Fellowships and Scholarships
Department of Biological Sciences at Carnegie Mellon information for graduate program fellowships and scholarships.
Departmental Grants External Fellowships External Scholarships
DEPARTMENTAL GRANTS
Margaret Carver Research Enrichment Grant
The Margaret Carver Research Enrichment Grant grant is for research enrichment and will be presented to one Biological Sciences Ph.D. student or postdoctoral fellow annually. Funds will be used to enhance the grantee's research through activities such as buying time on instrumentation, attending advanced courses, traveling to collaborator's labs or other activities that can be demonstrated to enhance research that would otherwise not be possible. Applicants should provide a one-page description of the proposed activities and a short explanation of how these activities will positively impact their research. A current CV should also be included. The grantees will be selected based on their record of research accomplishment and the projected research impact of their use of the grant funds.
Recipients of the Margaret Carver Research Enrichment Grant:
- 2024 – Biplab K C (postdoc, Zhang Lab)
- 2023 – Corine Jackman (Hiller Lab)
- 2023 – Suzi Kim (Cai Lab)
- 2022 – Fiona Fitzgerald (Woolford Lab)
- 2022 – Meng Xu (Zhang Lab)
- 2021 – Ben George (Hong Lab)
- 2020 – Scott Keith (McCartney Lab)
Stupakoff Graduate Student Research Enrichment Grant
The Student Research Enrichment Grant grant is for research enrichment and will be presented to one Biological Sciences Ph.D. student annually. Funds will be used to enhance the grantee's research through activities such as buying time on instrumentation, attending advanced courses, traveling to collaborator's labs or other activities that can be demonstrated to enhance research that would otherwise not be possible. Applicants should provide a one-page description of the proposed activities and a short explanation of how these activities will positively impact their research. A current CV should also be included. The grantees will be selected based on their record of research accomplishment and the projected research impact of their use of the grant funds.
Recipients of the Student Research Enrichment Grant:
- 2025 – Ellie Lai (Cai Lab), Yangyang Liu (Bridges Lab)
- 2024 – Shaw Camphire (Hiller Lab)
- 2023 – Mo Zhu (Barth Lab)
- 2022 – Melissa Tosiano (McManus Lab)
- 2022 – Samantha Bryce (Lee Lab)
- 2021 – Karina Mueller Brown (Hinman Lab)
- 2020 – Sarah Boothman (Minden Lab)
- 2020 – Annie Meyer (Hinman Lab) Download Research Enrichment Grant Application (PDF)
Margaret Carver Grant for Enhancing Community
The Margaret Carver Grant for Enhancing Community is for enhancing the Biological Sciences Community. It will be presented to one Biological Sciences Ph.D. student or postdoctoral fellow annually. Funds will be used for any activity that is viewed to enhance community in the department, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh or the broader region. These activities could include workshops, symposia, social events, outreach with local students, website development, social media and/or resource development. Funds may be used to supplement activities undertaken for NSF fellowships or other similar grants. Applicants should provide a one-page description of the proposed activities and how they might enhance the community.
Recipients of the Margaret Carver Grant for Enhancing Community:
- 2025 – Rajee Ganesan (Pfenning Lab)
- 2024 – Elizabeth Ouanemalay (Ph.D. student, Hinman Lab)
- 2023 – Sarah Oladejo (McManus Lab)
- 2022 – Gary Wilkins (Murphy Lab)
- 2020 – Alyssa Lawler (Pfenning Lab)
- 2020 – Sarah Werner (Hiller Lab)
Stupakoff Outstanding Research Paper Grant
The Stupakoff Outstanding Research Paper Grant will be presented to each of two Biological Sciences Ph.D. students annually who are judged to have the best research paper. Students should self-nominate by providing a copy of the submitted, accepted and/or published manuscripts to Ena Miceli. A short description of the student's role as an author on the paper and their CV should be included.
Recipients of the Stupakoff Outstanding Research Paper Grant:
- 2025 – Rongwei Zhao (Zhang Lab), Mark Nicholas (Yttri Lab), Maxime Vounatsos (Gittis Lab)
- 2024 – Annie Meyer (Hinman Lab)
- 2024 – Zhangyu (Shorey) Cheng (Zhao Lab)
- 2023 – Christina Akirtiva (McManus Lab)
- 2023 – Brendan Gallagher (Zhao Lab)
- 2023 – Aleksandra Klimas (Zhao Lab)
- 2022 – Daniel Crosby (Lee Lab)
- 2022 – Karina Mueller Brown (Hiller Lab)
- 2020 – Dan Wilson (Woolford Lab)
Margaret Carver Outstanding Research Paper Grant
This grant will be presented to one Biological Sciences Postdoctoral Fellow annually who are judged to have the best research paper. Postdocs should self-nominate by providing a copy of the submitted, accepted and/or published manuscripts to Ena Miceli. A short description of the postdoc's role as an author on the paper and their CV should be included.
