Funding Opportunities

Monthly

• UH students only! UHM Graduate Student Organization's (GSO) Grants and Awards fund: Monthly deadlines for funding to support graduate students in attending professional conferences, research travel/materials, and professional development experiences.

January deadlines

• UH students OR APPLICANTS only! Hauʻoli Mau Loa Graduate Fellowship: Applicants must have graduated from a high school in Hawai'i, applying for or enrolled in a MS in Marine Biology, have a track record of supportin the environment and an interest in a career in natural resource management in Hawai'i. Deadline to apply is usually mid-January. The award is for up to two years of support.
• Founder Region Fellowship of Soroptimist International: Competition is open to any outstanding graduate woman who is working toward a doctoral degree, preferably in the last year of study but permissibly during the last two years provided she has advanced to candidacy. The deadline has been January 15 (but no updates were made for 2021 on their webspage)
• Sea Grant and NOAA Fisheries Population and Ecosystem Dynamics Fellowship and the Marine Resource Economics Fellowship: Eligible PhD students should apply for one of these Fellowships of $48,000/year. Recently, the deadline has been in January, and prospective applicants must meet with Hawai'i Sea Grant BEFORE the deadline.

February deadlines

• The Steven Berkeley Marine Conservation Fellowship: The fellowship comprises a competitively based $10,000 award to a graduate student actively engaged in thesis research relevant to marine conservation. Research topics may address any aspect of conservation; a focus on fisheries issues is not required. The application deadline is February 1 annually.
• William M. Lapenta NOAA Student Internship Program:10-week summer full-time internship open to US citizens. $5000, housing, and travel stipend to/from site. The application deadline is February 1.
• UH students only! Dr. Clifford K. Mirikitani, M.D., J.D. & John M. Mirikitani, J.D., Ph.D. Outstanding Dissertation Award: The purpose of this Fund is to provide an annual award to recognize exceptional work by doctoral students at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa who have demonstrated exceptional work toward an outstanding dissertation with hopes to encourage and recognize extraordinary scholarly research. Applicants must have an approved Form II, an abstract, a statement on the significance of their work (1000 characters max), and a letter of support from their committee chair. The number and amount of award shall be determined by the selection committee based on the availability of funds. International students are eligible. Deadline in 2021 was February 16, but check the STAR scholarships system for the latest update on deadlines.

March deadlines

• UH students only! UH Scholarships: UH has a common scholarship application for most of its system-wide and campus-specific scholarships (A handful of awards require separate application and are listed at the bottom of the linked page). Returning students should apply by March 1.
• Sigma Xi Grants in Aid of Research: Average grant is $1000 and may be used to fund purchase of equipment or supplies not typically found in the lab, travel to research site(not conference/meetings), human subjects research reimbursement. (Two award periods per year; there is also an annual October 1 deadline)
• Peter J. Rappa Sustainable Coastal Development Fellowship: 8-week summer fellowship. Rappa Fellow(s) will be selected and involved in training and research to better understand aspects of coastal sustainability and resilience conducted within several of the Hawai‘i Sea Grant Centers of Excellence. Hawai‘i’s communities are engaging their natural, social, and built environments in efforts to better manage issues that affect their livability, sustainability and resilience. The Rappa Fellows will further their knowledge and understanding of sustainable coastal communities through research, extension, and community-based education in topics of coastal smart growth and community planning and their integration with hazard mitigation and climate change adaptation as well as cultural and traditional knowledge of Hawai‘i.

April deadline

• AAUW Honolulu Career and Leadership Development Grant: multiple grants of up to $4000 each cycle (see October for other deadline) that may be used for: Costs associated with pursuing career-related designations (e.g., prep courses, exams); Trade certifications and licensing; Conference registration fees (and professional memberships, if required for conference); Airfare and other transportation costs (e.g. airport shuttles); Hotel/accommodation costs; Per diem. Applications may be submitted up to 9 months in advance of event, and applications are accepted twice per year (October 15 and April 15).
• The Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program: The Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program is a full-time hands-on training and educational program that provides early career individuals with the opportunity to spend 12 weeks at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in Washington, DC learning about science and technology policy and the role that scientists and engineers play in advising the nation. Current graduate students and those who have completed graduate studies (degree awarded) within the last five years may apply. The 2021 deadline was extended to April 30, 2021. The award is for a set three-month period.

