Andrew Mellon Pre-Doctoral Fellowships

Awarded competitively by the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. The department elects to use this competition for their outstanding, advanced graduate students who are nominated by their research advisors and ranked by a department fellowship committee.

Department of Energy (DOE) SCGSR

The goal of the Office of Science Graduate Student Research program is to prepare graduate students for science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) careers critically important to the DOE Office of Science mission.  This program provides supplemental awards to outstanding U.S. graduate students to pursue part of their thesis research at a DOE laboratory/facility in areas that address scientific challenges central to the Office. U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residency is required for eligibility.

Dietrich School of A&S Pre-Doctoral Fellowships (A&SF)*

These fellowships, awarded to outstanding “incoming graduate students”, allows students maximum flexibility in determining the direction of his or her research path.

Note:  Qualified applicants will be recommended by the departmental Graduate Admission Committee for consideration of the following awards by the Graduate Dean of Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences during the admission process.

*In the event that A&SF's remain following the recruitment admission process, current, advanced graduate students will be invited in June to apply for one of these for the coming academic year.

Dietrich School of A&S Summer Research Pre-doctoral Fellowship

Five fellowships are offered and awarded to entering graduate students who will help meet the Dietrich School’s diversity goals.

Dietrich School of A&S Summer Fellowships 

These pre-doctoral fellowships are awarded for summer research are to top first-year graduate students in good academic standing.

Elizabeth U. Baranger Pre-Doctoral Fellowship

This predoctoral fellowship honors Professor Elizabeth U. Baranger, who in 2004 retired as the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies. Dr. Baranger’s distinguished career at Pitt began in 1955. She served as a professor of physics and Dean of Graduate Studies for the School of Arts and Sciences for 16 years before becoming Vice Provost. Dr. Baranger spent much of her career at Pitt working toward improving the status of women at the University and in STEM fields. Incoming PhD students of any gender in STEM fields who support the mission of Dr. Baranger to improve the status of women at the University of Pittsburgh and in STEM fields are eligible for this award. The recipient of the award is chosen by the Office of the Provost with input from the deans of participating schools.  The recipient is selected on the basis of academic achievement, potential to contribute significant research to their field, and commitment to Dr. Baranger’s mission. The award provides a 12-month stipend, a full tuition scholarship and health insurance.

Elizabeth U. Baranger Excellence in Teaching Award

This award acknowledges excellence in graduate student teaching.  It is sponsored annually by the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Graduate Student Organization, two awards are announced.

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 academic guidance and cohort-based mentoring throughout the student’s doctoral studies.

Mary E. Warga Pre-Doctoral Fellowship

This is a Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences (A&S) fellowship offered to entering female graduate students in physics and astronomy, and chemistry. It was funded by alumna and former faculty member Mary E. Warga, a renowned optical spectroscopist.

Myron P. Garfunkel Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching

This award is given in recognition of outstanding work in conducting recitation sections in the introductory courses.

NSF's Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

The National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Program recognizes and supports individuals early in their graduate training in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Interested undergraduate seniors and graduate students in their first- or second-year should consult with their institution for guidance, workshops, and are encouraged to refer to the NSF website for eligibility, deadlines, and details. 

Peter F.M. Koehler Pre-Doctoral Fellowship

The Koehler Fellowship is awarded to a full-time graduate student in good academic standing, irrespective of their area of research specialization, who has shown exceptional promise for accomplishments in research and a commitment to quality teaching.

Thomas-Lain Fund Essay Contest

This award is issued to undergraduate or graduate students in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. The awardees are chosen by a committe evaluating essays the applicants supply. These essays are written based on a topic chosen for the contest each year.

Pittsburgh Quantum Institute (PQI) Award

This award is given in recognition of outstanding poster presentation at PQI Week. 

Pittsburgh Quantum Institute (PQI) Graduate Award

Visit HERE for additional PQI awards and awardees.

This award is given in recognition of outstanding research trajectory in the area of quantum science and engineering. 

Zaccheus Daniel Fellowships

This fellowship is for an outstanding advanced graduate student with research in either astrophysics, cosmology, or astrometry.