The Quad Fellowship

Deadline

Overview

On September 24, 2021, Quad partners Australia, India, Japan, and the United States announced the Quad Fellowship: a first-of-its-kind scholarship program designed to build ties among the next generation of scientists and technologists. Schmidt Futures, a philanthropic initiative, will operate and administer the fellowship program in consultation with a non-governmental taskforce, comprised of academic, foreign policy, and private sector leaders from each Quad country.

This program will sponsor 100 exceptional American, Japanese, Australian, and Indian master’s and doctoral students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to study in the United States. The fellowship will develop a network of science and technology experts committed to advancing innovation and collaboration in the private, public, and academic sectors, in their own nations and among Quad countries. The program will build a foundational understanding among Quad Scholars of one another’s societies and cultures through cohort-wide trips and robust programming with each country’s top scientists, technologists, and politicians.

Benefits

The Quad Fellowship offers a unique combination of financial benefits, cross-cultural exchange, networking, and content programming with a combined value of up to $100,000.

The Fellowship program has three core elements: 

• Pre-program: upon selection to the Quad Fellowship, Fellows Elect will have access to a variety of virtual resources and programming designed to build connections within the cohort as they navigate the graduate admissions process
• Core program: Beginning in August and extending through until the end of the academic year, Fellows will take part in a residential experience followed by virtual programming opportunities designed to deepen their understanding of topics at the intersection of STEM and society
• Alumni program: Upon graduation from the Quad Fellowship program, Senior Fellows will have access to resources that support a lifelong network across cohorts and the Quad countries

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must:

• Be at least 18 years of age at the time of application
• Be citizens or legal permanent residents of Australia, India, Japan, or the United States
• Have a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in a STEM field by August 2023
• Have a demonstrated record of superior academic achievement at the undergraduate level
• If applicants are currently enrolled in a Master's or PhD program, they may apply if they will be enrolled in a qualified academic program during their time as a Fellow

Application Process

There are three components of the application process:

1. Online application requesting three essays, background demographic information, and three letters of recommendation. At least two letters of recommendation must come from professors who can speak to the candidate’s academic abilities; one may come from either a professional contact or another academic contact.
2. Expert review designed to assess proficiency in the applicant’s STEM field
3. Final-round panel interview designed to assess interest in the intersection of STEM and society, capacity to bridge differences, and an orientation towards results