Graduate Student Funding Opportunities
In addition to the standard financial support package for doctoral students, which typically consists of a combination of teaching/research assistantships and fellowships, the Chemistry Department provides information and assistance on external funding opportunities for graduate students. Fellowships, training grants, and internships are available to pre-doctoral students from federal agencies and private institutions.
For further information on and assitance in applying for external funding opportunities please contact Caroline Morris or call 919-660-1503.
Duke University Office of Research Support--a website dedicated to posting grant, fellowship, scholarship, and internship opportunities for undergrad and graduate students, postdocs, and faculty.
Community of Science--Community of Science (COS) is the leading international resource for medical, health related, and scientific research funding information and opportunities.
Funding opportunities below are listed by deadline.
--National Science Foundation - Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program
Deadline: March 20, 2013
Citizenship: US or permanent residents
The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program seeks to encourage talented science, technology, engineering, and mathematics majors and professionals to become K-12 mathematics and science teachers. The Noyce Scholarship Track provides funds to institutions of higher education to support scholarships, stipends, and academic programs for undergraduate STEM majors and post-baccalaureate students holding STEM degrees who earn a teaching credential and commit to teaching in high-need K-12 school districts. The NSF Teaching Fellowship/Master Teaching Fellowship Track provides funding to support STEM professionals who enroll as NSF Teaching Fellows in master's degree programs leading to teacher certification by providing academic courses, professional development, and salary supplements while they are fulfilling a four-year teaching commitment in a high-need school district. This track also supports the development of NSF Master Teaching Fellows by providing professional development and salary supplements for exemplary mathematics and science teachers to become Master Teachers in high-need school districts. Each track supports Capacity Building Projects to develop the capacity for institutions to provide innovative teacher preparation programs to enable increasing numbers of STEM majors and STEM professionals to become effective K-12 mathematics and science teachers and to develop the capacity to prepare Master science and mathematics teachers.
--Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society - Sally Hughes Travel Grant and Graduate Student Mini-Grants
Deadline: April 19, 2013
Citizenship: Duke students only, no restricitions otherwise
- The Sally Hughes-Schrader Travel Grant Awards: one $1250 grant and two $625 grants to graduate students in memory of Sally Hughes-Schrader for travel to field sites, distant laboratories, or professional meetings. Sponsored by Sigma Xi and the Graduate School. It is not necessary to be a member of Sigma Xi to apply for this grant.
- Duke University Sigma Xi Graduate Student Mini-Grants: awards three $350 grants to students for research expenses not covered by the National Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid program. The competition is open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Please note that you must be a Sigma Xi member to apply for a mini-grant.
--Duke University - Wireless Intelligent Sensor Networks (WISeNet) Integrative Graduate Education and Research Training (IGERT) program for Duke Graduate Students
Deadline: April 30, 2013
Citizenship: unrestricted
The WISeNet Integrative Graduate Education and Research Training (IGERT) program at Duke University prepares Ph.D. students for interdisciplinary research in wireless sensor networks. Through the WISeNet training and certificate program, students contribute to the development of intelligent sensor systems that process, store, and learn from data so as to improve their ability to gather information over time. The WISeNet program focuses on three interdisciplinary research areas: (1) information-driven environmental sensing and prediciton, (2) guidance and control of mobile sensor networks, and (3) biologically-inspired intelligent sensor systems
--National Science Foundation - International Research Experiences for Students (IRES)
Deadline: August 20, 2013
Citizenship: unrestricted
The International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) program supports development of globally-engaged U.S. science and engineering students capable of performing in an international research environment at the forefront of science and engineering. The IRES program supports active research participation by students enrolled as undergraduates or graduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. IRES projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed for the IRES program.
--National Institute of Health - Ruth L. Kirschsteing Nation Research Service Awards for Individual Predoctoral Fellows - AIDS
Deadline: May 7, 2013
Citizenship: US or permanent residents
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards individual predoctoral research training fellowships to promising applicants with the potential to become productive, independent investigators in research fields relevant to the missions of participating NIH Institutes and Centers.The purpose of this individual predoctoral research training fellowship is to provide support for promising doctoral candidates who will be performing dissertation research and training in scientific health-related fields relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) during the tenure of the award.
--Oak Ridge Associated Universities - Higher Education Research Experiences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory for Students
Deadline: June 1, 2013
Citizenship: US or permanent residents
ORNL presents opportunities to participate in research in a broad range of science and engineering activities related to basic sciences, energy, and the environment. A weekly stipend is provided, along with a housing allowance and one round-trip travel reimbursement.