May deadlines

• Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) Program: The SCGSR program provides supplemental funds for graduate awardees to conduct part of their thesis research at a host DOE laboratory/facility in collaboration with a DOE laboratory scientist within a defined award period (i.e., 3-12 consecutive months). The award includes a living stipend and a transportation stipend. Applications are accepted twice per year, usually May and November.
• UH students OR accepted students only! East-West Center Student Affiliate Program: The East-West Center Student Affiliate Program give students the opportunity to participate in the Center’s educational programs and leadership development opportunities, and to live in its international residence halls. This is the application deadline for the upcoming FALL Semester. The deadline for spring is in November. (Note that this is different that the Graduate Fellowship program—which includes a tuition waiver and stipend---see the description for the Fellowship in the December deadline section)
• NASA Minority Serving Institution (MSI) Fellowship: candidates must attend an MSI (Editorial note: UH is a designated MSI), be U.S. citizens or a national who hold a bachelor’s degree earned before Aug. 31, 2021; candidates must be enrolled in a master’s or doctoral degree program no later than Sept. 1, 2021, and intend to pursue a research-based Masters or Ph.D. program in a NASA-relevant field. For each Fellow, his or her institution receives up to a $55,000 annual award ($50,000 for Master’s student and $55,000 for Doctoral student), pending available Congressional funding. Proposals are due May 24, 2021 for the 2021 program.

June deadlines

• UCAR Next Generation Fellowships: Each year UCAR selects three graduate students for fellowship tracks in Earth System Science, Diversity & Inclusion, and Public Policy. The Next Generation Fellowships offer graduate students the opportunity to learn alongside leaders in their fields. These awards are for two nine-month school years, starting in the fall of 2021 and then the fall of 2022. The visit is for ten weeks during the summer of 2022 and ten weeks during the summer of 2023. Fellows will receive $20,000 for the first year (split between fall and spring semester) and $20,000 for the second year (split between fall and spring semester), to be used for expenses related to attending school, e.g., costs of rent, medical, childcare, books, tuition. Housing and living expenses will be provided during the summer visit. Application deadline in 2021 is June 15.

October deadlines

• Sigma Xi Grants in Aid of Research: Average grant is $1000 and may be used to fund purchase of equipment or supplies not typically found in the lab, travel to research site(not conference/meetings), human subjects research reimbursement. (Two award periods per year; there is also an annual March 15 deadline)
• AAUW Honolulu Career and Leadership Development Grant: multiple grants of up to $4000 each cycle (see April for other deadline) that may be used for: Costs associated with pursuing career-related designations (e.g. prep courses, exams); Trade certifications and licensing; Conference registration fees (and professional memberships, if required for conference); Airfare and other transportation costs (e.g. airport shuttles); Hotel/accommodation costs; Per diem. Applications may be submitted up to 9 months in advance of event, and applications are accepted twice per year (October 15 and April 15).
• National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP): The NSF GRFP recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based Master's and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions. Those already enrolled in graduate school may apply one time only. In 2021, October 18 is the deadline.
• Hertz Fellowship: The Hertz Fellowship is awarded annually to the nation’s most promising graduate students in science and technology. Using a rigorous, merit-based process, we identify innovators with the greatest potential to create transformative solutions to the world's most urgent challenges. Deadline: October 23.
• Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans: Honors the contributions of immigrants and their children to the United States. Each year, 30 awardees are supported in their graduate education experience and receive financial support up to $90,000 for two years. Deadline to apply is usually the end of October (October 28, 2021 for the 2022 competition).

