Numerous fellowship opportunities offer financial compensation and serve as valuable additions to a strong resumé or CV. More details about these programs, as well as others, can be found on the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences webpage. Examples of such fellowships include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Departmental Awards and Scholarships
Scholarship forms for 2026 awards are now open! For scholarship descriptions, click here.
The Department of Geology and Environmental Science also provides small awards for graduate research and fieldwork from several funds. These awards are based on a combination of merit and need. Links to these applications will be available at the end of the fall semester and are typically due by February 1st.
- Summer Fellowships
Great Lakes Summer Fellows Program
The Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR) announces the 2026 Great Lakes Summer Fellows Program, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab (GLERL). The Great Lakes Summer Fellows Program exposes students to a broad range of STEM disciplines by providing hands-on research training and career development mentoring in a supportive and inclusive environment. Through this program, students work on substantive research issues in the Great Lakes and undergo a career training program that equips them with the knowledge and skills to be the next generation of Great Lakes scientists.
To view the complete program description and apply, please visit https://ciglr.seas.umich.edu/opportunities/student-fellowships/.
Application Deadline: 9 February 2026 at 11:59 PM EST
NASA Student Airborne Research Program Mentoring
Help guide the next generation of earth scientists through an immersive 8-week summer research experience leveraging NASA airborne science platforms!
What Mentors Do
- Support students with their research project development from concept to delivering a final presentation
- Live on campus with the students (housing provided)
- Lead group and cohort-wide activities to contribute to a positive and engaged community
Why Mentor with SARP
- Meaningful leadership experience
- Grow your communication and research skills
- Build your professional network – work closely with NASA scientists and expert faculty
- Support highly motivated undergraduates
- A competitive stipend is provided to cover all meals, travel, and expenses for personal use
Program Dates: May 31 - July 27, 2026 (Mentor travel dates may vary 1 - 2 days before and after the program.)
To Apply: Apply by February 8, 2026. Graduate applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but applications received by the deadline will be given preference.
Contact Information: NASA SARP Project Manager, Joelle Hopkins, joelle.n.hopkins@nasa.gov
Institute for Rock Magnetism Summer School Program
The 2026 IRM Summer School in Rock Magnetism will run from July 20-29th, 2026, at the home of the IRM, the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
This 10-day program is targeted at graduate students, advanced undergraduate students, and postdocs in rock magnetism, paleomagnetism, and associated fields. Participants will receive intensive instruction in rock magnetic theory and laboratory techniques. A daily schedule of lectures, hands-on laboratory measurements, and data processing will introduce participants to the fundamentals of rock magnetism and paleomagnetism and the practical aspects of collecting and interpreting data. Instructors for the Summer School will be primarily IRM faculty and staff.
Details regarding the summer school and how to apply are available on the University of Minnesota's Summer School webpage.
CUAHSI Water Prediction Innovators Summer Institute
CUAHSI is seeking graduate student fellows to join the 2026 Water Prediction Innovators Summer Institute to be held June 8 - July 22, 2026. As a Fellow, you will work with peers from across the country on research projects that advance water prediction. Students work in teams to complete a research project related to a larger topic or theme. If you are interested in growing your professional skillset and network while contributing to cutting-edge research in water prediction, we encourage you to apply.
Fellows will gain:
- Connections with new colleagues, students, and mentors.
- A collaborative space to reach across research institutions.
- An opportunity to increase the breadth of their research scope, and ultimately incorporate these new ideas into existing and future research.
- Technical skills and exposure to the models and methods.
- Research outcomes.
- Communication and collaborative science skills.
- And more!
Deadline to Apply: January 12, 2026
- Newly Announced Fellowships: 2025
Provost’s Dissertation Completion Fellowship
Fellowship applications for Spring and Summer 2026 have now closed; more information on applications for Fall 2026 will be available soon.
The goal of the Provost’s Dissertation Completion Fellowship is to support doctoral students who have exhausted all existing sources of funding and anticipate defending their dissertation in the term in which they receive the fellowship. The fellowship provides dedicated time for research doctoral students to focus full-time on finishing their dissertation during their last term of doctoral studies. Students must have their dissertation proposal/overview approved by November 1, 2025, in order to receive the Spring 2026 or Summer 2026 fellowship.
- Recruitment Fellowships
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship
In 1994, the University of Pittsburgh established the K. Leroy Irvis Fellowships to enhance the academic excellence and diversity of the Pitt's graduate student body and prepare doctoral students for academic and research careers. Each year, schools select distinguished doctoral applicants who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement to participate in this prestigious program, which provides a non-duty-bearing fellowship for the student’s first year of doctoral study as well as academic guidance and cohort-based mentoring throughout the student’s doctoral studies.