--American Physical Society - Awards and Prizes
Deadline: July 1, 2013
Citizenship: unrestricted
APS Prizes and Awards, more than forty in number, recognize outstanding achievements in research, education and public service. With few exceptions, they are open to all members of the scientific community in the US and abroad. The nomination and selection procedure, involving APS-appointed selection committees, guarantees their high standards and prestige.
--Nation Science Foundation - International Research Experience for Students (IRES)
Deadline: August 20, 2013
Citizenship: US or permanent residents
The International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) program supports development of globally-engaged U.S. science and engineering students capable of performing in an international research environment at the forefront of science and engineering. The IRES program supports active research participation by students enrolled as undergraduates or graduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. IRES projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed for the IRES program.
--National Science Foundation - U.S./Ireland R&D Partnership for Nanoscale Science and Engineering & Sensors
Deadline: continuous
Citizenship: unrestricted
In order to foster an increase in collaborative research relationships, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI, Republic of Ireland), Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI, Northern Ireland), and the Department of Employment and Learning (DEL, Northern Ireland) have agreed to enter into a partnership to support research in the areas of nanoscale science and engineering and sensors and sensor networks through competitive awards via existing (core) programs in the case of NSF and SFI, and, in the case of Invest NI/DEL, via these organizations’ R&D funding mechanisms.
--National Science Foundation - NSF/FDA Scholar-in-Residence at FDA
Deadline: continuous
Citizenship: unrestricted
For science, engineering, and mathematics graduate students for one to four semesters of full- or part-time work at FDA in an area related to his/her research under the guidance of an academic advisor and an FDA mentor.
--Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds - Travel Allowances to Ph.D. Students and Post-Doctoral Students
Deadline: continuous
Citizenship: unrestricted, but applicant must be under 30 years of age at time of application
These travel allowances are aimed at supporting young scientists in acquiring experimental qualification necessary in basic research. Vocational training or the attendance of conferences, symposia and workshops are not financed. Travel allowances are intended to enable the recipients to visit laboratories further afield in order to study clearly-defined techniques useful for their ongoing research and the work of their research group at home. These visits may also ensure that both graduates from abroad as well as their potential supervisors are provided with the scientific and personal prerequisites before beginning a PhD thesis.
-National Science Foundation - Grant Opportunities for Academic Liason with Industry (GOALI)
Deadline: continuous
Citizenship: unrestricted
The NSF Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) program promotes university-industry partnerships by making project funds or fellowships/traineeships available to support an eclectic mix of industry-university linkages. Special interest is focused on affording the opportunity for these interactions:
- Faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and (graduate) students to conduct research and gain experience in an industrial setting;
- Industrial scientists and engineers to bring industry's perspective and integrative skills to academe; and
- Interdisciplinary university-industry teams to conduct research projects.
--The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences - Predoctoral Fellowship Program
Deadline: continuous
Citizenship: unrestricted
The Hamner awards predoctoral fellowships to Ph.D. students at area universities whose programs mesh with on-going research projects. Predoctoral fellows conduct their dissertation research at The Hamner. The staff scientist guiding the research serves on the student's doctoral committee and typically holds an adjunct faculty appointment at the university awarding the degree.
--National Science Foundation - United States/Ireland R&D Partnership for Nanoscale Science and Engineering & Sensors
Deadline: varies depending on field of specialization, see link for more details
Citizenship: unrestricted
In order to foster an increase in collaborative research relationships, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI), and the Department of Employment and Learning (DEL) have agreed to enter into a partnership to support research in the areas of nanoscale science and engineering and sensors and sensor networks through competitive awards via existing (core) programs in the case of NSF and SFI, and, in the case of Invest NI/DEL, via these organizations’ R&D funding mechanisms.
--RTI - University Collaboration Fund - Small Grants for Collaborations between Carolina, Duke, NCSU and RTI Researchers
Deadline: continuous
Citizenship: unrestricted
The RTI-University Collaboration Fund has been created by Duke University, North Carolina State University (NCSU), Research Triangle Institute (RTI), and UNC-Chapel Hill to provide small grants for activities that will promote greater dialog among researchers at the four participating institutions. The broader aim is to enhance collaborative scientific work. Small grants (less than $20,000) will be available for activities that bring together researchers from at least three of the four institutions (one of which must be RTI). These collaborations should ultimately lead to joint proposal development for external funding.
--National Science Foundation - Developing Global Scientists and Engineers, Doctoral Dissertation Enhancement Projects
Deadline: continuous
Citizenship: unrestricted
The United States needs to educate a globally-engaged science and engineering workforce capable of performing in an international research environment in order to remain at the forefront of world science and technology. To support this aim, the Developing Global Scientists and Engineers program provides highest quality international research experiences for U.S. students. The Doctoral Dissertation Enhancement Projects (DDEP) supports the dissertation research abroad of one doctoral student in collaboration with a foreign investigator.
