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Fellowships & Special Opportunities

This page features fellowship, award, and professional development opportunities shared directly with the College of Engineering Dean’s Office or Graduate Student Services, along with a few of the most common national fellowships pursued by Berkeley Engineering students.

These listings are curated specifically for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in Berkeley Engineering and updated regularly as new opportunities become available.

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP)

Deadline: November 13 2025 

The NSF GRFP recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in STEM and STEM education. Fellows receive a three-year annual stipend, plus cost-of-education support for their institution.

National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG)

Deadline: November 15.

The NDSEG Fellowship is a highly competitive, portable fellowship awarded to U.S. citizens and nationals who intend to pursue a doctoral degree in one of 15 supported disciplines. The fellowship covers full tuition and fees, provides a monthly stipend, and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Shining Lights Fellowship Program (Engineering Cohort)

Nominations close: October 15, 2025

A semester-long leadership development program designed for advanced graduate students and postdocs in Engineering or MPS. Includes leadership training, networking, mentoring, and coaching. The Shining Lights Fellowship Program is a unique, experiential, semester-long leadership development program committed to fostering community, building a professional network, and providing training in leadership skills.  

The Shining Lights Program will equip participants with essential skills for successful careers in science through leadership skill building, coaching, networking, and mentoring. This comprehensive initiative encompasses both technical proficiency and interpersonal competencies, providing participants with a deeper understanding of effective leadership qualities. 

This program is open to advanced graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in the Division of Mathematical and Physical Sciences and the College of Engineering at UC Berkeley, or equivalent areas at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, who have a demonstrated interest in issues around gender representation in their fields.

Fellowships are awarded for research conducted at any one of the University of California’s ten campuses. The award includes a salary starting at approximately $69,073. Each award is for a minimum of 12 months and may be renewable for an additional term upon demonstration of academic/research productivity.

  • Program begins: January 2026
  • Self-nominations encouraged
  • More Details & Contact Rebecca Abergel for more information

ASEE Engineering Postdoctoral Fellowship (eFellows)

Deadline: October 31, 2025

This program supports projects at the intersection of AI and traditional engineering fields, with a focus on research impacting rural areas in the U.S.

UC President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

Deadline: November 1, 2025

This program offers postdoctoral research fellowships, professional development, and faculty mentoring to scholars committed to advancing diversity and excellence in higher education. Fellowships are awarded for research at any UC campus. Starting salary is approximately $69,073.The University of California President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program offers postdoctoral research fellowships, professional development, and faculty mentoring to outstanding scholars in all fields whose research, teaching, and service will advance the research excellence and public service missions of the University of California. Contributions may include leadership activities or public service towards increasing access to higher education and pursuit of academic careers. The program is seeking applicants with the potential to bring to their academic and research careers the perspective that comes from their own educational background or their understanding of the experiences of groups historically underrepresented in higher education in the United States.

Fellowships are awarded for research conducted at any one of the University of California’s ten campuses. The award includes a salary starting at approximately $69,073. Each award is for a minimum of 12 months and may be renewable for an additional term upon demonstration of academic/research productivity.

Laura Bassi Scholarship

Deadline: November 28, 2025
Results announced: December 8, 2025

The Laura Bassi Scholarship was established in 2018 to provide editorial assistance to postgraduates and early-career academics whose research focuses on neglected or underrepresented topics within their disciplines.
The scholarship is open to applicants from all fields and is awarded three times per year (December, April, and August). Eligible applicants include:

  • Currently enrolled master’s and doctoral students
  • Early-career academics within the first five years of full-time employment
    There are no institutional, departmental, or national restrictions.
  • How to apply: Submit a completed application form and CV via the Editing Press application portal by the deadline.
  • More information: Learn more about the scholarship, past awardees, and Laura Bassi herself on the Editing Press website.

URA–Sandia Graduate Student Summer Fellowship Program (2026)

Deadline: November 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM (U.S. Eastern Time)

The URA–Sandia Graduate Student Summer Fellowship Program offers paid summer research fellowships for graduate students at Sandia National Laboratories. Fellows gain hands-on experience conducting research in areas including:

  • Bioscience
  • Computing & Information Science
  • Earth Science
  • Engineering Science
  • Materials Science
  • Nanodevices & Microsystems
  • Radiation, Electrical, and High Energy Density Science

Up to ten appointments are anticipated for 2026. Applicants must be full-time master’s or doctoral students and U.S. citizens.

S. Scott Collis Fellowship in Data Science at Sandia National Laboratories

Deadline: December 1, 2025

The S. Scott Collis Fellowship in Data Science supports outstanding graduate students and early-career researchers pursuing work in data science, computational science, and related fields at Sandia National Laboratories. Fellows collaborate with Sandia researchers on projects that advance national security, engineering, and computational innovation.

Qualcomm Innovation Fellowship (QIF) – North America 2026


Deadline: December 1, 2025, at 10:00 AM PST


The Qualcomm Innovation Fellowship (QIF) supports innovative Ph.D. student research in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, and related fields. Each selected team of two students receives a $100,000 fellowship award to support their research proposal.
The fellowship emphasizes innovation, execution, and teamwork, and applications must be recommended by at least one faculty member.


For the 2026 North America edition, eligible universities include UC Berkeley and 24 other top U.S. and Canadian institutions. Since the program’s launch in 2009, Berkeley has had 54 finalists and 14 winners.


Award: $100,000 per team of two Ph.D. students
Application deadline: December 1, 2025, at 10:00 AM PST
Information sessions: Virtual sessions will be held for interested Ph.D. students — details to come
Learn more & apply: Qualcomm Innovation Fellowship 2026 – North America
Questions: innovation.fellowship@qti.qualcomm.com

Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fellowship

Deadline: January 5, 2026

The Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fellowships are to be awarded only to candidates who have outstanding undergraduate records, have demonstrated a need for financial assistance, are citizens of the United States of America, are enrolled in accredited colleges and universities in the United States and have received baccalaureate degrees.

The amount of each Fellowship will cover the cost of tuition only (no fees) and a stipend to be allocated towards room, board, living expenses and income taxes.  The Trustee has set the stipend at $18,000 for this year.

Applications must be received by January 5, 2026.

Looking for more? Visit the Graduate Division Fellowships page for campus-wide opportunities. Have an opportunity to share? Contact Graduate Student Services at essgrad@berkeley.edu.