Hertz Fellowship
Offered by Fannie and John Hertz Foundation
About this scholarship
The Hertz Fellowship funds doctoral study in the applied physical and biological sciences, mathematics, and engineering while giving fellows broad freedom to pursue high-risk research. The standard award provides full tuition plus a $38,000 nine-month personal stipend and can continue for as many as five years; the Foundation values the maximum package at up to $250,000. A fellow who is the custodial parent of a dependent child may also receive $5,000 per year. Coordinated funding arrangements are available when a recipient also holds another fellowship. The competition selects up to 25 fellows annually and includes technical interviews in addition to the written application. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are college seniors, first-year graduate students, or recent graduates preparing to begin a PhD. The intended program must be full-time and in person at a U.S. institution. Standalone professional degrees such as the MD, JD, MBA, DPH, and DVM are not supported. The Foundation looks for exceptional technical ability, creativity, and a commitment to applying scientific and engineering skills to consequential problems. The 2027 application opens August 31, 2026; the precise late-October closing date remains unannounced.
Eligibility
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Be a college senior, first-year graduate student, or in a gap period preparing to apply
- Intend a full-time, in-person PhD in applied physical/biological sciences, math, or engineering in the US
- Aim to address major, near-term problems facing society
- Not be pursuing a standalone professional degree (MD/JD/MBA/DPH/DVM)