Recipients for the Margaret Carver Outstanding Research Paper Grant:
- 2025 – Jianglin Zhang (Kuang Lab)
- 2024 – Meng Xu (Zhang Lab)
- 2022 – Jimmy Khor (Ettensohn Lab)
- 2020 – William Hatleberg (Hinman Lab)
Margaret Carver Travel Grant
Ph.D. students and postdoctoral fellows may request travel funds from the Margaret Carver Travel Grant for professional reasons, including conference attendance, working with a collaborator, etc. Students and/or postdocs should return form and their CV for an application to be considered complete. Application of funds should be done at least one month prior to proposed dates of travel. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Department of Biological Sciences Teaching Grant
The Department of Biological Sciences Teaching Grant will be presented to one Biological Sciences Ph.D. student annually. Faculty members may nominate students based on the following criteria: preparation and knowledge of material, dedication and responsiveness to students and instructor, initiative, general work ethic including attendance in class and office hours. A committee of three faculty members will vote on the grant. The committee will be comprised of faculty who do not submit nominations.
Department of Biological Sciences Leadership Grant
The Biological Sciences Leadership Grant will be presented to one Biological Sciences Ph.D. student annually. Fellow Ph.D. students may nominate their peers for this grant based on their positive contributions for the best interests of their fellow graduate students, community and/or department. To nominate a fellow student, a short paragraph should be included on how they have demonstrated outstanding leadership. Examples of leadership commitment include: evidence of leadership on university, department or graduate student committees, leadership in student organizations or activities supporting current graduate student interests on campus or in the community, activities advancing an inclusive environment.
Department of Biological Sciences Undergraduate Travel Grant
Undergraduates in the Department of Biological Sciences may request travel funds from the Department of Biological Sciences Undergraduate Travel Grant for professional reasons, including conference attendance, working with a collaborator, etc. Students should complete this form at least one month prior to proposed dates of travel. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
EXTERNAL FELLOWSHIPS
The Department of Biological Sciences actively encourages graduate students to apply for external fellowships to support their research and academic development.
Students have successfully received funding from sources such as the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NIH), the Merck Foundation, the American Heart Association, and the U.S. Air Force; current opportunities being pursued include the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, and the Hertz Foundation. For additional opportunities search http://scholarships.fatomei.com/.
Students can expect guidance from their research mentors in seeking funding opportunities, organizing and writing competitive proposals, and managing awarded fellowships effectively.
- American Heart Association - To help students initiate careers in cardiovascular or stroke research by providing research assistance and training
- DoD: National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship - To increase the number and quality of our nation's scientists and engineers. Toward that end, the DoD annually supports approximately 8,000 graduate students in fields important to national defense needs
- Department of Homeland Security - To ensure a diverse and highly talented science and technology community to achieve the DHS mission and objectives
- Fannie and John Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowship - The Hertz Foundation identifies the rare young scientists and engineers with the potential to change the world for the better and supports their research endeavors from an early stage.
- Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
- NASA (GSRP Program) - To cultivate research ties to the academic community; fellowships for graduate study leading to masters or doctoral degrees in the fields of science, mathematics, and engineering related to NASA research and development
- NIH (NRSA program) - To help ensure that highly trained scientists will be available in adequate numbers and in appropriate research areas to carry out the Nation’s biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research agenda.
- NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) - To ensure the vitality of the scientific and technological workforce in the United States and to reinforce its diversity; graduate study leading to research-based master’s or doctoral degrees and is intended for students who are at the early stages of their graduate study
- The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
- Sigma Xi (Grants-in-Aid of Research) - The program promotes scientific excellence and achievement through hands-on learning.
EXTERNAL SCHOLARSHIPS
While our graduate program does not offer internal scholarships, there are several financial aid options available to help students fund their education. U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible for need-based federal student loans to support graduate studies. International students are encouraged to view this list and to look for support from organizations in their home country.
All students (domestic and international) should consult the Carnegie Mellon Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholar Development’s Graduate School funding list of scholarships, which has a number of resources to assist in conducting a search for external scholarship options. We have listed a few specific opportunities to consider:
- AAUW International Fellowship - Awarded for full-time study or research in the United States to women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
- AAUW Selected Professions Fellowships - Awarded to women who are pursuing a full-time course of study in one of the designated degree programs where women’s participation traditionally has been low.
- American Indian Graduate Center - Provides a variety of funding opportunities for tribal students to assist with graduate studies in STEM fields.
- Great Minds in STEM - Provides fellowship opportunities for graduate students of Hispanic heritage or individuals who have demonstrated a significant service within the underserved community.
- Hispanic Scholarship Fund - Designed to assist students of Hispanic heritage to obtain a university degree including graduate students with a primary focus on STEM fields of study.
- International Peace Scholarship - For international female students to pursue graduate study in the United States.
- National GEM Consortium (US Citizens only) - Opportunities for fellowships for individuals from underrepresented communities to pursue graduate education in applied science and engineering
- Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans - Graduate school fellowships for immigrants and children of immigrants.
- CMU Rales Fellowship Program - Developing a diverse community of exceptionally talented national STEM leaders from under-resourced backgrounds.