--American Foundation for Aging Research - Graduate & Undergraduate Grants and Fellowships
Deadline: continuous
Citizenship: unrestricted
The American Foundation for Aging Research (AFAR), a Raleigh based non-profit, awards both Fellowships and Grants to undergraduate and graduate students conducting cellular, molecular and genetic research in age-related diseases (cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, etc.) or the biology of aging. The following awards are open to students who are in bachelors, masters, Ph.D., MD, DDS, DVM degree programs and are conducting research at an institution in the United States. Areas of interest to AFAR include but are not limited to: Molecular and Cellular Biology, Immunobiology, Cancer Research, Neurobiology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biophysics, Genomics. Proteomics.
--Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) - Research and Internship Opportunities
Deadline: continuous
Citizenship: U.S. citizens only
The Maryland Office of Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) administers research participation programs that allow senior scientists; faculty; high school, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral students; and recent graduates to enhance their science education experiences. Participants join programs, projects, and activities at our customers’ laboratories and research facilities worldwide. These programs provide a flow of qualified researchers and technical experts to participate in current research and development activities related to our customers’ critical missions.
--Oak Ridge Associated Universities - Research Participation Program at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD)
Deadline: continuous
Citizenship: U.S. citizens only
The Research Participation Program for the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD) provides opportunities to participate in USAMRICD on-going applied research and development projects. USAMRICD is the Department of Defense’s lead laboratory for the execution of medical chemical defense research. As a subordinate element of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC), the institute conducts research involving the development, testing, and evaluation of medical counter-measures to the effects of various chemical warfare agents.
--Center for Biologically Inspired Materials & Material Systems (CBIMMS)
Deadline: continuous
Citizenship: U.S. citizens or permanent residents
CBIMMS has established a graduate admissions program for a certificate in Biological and Biologically Inspired Materials. This program was initiated as a result of a successful award from the National Science Foundation’s Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship Program (IGERT). IGERT funding typically covers 2 years of stipend and fees for a Duke doctoral student.
--Center for Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering (CBTE)
Deadline: continuous
Citizenship: unresticted
CBTE is a multi-disciplinary center for training and research. CBTE is one of Duke University's most comprehensive efforts in biotechnology. The mandate of CBTE is to nucleate interdisciplinary research and educational activities that link three broad areas of biotechnology: protein engineering, cellular engineering, and tissue engineering. CBTE Faculty provide names of admitted students with research interests in protein, cellular and tissue engineering
Training grants award are typically offered during the first or second year of doctoral studies and provides full fellowship and fee support for 2 years.
--Graduate Program in Nanoscience (GP Nano)
Deadline: continuous
Citizenship: unresticted
This graduate certificate program designed to address the need for an interdisciplinary graduate education at Duke in Nanoscience that extends beyond the traditional disciplines and skills that are taught within any existing department. In both programs, graduate students will be educated and mentored in classes, labs, and research projects by faculty from many disciplines. The disciplines will span the basic science, engineering, and medical disciplines relevant to Nanoscience.
Training grants award are typically offered during the first or second year of doctoral studies and provides full fellowship and fee support for at least 1 year.
--Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP)
Deadline: continuous
Citizenship: unresticted
Duke's dual-degree MD/PhD program, the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), begun in 1966 and one of the three oldest such programs in the country, adds a significant research component to MD education, training physician-scientists (MD/PhDs) for high-level research careers in the biomedical sciences and academic medicine.
--Pharmacological Sciences Training Program (PSTP)
Deadline: continuous
Citizenship: U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The primary benefit of the PSTP is the training in Pharmacology. Pharmacology provides a strong foundation for future employment both in academia and in industry. Approximately half of our graduates pursue academic work after graduation and about half pursue professional jobs in the Pharmaceutical industry. In addition, the PSTP provides financial support in the form of tuition and stipend for two years of graduate work, as well as money to help fund travel to scientific meetings.
Participants in PSTP are required to take three graduate level pharmacology courses and have a member of the Pharmacology department on their dissertation committee.
--Duke University Graduate School - Conference Travel Fellowships
Deadline: continuous
Citizenship: unresticted
Open to all Duke University Ph.D. students. The Graduate School will provide up to $500 for advanced students who have passed all parts of the preliminary examination and are presenting a paper or poster at a national conference. Students are limited to one conference travel fellowship per fiscal year (July 1-June 30).
**Last updated 5/21/2013