Hertz Fellowships
Deadline: October 31, 2008
Fields of study: Applied physical sciences
Adviser: Professor Richard Miles • miles@princeton.edu • Ext. 8-5131
Description:
Hertz Fellowships are given to support the graduate education of students of outstanding potential in the applied physical sciences. The mission of the Hertz Foundation is to build America’s capacity for innovation by nurturing remarkable applied scientists and engineers who show the most promise to change the world. The award consists of a $31,000 stipend for the academic year and an educational allowance that is accepted as full tuition at almost all of the participating universities (contact the foundation for details.) The foundation will also provide $5,000 per year for child care. Awards are renewable for a total fellowship tenure of five academic years. Hertz Fellows who also win another three-year major fellowship such as the NSF Fellowship will be encouraged to accept that fellowship for their initial three years of study and will be offered two years of subsequent support from the Hertz Foundation at a stipend of $36,000 per year plus $3,500 per year of supplemental money each year during their tenure in the other fellowship program. The Fannie and John Hertz Foundation carefully evaluates, on a continuing basis, the quality of the environment for applied science education provided by leading educational institutions in the United States.
(Note: Please check the Hertz Foundation Web page (www.hertzfoundation.org) for a list of tenable schools and other relevant information.)
Criteria for Selection:
Only applicants who will have received a bachelor’s degree by the time they propose to commence tenure of their fellowship and propose to complete a program of graduate study leading to an advanced degree are eligible. Applications are accepted from students who already have commenced graduate study although preference is given to matriculating graduate students.
The proposed field of graduate study must be concerned with applications of the physical sciences to problems, as contrasted with work that extends the basic physical sciences. This includes all areas of engineering, chemistry, applied physics, plasma physics, biophysics, molecular biology, and computer science. Undergraduate preparation should include a year of calculus and physics. The foundation does not support students pursuing both Ph.D. and professional degrees; e.g., joint Ph.D./M.D. programs.
High previous scholastic performance is expected of all applicants, including at least an A- (3.75) grade average during the last two years of undergraduate work, although outstanding achievements in scientific or technological developments on the part of individuals with less distinguished academic records will be favorably noted in considering applications.
United States citizenship or permanent residency in the United States is required of all applicants. The foundation requires all fellows to commit themselves morally to making their skills and abilities available for the common defense in the event of national emergency.
Application Procedure:
All applications must be submitted via the Hertz Foundation website (www.hertzfoundation.org/). Candidates are encouraged to meet with the Hertz adviser, Professor Richard Miles (8-5131, Room D412 Engineering Quadrangle). Transcripts for the fall semester in which application is made should be forwarded to the foundation as soon as final grades are available. Applicants are strongly encouraged to take the general aptitude portion of the GRE and have the results sent to the Hertz Foundation. The foundation’s selection committee awards fellowships on the basis of the application, the academic transcript, reference reports, and the report of a personal, technical interview conducted with selected applicants.
Additional Information:
The foundation’s interviewers are practicing applied scientists from a variety of fields, and include members of the selection committee. All interviews are scheduled directly with applicants between late October and February. All fellowship applicants are notified in writing of the decision in their case in April.