
• Udall Scholarship: For sophomores and juniors who work with the environment, have a high GPA and plan for careers in an environmental area.
• Astronaut Scholarship: For sophomores and juniors with research experience who are studying science, technology, engineering, or math. Tech nominates two students each year for this national competition. (Despite its name, it is not limited to aspiring astronauts.)

For Seniors, Master’s Students, and Recent Graduates

The campus deadline for preliminary applications for the following nationally competitive scholarships is August 31. Students should work with the Fellowships Office to prepare for this deadline.

• Rhodes Scholarship
• Marshall Scholarship
• Churchill Scholarship
• Gates Cambridge Scholarship
• Mitchell Scholarship

Also for Seniors and Graduate Students

• Fulbright Awards: Open to rising seniors and graduate students, offering one-year awards for research, graduate study or an English teaching assistantship in one of more than 140 countries.

• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships: Open to seniors, first-year graduate students and first-semester second-year graduate students in science, technology, engineering and math who are U.S. citizens. This three-year award is for those planning a research Ph.D. at a U.S. university. Deadline is in November. 

Postdocs and Postgraduate Opportunities

• Fulbright Postdoctoral Research Fellowships: Preference is for candidates who have received a doctorate within three years of the application deadline or who will receive a doctorate before the grant term begins. Eight awards are available for studies at seven research institutions in Israel. 

• National Academies Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellowships: Participants spend 12 weeks at the National Academies in Washington, D.C., learning about science and technology policy and the role that scientists and engineers play in advising the nation. Deadline is September 9.

• AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowships: For recently graduated postdocs, mid-career professionals, faculty on sabbatical, or retired faculty. Must have a completed Ph.D. or master’s degree with three years of professional experience and U.S. citizenship. Deadline: November 1.
• Presidential Management Fellowship Program: Open to master’s degree and doctoral students who will complete their degree during the coming year. International students are eligible to apply. Deadline is in November.
• Marshall Sherfield Postdoctoral Fellowship: One or two years of postdoctoral research at any U.K. university or institute. Though no fellowships will be offered for 2016, it is not too early to start preparing for next year. The 2017 deadline is October 10, 2016.