Internal Fellowships

View a list of fellowship recipients

Chancellor's Fellowship for Inclusive Excellence ^{1, 2 & 3}
As part of our campus goal to advance inclusive excellence, UC Merced is committed to the recruitment, admission, retention, and success of a diverse graduate student population. The Chancellor and Graduate Dean have established this predoctoral fellowship to recruit the highest caliber graduate applicants who will contribute to the diversity and inclusiveness of our academic community, especially in terms of the research and education of Black scholars. Looking forward, the fellowship also aims to identify and support students whose studies will contribute to the representation of Black scholars in academia and beyond.

Estimated Support: In years 1 & 3 at $25,002/yr stipend + tuition & fees

Earle C. Anthony Fellowship ^{1 & 3}
The prestigious Earle C. Anthony Fellowship, named for the highly successful and generous UC Berkeley alumnus, is intended to help recruit top Ph.D. students to UC Merced who are entering a program in biological, physical, agricultural, health sciences, engineering and/or mathematics.

Estimated Support: $8,000 summer fellowship

Eugene Cota-Robles Fellowship ^{1 & 2}
The prestigious Eugene Cota-Robles (ECR) Fellowship is named in honor of one of the first Mexican-American professors in the University of California system. This fellowship is intended to help awardees focus on their graduate research and scholarship, and thereby accelerate progress towards achieving their doctoral degrees. The fellowship program is also intended more generally to increase the number and diversity of qualified candidates for faculty positions both within and outside the University of California system.

Estimated Support: In years 1 & 3 at $25,002/yr stipend + tuition & fees

Fields Family Fellowship ^{1 & 3}
UC Merced is committed to the recruitment, admission and retention of a high-quality graduate student population. Edward and Renee Fields established the prestigious Fields Family Fellowship to help recruit top Ph.D. students to UC Merced.  Preference will be given to students addressing critical issues faced by society.
Estimated Support: $8,000 summer fellowship

Graduate Dean's Recruitment Fellowship ^{1 & 3}
The Graduate Dean’s Recruitment Fellowship (GDRF) is intended to help awardees focus on their graduate research and scholarship in their first year of study, and thereby accelerate progress towards achieving their doctoral degrees.
Estimated Support: 1 year; $25,002 stipend + tuition & fees

Health Sciences Fellowship ^{1 & 3}
The Health Sciences Fellowship is intended to recruit and support the top Ph.D. students who are interested in pursuing research in health sciences and have distinguished academic records.
Estimated Support: $8,000 summer fellowship

HotChalk Fellowship ^{1 & 3}
UC Merced is committed to the recruitment, admission and retention of a high-quality graduate student population. The HotChalk Foundation and Edward Fields established the prestigious HotChalk Fellowship to help recruit top Ph.D. students to UC Merced. Preference will be given to students addressing critical issues faced by society.
Estimated Support: $8,000 summer fellowship

John and Victoria Elia Fellowship ^{1 & 3}
The prestigious John and Victoria Elia Fellowship was established to honor Mr. Elia’s life long commitment to public service and education. This fellowship is intended to help recruit and support top Ph.D. students with distinguished academic records who also attended UC Merced for their undergraduate education.
Estimated Support: $8,000 summer fellowship

Renewable Energy Fellowship ^{1 & 3}
The Renewable Energy Fellowship is intended to recruit and support the top Ph.D. students interested in pursuing research in the area of renewable energy.
Estimated Support: $8,000 summer fellowship

Southern California Edison Recruitment Fellowship ^{1 & 3}
The Southern California Edison Fellowship is intended to recruit and support the top Ph.D. students interested in pursuing research in the areas of water, energy and/or the environment. These areas may include, but are not limited to, the research focus areas of the Sierra Nevada Research Institute (SNRI).
Estimated Support: $8,000 summer fellowship

Central Valley Graduate Fellowship ^{1 & 3}
The UC Merced Central Valley Fellowship is intended for doctoral students who have advanced to candidacy, attended High School in the Central Valley, and whose research will benefit the California Central Valley. This award is intended to assist Ph.D. students with the completion of their degree. 
Estimated Support: 1 semester full stipend + tuition & fees

