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 closed. 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. For the 2026 scholarship descriptions, please see the GES Graduate Awards document.
Links to the applications for these awards are generally available at the end of the fall semester, and are due in January for the upcoming academic year.
- External Fellowships, Awards, and Scholarships
CRESCENT Geoscience Fellowship
Are you a graduate student or postdoc? Advance your career in geoscience — apply for a CRESCENT Fellowship to support travel to a conference, workshop, training course, or another event this fall or winter that will build your professional skills and connections.
If yes, then apply for the CRESCENT Geoscience Fellowship by June 15, 2026!
This effort seeks to help candidates strengthen the presentation of their skills and accomplishments in anticipation of entering the workforce. Appropriate professional development events should provide information, skill development, and networking opportunities that help participants prepare for careers in earthquake science.
Applications are reviewed twice a year, January 15 and June 15. Funding awards will be considered up to ~$900. Number of applications accepted per term is dependent upon funding availability.
USGS 2-Year Student Contractors - Urban Ecosystem Modeling or Monarch Migration Dynamics
Position type: Student Contract, USGS Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Denver Federal Center, Lakewood, CO.
Title: Student Contractor — Quantitative Ecologist
Pay and schedule: ~21 to ~$51 hour depending on academic experience. Up to 40 hrs/week during the summer; flexible ~20 hrs/week during the academic year (or as eligible/available). Appointment is temporary with defined start/end dates and deliverables aligned to an awarded project timeline.
Job Description: We are a team of scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey conducting research on land change dynamics and effects on US national natural resources. In particular in the fields of 1) urban forest ecology, which includes 1a) modeling urban forest times series with increased accuracy from 1985 to present day, building on methods from Corro et al (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-025-04816-0); and 1b) expanding applications of an urban heat model focused on human health impacts (https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2752-5309/ae4bfc); or the field of 2) monarch migration analysis, which includes 2a) comparative analysis on tagged monarch movement data from the 1990’s-2000’s with modern monarch movement data from Bluetooth enabled monarch tags; 2b) model gridded climate data to identify times and locations of extreme heat and drought which could act as monarch movement barriers. You will be hired as a student contractor with a fixed period of performance and will complete required onboarding steps (e.g., background check and documentation of eligibility) prior to start. The position will remain open until filled. Modeling and computational work could be completed either at the USGS Science Center offices, or at the student home institution.
We seek candidates who are well organized, careful with documentation, and comfortable delivering work products to clear specifications. Candidates for all positions should have experience in computational modeling with strong programming skills (Python and/or R, GEE), familiarity with reproducible workflows and geospatial data, and the ability to write maintainable code and clear documentation. Monarch movement candidates should have familiarity with tag-based movement data and movement models (correlated random walks, hidden Markov models, etc…). Experience with GIS, remote sensing (extracting and processing satellite imagery, spatial projections and re-scaling spatial data, familiarity with imagery and data repositories, and API’s), gridded climate datasets (DAYMET, ERA5, PRISM…) statistical or machine-learning methods, and data QA/QC is strongly preferred for either track but not required for all applicants. Student contractors would ideally be in graduate school or recent graduates (within two years). Veterans are encouraged to apply.
How to Apply: Send a brief cover note (state your preferred track: Monarch and/or Urban) and a résumé/CV to Dr. Peter Ibsen (pibsen@usgs.gov). Please include “USGS student contractor (“Urban” or “Monarch”)” in the subject line.
- Summer Opportunities
USGS 2-Year Student Contractors - Urban Ecosystem Modeling or Monarch Migration Dynamics
Position type: Student Contract, USGS Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Denver Federal Center, Lakewood, CO.
Title: Student Contractor — Quantitative Ecologist
Pay and schedule: ~21 to ~$51 hour depending on academic experience. Up to 40 hrs/week during the summer; flexible ~20 hrs/week during the academic year (or as eligible/available). Appointment is temporary with defined start/end dates and deliverables aligned to an awarded project timeline.
Job Description: We are a team of scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey conducting research on land change dynamics and effects on US national natural resources. In particular in the fields of 1) urban forest ecology, which includes 1a) modeling urban forest times series with increased accuracy from 1985 to present day, building on methods from Corro et al (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-025-04816-0); and 1b) expanding applications of an urban heat model focused on human health impacts (https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2752-5309/ae4bfc); or the field of 2) monarch migration analysis, which includes 2a) comparative analysis on tagged monarch movement data from the 1990’s-2000’s with modern monarch movement data from Bluetooth enabled monarch tags; 2b) model gridded climate data to identify times and locations of extreme heat and drought which could act as monarch movement barriers. You will be hired as a student contractor with a fixed period of performance and will complete required onboarding steps (e.g., background check and documentation of eligibility) prior to start. The position will remain open until filled. Modeling and computational work could be completed either at the USGS Science Center offices, or at the student home institution.
We seek candidates who are well organized, careful with documentation, and comfortable delivering work products to clear specifications. Candidates for all positions should have experience in computational modeling with strong programming skills (Python and/or R, GEE), familiarity with reproducible workflows and geospatial data, and the ability to write maintainable code and clear documentation. Monarch movement candidates should have familiarity with tag-based movement data and movement models (correlated random walks, hidden Markov models, etc…). Experience with GIS, remote sensing (extracting and processing satellite imagery, spatial projections and re-scaling spatial data, familiarity with imagery and data repositories, and API’s), gridded climate datasets (DAYMET, ERA5, PRISM…) statistical or machine-learning methods, and data QA/QC is strongly preferred for either track but not required for all applicants. Student contractors would ideally be in graduate school or recent graduates (within two years). Veterans are encouraged to apply.
How to Apply: Send a brief cover note (state your preferred track: Monarch and/or Urban) and a résumé/CV to Dr. Peter Ibsen (pibsen@usgs.gov). Please include “USGS student contractor (“Urban” or “Monarch”)” in the subject line.
EarthScope Consortium Technical Course Summer Season
EarthScope Consortium offers technical courses—developed in collaboration with the community—to support effective use of tools, data, and resources from the NSF National Geophysical Facility.
These courses serve a broad audience, including researchers seeking to expand their skills and early career scientists such as postdocs, graduate students, and advanced undergraduates looking for hands-on experience with the latest geophysical and computational techniques.
To learn more about the program, please see the EarthScope Consortium Courses page, and see the Event Calendar for the specific courses running this summer.
- Newly Announced Fellowships: 2026
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.
Dean's Tuition Scholarship applications for Summer 2026 are now open. More information is available on the Dietrich Graduate Studies website.
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 institution of higher education in the United States.
Elsie Hillman Civic Forum, Institute of Politics
The Elsie Hillman Civic Forum at the University of Pittsburgh Institute of Politics is excited to share that information is available regarding applications for their civic engagement programming for the 2026-2027 academic year! They have paid and unpaid opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students.
Each program's application will open in Spring 2026: Graduate student opportunities include:
Ambassadors for Civic Engagement Fellowship> - A team of graduate students with one community partner to assist the organization with developing and implementing a large project or program.
Elsie Civic Engagement Internship – This program offers an undergraduate or graduate student the opportunity to intern with the IOP's Elsie Hillman Civic Forum where they will learn more about community and civic engagement programming and outreach.
Institute of Politics (IOP) Policy Internship – For over 20 years, both undergraduate and graduate students have engaged in regional policy research, networking, and learn about regional policy issues.
- Requests for Proposals
These external opportunities are updated as we receive information from various organizations:
Organization Fellowship Description Link Date Posted