November deadlines

• AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships: The AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships (STPF) program is a paid, public service and professional development opportunity for doctoral level scientists and engineers interested in contributing to science policy at the federal government level in Washington DC. Applications are due November 1 annually.
• AAUW American Fellowship: There are three types of awards in the AAUW American Fellowship program, but the one most relevant is the dissertation fellowship for expenses during the final year of dissertation writing. Deadline is November 1.
• UH students Only! East-West Center Student Affiliate Program: The East-West Center Student Affiliate Program give students the opportunity to participate in the Center’s educational programs and leadership development opportunities, and to live in its international residence halls. The deadline for spring is in November (NOv. 1 in 2021); the deadline for the fall is in May. (Note that this program is different that the Graduate Fellowship program—which includes a tuition waiver and stipend---see the description for the Fellowship in the December deadline section, below)
• UH students only! The Charles H. And Margaret B. Edmondson Research Fund: Edmondson Grants-in-Aid are intended to enhance a research project by providing funds to enable a particular aspect of the effort that might otherwise be impossible. This may include, but is not restricted to, purchase of special supplies or small equipment, research travel, access to special training or facilities (e.g., electron microscopes), or assistance with publication. Only graduate student applicants affiliated with the University of Hawaii are eligible. Please note that research projects must involve marine invertebrates and focus on Hawai'i. Deadline: Nov. 5 in 2021. (NB: Although the program is run through Zoology, it is open to any UHM student who meets the criteria, including MBGP students)
• UH students only! Jessie D. Kay Memorial Research Grants in Hawaiian Natural History, Zoology and Marine Malacology: The Jessie D. Kay Memorial Fund, provides ~1 research grant annually for ~$10,000. The trust document states that awards will “...support the study of natural history with an emphasis on zoology and marine malacology, the study of marine mollusks." While there is a strong preference for ZOOLOGY majors, good projects from students at UH in other programs—like MBGP—can be considered. Deadline: Nov. 5 in 2021.
• Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) Program: The SCGSR program provides supplemental funds for graduate awardees to conduct part of their thesis research at a host DOE laboratory/facility in collaboration with a DOE laboratory scientist within a defined award period (i.e., 3-12 consecutive months). The award includes a living stipend and a transportation stipend. Applications are accepted twice per year, usually May and November. (Nov. 10 is the 2021 deadline)
• DoD National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship Program: The DoD National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship Program is a competitive fellowship that is awarded to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and U.S. dual citizens who intend to pursue a Doctoral degree aligned to the DoD services Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) in research and development at a U.S. institution of their choice. DoD plans to award up to 500 new three-year graduate fellowships each fiscal year (usually applicants must have at least 3 years remaining in their studies). Applications tend to be accepted August through the beginning of November for the following year. (The 2021 deadline is Nov. 19)

December deadlines

• UH students only! East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship: East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowships support graduate study at the University of Hawai‘i (UH) in fields relevant to the goals and objectives of the East-West Center (EWC). Fellowships are awarded annually in an international competition (and include a tuition waiver, stipend, and housing). The deadline recently has been December 1. (Note that this is different than the similar-sounding "Student Affiliate Program" which you can read more about in the May and November sections, above)
• Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program provides support for master’s and doctoral studies in oceanography, marine biology, maritime archaeology and all other science, engineering, social science and resource management disciplines involving ocean and coastal areas particularly by women and members of minority groups. Recent deadlines have been in mid-December (e.g., the deadline in 2021 is December 14, 2021, 11:59pm Eastern).

While we try to maintain this page, "annual" deadlines may be changed by the offering organizations in any given year, so check the organization's direct site well before deadlines they've used in the past in case the deadline is moved up, requirements change, etc..

External sites: job/information boards, etc.

• Pathways to Science: Find postdoc and early career opportunities, including postdoctoral fellowships, grants, travel awards, mentoring opportunities and more.
• Nature's "Careers Toolkit": An early career researcher’s guide to the working world of science, from Nature Careers.

Annual programs/postdoc experiences

January deadlines

• NOAA Climate and Global Change Postdoctoral Fellowship Program: The objective of the program is to help create the next generation of leaders in climate research. It endeavors to attract recent PhDs in sciences that address studies with relevance to the NOAA climate research goals. Preference is given to new graduates who are seeking their first fellowship and who have held a PhD for no more than three years. Deadline recently has been in early January
• L'Oréal USA For Women in Science Fellowship: The L’Oréal USA For Women in Science fellowship program awards five women postdoctoral scientists annually with grants of $60,000 each for their contributions in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields and commitment to serving as role models for younger generations. The application deadline recently has been in January.
• NOAA Coastal Management and Digital Coast Fellowship: The Coastal Management and Digital Coast Fellowship program matches postgraduate students to work on projects proposed by the host and selected by the fellowship sponsor, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office for Coastal Management. This two-year opportunity offers a competitive salary, medical benefits, and travel and relocation expense reimbursement. The program also provides fellows with professional mentoring and training. Up to six fellows are placed with state coastal programs every year and up to three fellows are placed with Digital Coast partnership organizations every other year, in even years.

February deadlines

• Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship: The fellowship provides a one-year, paid experience for highly-qualified early career professionals to work on issues related to coastal, marine and Great Lakes science and policy in offices within the executive or legislative branch of government in Washington, D.C. Graduate students interested in marine science policy should explore the information about the fellowship as soon as possible and talk to their local Sea Grant program (or the National Sea Grant Office) at least one month prior to the February 21, 2020 deadline. 