Dan David Solar Fellowship ^{1 & 3}
In 2007, Sarah R. Kurtz was one of the prestigious awardees of the Dan David Prize Laureate for her work toward the development of concentrator solar power systems using multi-junction solar cells.  Kurtz helped pioneer the multi-junction solar cell used by most space satellites and NASA’s Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. It was her desire to establish the Dan David Solar Fellowship, the first of its kind, to support graduate students working in the area of solar power systems.
Estimated Support: 1 semester full stipend + tuition & fees (to be disbursed in fall)

Dr. Donald and Effie Godbold Fellowship ³
The Dr. Donald and Effie Godbold Fellowship is designed to recognize the unique challenges faced by international graduate students, and the diverse perspectives and contributions that they bring to our community. This award is based on the merit of the graduate student’s current academic standing and the submitted personal statement. This award is available only to Ph.D. students with an international student visa status.
Estimated Support: One-time $1,000 stipend (to be disbursed in spring)

Applications:
January 16
Letter: 
January 22

Dr. Vikram and Priya Lakireddy Fellowship ^{1 & 3}
The Dr. Vikram and Priya Lakireddy Fellowship is intended to help a doctoral student complete their research and degree.  Top Ph.D. students focusing on translational health research will be eligible to apply.
Estimated Support: 1 semester full stipend + tuition & fees

Faculty Mentor Program Fellowship ^{1 & 2}
The Faculty Mentor Program (FMP) forms an important link in the continuum of support for academically promising graduate students who will contribute to the diversity of the campus community. This award assists recipients in acquiring and developing advanced research skills under faculty mentorship. It is designed to improve mentoring for UC Merced (UC Merced) doctoral students who will not be at the dissertation stage during the award period, but who are currently engaged in research with a faculty mentor. The award is expected to increase the number of students who complete their Ph.D. degree and successfully acquire a faculty appointment.
Estimated Support: 1 academic year full stipend + tuition & fees

Fletcher Jones Fellowship ¹
The UC Merced Fletcher Jones Fellowship is intended for doctorate students who have advanced to candidacy. This award is intended to assist graduate students with the completion of their degree. It is a highly prestigious award, made available through funding from the Fletcher Jones Foundation. It will provide students with a one-year fellowship.
Estimated Support: 1 academic year full stipend + tuition & fees

Fred and Mitzie Ruiz Fellowship ^{1, 2 & 3}
Valuing the role that the University of California plays in transforming lives and providing the catalytic base for economic development, Fred and Mitzie Ruiz have generously established this fellowship to support graduate education at UC Merced. The Fred and Mitzie Ruiz Fellowship is designed to support Ph.D. or master's students who contribute to diversity and equal opportunity in higher education through their academic career and/or community service.
Estimated Support: One-time $1,000 stipend

Graduate Dean's Dissertation Fellowship ^{1 & 3}
The Graduate Dean’s Dissertation Fellowship (GDDF) program is intended for students in their final semester/term of graduate school, providing them time to focus solely on completion of the dissertation. This award should help enhance the awardees’ qualifications as candidates for university faculty teaching and research appointments, for postdoctoral appointments, and for research positions outside the academy.
Estimated Support: 1 semester full stipend + tuition & fees

Speak with your Faculty
Advisor and/or Grad Group Chair regarding
program's nomination process.

Graduate Fellowship Incentive Program Award ^{1 & 3}
The Graduate Fellowship Incentive Program (GFIP) Award is designed to encourage UC Merced graduate students to apply for national pre-doctoral fellowships, as well as other large fellowships.
Estimated Support: $200 award per academic year

Open

September 1 -
December 31

Review fellowship description for details on applying.

Graduate Student Opportunity Program ^{1 & 3}
The Graduate Student Opportunity Program (GSOP) forms an important link in the continuum of support for academically promising graduate students. This award assists recipients in acquiring and developing advanced research skills that will result in a significant achievement for the student. It is designed to improve mentoring for UC Merced (UC Merced) doctoral students who will not be at the dissertation stage during the award period, but who are currently engaged in research with a faculty mentor.
Estimated Support: 1 academic year full stipend + tuition & fees

Applications:
January 16
Letter: 
January 22

Graduate Student Supplemental Travel Awards

The Graduate Student Supplemental Travel Award is intended to recognize the research and scholarly endeavors of UC Merced graduate students. Graduate Council, in collaboration with the Graduate Division, awards $500 to help cover travel expenses related to the generation or dissemination of research & scholarly activity by eligible graduate students, such as to present at professional meetings, conduct field work, do archival research, conduct research at user facilities, display art in an exhibition, perform in a concert, etc. Graduate groups are required to provide matching funds for this award, which can come from both competitive and non-competitive research-related awards for scholarly activities.  Please note that there is a limit of one award per student. 

