Hertz Fellowship – STEM PhD across the United States Universities

The Hertz Fellowship (officially, the Hertz Fellowship) is one of the most selective graduate fellowships in the United States for researchers pursuing a full-time, in-person PhD in the applied physical and biological sciences, mathematics, or engineering. Administered by the Fannie and John Hertz Foundation, the program is built to identify future technical leaders—people who combine deep scientific ability with creativity, leadership, and a track record of turning ideas into real-world impact.

Unlike fellowships tied to a single university, the Hertz Fellowship supports fellows across many U.S. universities through standard agreements with 50+ participating schools, and it can also work with schools not yet on the list (the Foundation notes you may request your institution be added).

What makes the Hertz Fellowship unique for STEM PhD applicants

1) It’s about the person, not a single research project

Hertz explicitly states the fellowship funds individual students, and a formal research proposal is not required—though you will summarize your research experience and the directions you want to explore.

2) It targets “near-term, high-impact” applied work

Eligibility includes an expectation that applicants intend to direct their studies toward understanding and solving major, near-term problems facing society (the “applied” dimension matters).

3) Strong national mission component

Applicants are asked to make a non-binding moral commitment to make their skills available to the United States in times of national emergency (not a contractual obligation).

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Fields supported

The Hertz Foundation awards fellowships for PhD study in:

• Applied physical sciences

• Applied biological sciences

• Mathematics

• Engineering

The Foundation also notes it does not fund professional degrees (MD, JD, MBA, etc.), but it can support the PhD portion of an MD/PhD program.

Hertz Fellowship funding and benefits (updated amounts)

The Hertz Fellowship compensation package includes a cost-of-education allowance (tuition equivalent) plus a 9-month personal stipend, renewable for up to five years.

Funding options (as stated by the Foundation)

Option 1: Hertz funding only

• $38,000 / 9-month stipend

• Full tuition equivalent

• Renewable annually for up to five years

• $5,000/year additional stipend for fellows with dependent children

Option 2: Coordination with another major award (example shown with NSF)

• During the Hertz-supported period: Full tuition equivalent + $44,000 / 9-month stipend

• NSF period: $9,000/year supplemental stipend from Hertz (in the example provided)

• Renewable annually for up to five years

• $5,000/year for fellows with dependent children

The Foundation describes the total package as valued at up to $250,000 across the fellowship term.

Where you can use the Hertz Fellowship (U.S. universities)

The Hertz Foundation lists 50+ participating schools with standard agreements that make it easier to administer stipend/tuition across universities, and notes:

• If your PhD institution is not on the participating list, you may ask to have it added.

• Fellows can change to another participating school during the fellowship.

Examples of participating institutions include (non-exhaustive): MIT, Stanford, Harvard, Caltech, Princeton, Columbia, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, Georgia Tech, Johns Hopkins, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego, University of Michigan, University of Washington, Yale, and many others.

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Who should apply (best-fit candidates)

The Hertz Fellowship is best suited for applicants who:

• Want a STEM PhD in the U.S. and prefer flexibility in choosing a university and direction

• Can show deep technical strength plus creative problem-solving

• Can explain how their work could impact major real-world challenges within a meaningful timeframe

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Eligibility criteria (official)

All eligible applicants must:

• Be college seniors, first-year graduate students, or in a gap period preparing to apply to graduate school

• Intend to pursue a full-time, in-person PhD in the applied physical/biological sciences, math, or engineering at a U.S. institution

• Intend to direct work toward major, near-term problems facing society

• Be U.S. citizens or permanent residents

Hertz also notes it generally does not award to students after the first year of graduate school, except in rare cases.

Updated 2026 cycle timeline (with exact dates)

The Hertz Foundation’s official “Apply” page includes the following key dates for the 2026 Hertz Fellowship cycle:

Important note: The Foundation states the 2026 application is now closed, and recommends subscribing to email updates for the next cycle.

Step-by-step application process (official route)

1. Go to the Hertz “Apply” page:
   https://www.hertzfoundation.org/hertz-fellowship/apply/

2. Access the application portal (listed on the same page):
   https://fellowship.hertzfoundation.org

3. Prepare your strongest materials:

• Technical depth + clarity (so reviewers can see what you can build or discover)

• Clear narrative on why your STEM PhD path addresses an applied, high-impact problem

• Strong recommendations (academic and/or industry)

4. Interview stages (for selected candidates):

• Round 1 interviews are conducted via Zoom, followed by in-person Round 2 interviews for select finalists.

 Hertz Fellowship: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)