Whittington Predoctoral Fellowship
The Whittington Fellowship is awarded to incoming female doctoral students of exceptional ability and promise who are admitted to a University of Pittsburgh PhD program in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. The recipient is selected on the basis of academic achievement in both undergraduate and graduate work (if applicable) and promise of research capabilities, with preference being given to those who are residents of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Whittington Fellowship includes a stipend for the academic year plus a tuition scholarship for two terms.
- Predoctoral Fellowships for Continuing Ph.D. Students
Andrew Mellon Predoctoral Fellowships
These fellowships are awarded to students of exceptional promise and ability either when they first enroll in the PhD program or when they have advanced to the dissertation stage. They carry a stipend plus payment of tuition. No service is required.
Departmental Requirements for 2026-27 are available here: Mellon Fellowship
Alfredo D. and Luz Maria P. Gutierrez Fellowships
Fellowships are awarded to graduate students of exceptional ability and promise whose research is focused on Latin America. Recruiting programs nominate admitted students.
Departmental Requirements for 2026-27 are available here: Gutierrez Fellowship
Leo B. and Teresa Y. Wegemer Endowed STEM Fellowship
Established to support students of exceptional promise in their pursuit of high-impact scientific research. Fellowship grants will be awarded to support the research of two exceptional, current, full-time students who are pursuing a Ph.D. degree in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences STEM fields. The following departments will be eligible to nominate up to two students for consideration: Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Geology & Environmental Science, Mathematics, Neuroscience, and Physics & Astronomy.
Provost's Development Fellowships
These University fellowships are awarded to U.S. citizens on the basis of need and merit to provide development opportunities for women, minorities, and disadvantaged students pursuing doctoral degrees. They generally carry a stipend and full tuition for two terms. Both incoming and continuing students are eligible to apply.
- Additional Internal Fellowships
Arts and Sciences Fellowships
A&S Fellowships are used to recruit doctoral students of exceptional promise and ability either when they first enroll in the PhD program or for later years. They carry a stipend plus remission of tuition. The stipend includes funds with which to purchase health insurance. No service is required.
Dean's Tuition Scholarships
A limited number of tuition scholarships are available for students who are not funded by teaching assistantships or fellowships. Priority is given to students who have completed all course requirements, are working on their dissertations, have exhausted all departmental support, and need to be minimally registered in order to use University facilities.
The Deborah Gillotti Graduate Fellowship
In 2006, University alumna and Trustee Deborah Gillotti generously created a fund to support educational and research expenses for Pitt graduate students with the potential to become leaders. Fellowship funding is available to students who have a unique experiential learning opportunity that will propel their education and future career--and need funds to be able to realize the opportunity.
To be eligible, students must be enrolled in (and in good standing) any graduate program at the University of Pittsburgh - OR - be admitted to a graduate program at the University of Pittsburgh. Note, for admitted students, applications should come from the admitting department/school on behalf of the student (i.e., applying for summer research funding to complement other funding packages) and will be subject to the student accepting the offer of admission. International students are eligible to receive Gillotti Fellowships. Multiple awards of between $5,000 to $10,000 will be made each year. Awards may be for one-time opportunities or can be renewable through the final year of study (when applicable). Preference will be given to students who have proven leadership skills developed before entering a graduate program at the University or are recognized to have long-term leadership potential that will be enhanced by their graduate training AND are pursuing research related to emerging market nations. Deadline: March 29.
Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund
First offered in 2024, these fellowships are awarded to students to support outstanding graduate students in any recognized field of study in the humanities, social sciences, or natural sciences. The amount of each fellowship will cover the cost of tuition and an additional stipend to be allocated towards room, board, living expenses, and income taxes. Additionally, the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences will supplement the stipend up to the TF rate and cover the cost of health insurance. Fellowships may be renewed for up to three years.
The criteria and requirements for the fellowships are:
- Significance and quality of research.
- Outstanding undergraduate record.
- Demonstrated need for financial assistance (note that finalists will be required to submit their federal tax returns and a FAFSA as part of their application materials).
- Research carried out entirely in the United States of America.
- Candidate must be a citizen of the United States of America and enrolled in an accredited and designated instituion of higher education in the United States.
- Requests for Proposals
These external opportunities are updated as we receive information from various organizations:
Organization Fellowship Description Link Date Posted