Rounds:

• Call opens December 4, 2023; closes January 4, 2024
• Call opens April 22, 2024; closes May 22, 2024
• Call opens August 26, 2024; closes September 26, 2024
• Call opens December 2, 2024; closes January 2, 2025

All funds must be used by May 30, 2025.
Estimated Support: $500 per student.

Closed

Hatano Cognitive Development Research Fellowship  ^{1 & 3}
Realizing the importance of higher education and the positive impacts of increased educational opportunities for students, Daryl and Janet Hatano have generously established this fellowship to support graduate students at UC Merced. This fellowship intends to support graduate students who are working towards addressing the critical issues that society is currently experiencing. Preference will be given to continuing graduate students in a research field that is related to the developmental aspects of typical or atypical learning and cognition.
Estimated Support: One-time $1,000 stipend

Miguel Velez Scholarship ^{1 & 2}
The UC Merced Miguel Velez (MV) Scholarship is a prestigious award that provides students with an academic year scholarship. It is intended for Latin American graduate students who exhibit excellence in character and ability, and who demonstrate financial need.
Estimated Support: $10,000 stipend

Outstanding Teaching Award ^{1 & 3}
The Outstanding Teaching Award (OTA) is intended to recognize the valuable contributions of graduate students to teaching and pedagogy. Graduate student contributions include but are not limited to: UC Merced course development and instruction, as readers, teaching assistants, and lead instructors; participation in pedagogical training and development programs; and developing or delivering materials or instruction at professional workshops and summer schools. The award is intended to recognize a body of teaching and pedagogical contributions during the course of graduate education.
Estimated Support: One-time $1,000 stipend

President's Dissertation Year Fellowship ^{1 & 2}
The President’s Dissertation Year (PDY) Fellowship program is intended for students in their final year of graduate school who are planning to pursue teaching and research appointments soon after the end of their dissertation fellowship year.  This award is intended to assist outstanding graduate students who will contribute to the diversity of the campus community with the completion of their dissertation. This award should also enhance their qualifications as candidates for university faculty teaching and research appointments.
Estimated Support: 1 academic year full stipend + tuition & fees + research/travel allowance

Rose R. Ruiz Fellowship ^{1 & 3}
The Rose R. Ruiz Fellowship is designed to inspire, encourage and support graduate students enrolled in a Ph.D. or master's program realize their dreams. Of special interest are those students who are highly motivated to succeed despite the obstacles they may face, including immigration challenges, being the first in their family to attend a four-year university, and personal financial stresses.
Estimated Support: One-time $1,000 stipend

Summer GROW Fellowship

The Summer GROW (Graduate Orientation Week) Fellowship is designed to offer a graduate student a summer fellowship while supporting the Graduate Division with contributions related to GROW. This is a professional development opportunity for graduate student looking to improve their programming skills, Catcourses skills and outreach to incoming graduate students. This award is only available to continuing graduate students. 

Email no more than one-page your qualifications to gradresources@ucmerced.edu.

Estimated Support: One-time award, up to $1,500 for support offered mid-June through mid-August

Closed

UC President's Pre-Professoriate Fellowship ^{1 & 2}
The UC-President’s Pre-Professoriate Fellowship is part of the UC-Hispanic Serving Institutions Doctoral Diversity Initiative (UC-HSI DDI), which aims to enhance faculty diversity and pathways to the professoriate for underrepresented students from California Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs). The program’s goal is to enhance faculty pathways for historically underrepresented groups, particularly Latinx, African Americans, American Indians/Native Americans, Filipinx, and Pacific Islanders in all disciplines; women in STEM; and Asian Americans in the humanities and social sciences by providing fellowships for domestic historically underrepresented scholars from California HSIs. 

Applications:
January 16
Letter: 
January 22

Will Shadish Graduate Student Fellowship ^{1 & 3}
The Will Shadish Graduate Student Fellowship pays tribute to Professor William Shadish, who was instrumental to the creation of our campus and deeply committed to supporting graduate student development at UC Merced during his 13 year tenure. This fellowship is intended to recognize a UC Merced graduate student who has outstanding achievements in research and teaching.
Estimated Support: One-time $1,000 stipend