April deadlines

• The Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program: The Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program is a full-time hands-on training and educational program that provides early career individuals with the opportunity to spend 12 weeks at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in Washington, DC learning about science and technology policy and the role that scientists and engineers play in advising the nation. Current graduate students and those who have completed graduate studies (degree awarded) within the last five years may apply. The 2021 deadline was extended to April 30, 2021. The award is for a set three-month period.

May deadlines

• E. Gordon Grau Coastal and Marine Resource Management Fellowship Program (Grau Fellowship): This fellowship provides a unique degree-to-work experience for post-graduate students who have an interest in ocean and coastal resources in the state of Hawaiʻi and the management and policy decisions affecting those resources. Sponsored by Hawaiʻi Sea Grant, the Grau Fellowship provides a unique educational and work opportunity for post-graduate students who are interested in coastal and marine resource management and policy decisions affecting those resources in Hawaiʻi. Modeled after the highly successful John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program, the Grau Fellowship provides fellows an opportunity to acquire hands-on, on-the-job experience in the planning, implementation and management of marine, coastal, and/or watershed resource policies and programs in Hawaiʻi. The program matches highly motivated and qualified recent graduates of graduate programs with hosts in state, federal or municipal agencies and non-profits in Hawaiʻi for a 2-year paid fellowship ($4,833.33 per month).

July deadlines

• Science & SciLifeLab Prize for Young Scientists: The Prize is awarded annually to one young scientist for outstanding life science research for which he/she was awarded a doctoral degree in the previous two years ($30,000 grand prize, and $10,000 prizes for category winners). The topic of the entrant's thesis research must be in one of the following categories: Cell and Molecular Biology, Genomics and Proteomics, Ecology and Environment, Translational Medicine. The deadline has been mid-July (The deadline to apply for the 2021 program was July 15)

August deadline

• Rhodes Scholarship: The UHM campus' internal deadline is in August (with campus finalists chosen in September) for study beginning the following year, but preparation actually starts in the SPRING SEMESTER over a year and a half before the intended start date at Oxford (i.e., to start at Oxford in October 2022, you'd start preparing at UH in spring 2021).

September deadlines

• Luce Scholarship: Each year, 15-18 students in the United States are chosen to embark on a 13-month experiential internship that is tailored to each Scholar’s goals and interests. Countries of past internship placement include: Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Placement in North Korea and Myanmar (formerly Burma) are currently unavailable. Because this scholarship requires the endorsement of the university, there is an internal/campus deadline in early September (in 2020, it was September 7); please start working on the materials and consulting with the appropriate offices early (information sessions and websites are held in the spring). Applicants must (1) be a U.S. citizen, (2) be under 30 years of age by start of program (e.g., July 1, 2021), (3) have limited exposure to Asia (i.e., applicants must not be Asian Studies majors, nor have spent more than 12 weeks in Asia from high school on)
• Fulbright-U.S. Student Program: Fellowships to study, conduct research, or teach English abroad. Please note that you need the university's support to be considered, so there is a CAMPUS deadline (usually early- to mid-September) in advance of the NATIONAL deadline (national deadline is in October).

October deadlines

• Smith Postdoctoral Fellowship in Conservation Research (aka David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship): Smith Fellows are awarded two years of support for applied research in the field of conservation science and closely related fields. Research approaches may include comparative studies, synthetic analyses across sites, experimentation or observational studies, applied modeling, or any combination. Proposed research may include intensive work at one site, work at multiple sites, or comparative evaluations of studies by other scientists across many sites. Eligibility: To be eligible individuals must have completed their doctorate within the past five years or by the time the award is made in 2021 (September 2021 latest). Applicants who have not yet completed their doctorate must clearly indicate on the application the date the degree is expected. Award: Each Fellow will receive an annual salary of $59,000 plus benefits, with the post-doctoral position expected to run for two consecutive years. In addition to the stipend, each Fellow receives a travel budget of $8,000 and a research fund of $32,000 over the 2-year fellowship period. Deadline: For the 2021 award, the application deadline was October 2, 2020.
• Presidential Management Fellows: The Presidential Management Fellows Program aims to develop potential government leaders through a two-year appointment that includes a salary and benefits. The program is open to those who will earn an advanced degree by the summer before the fellowship starts (i.e., August 31, 2022 foir the 2022 awards). Non-U.S. citizens may be eligible to apply. Applications have a small two-week window, so plan ahead (i.e., in 2021, the application will open September 28, 2021 and close October 12, 2021).