Identifying External Fellowship Opportunities

Learn how to find fellowships that fit your research, career stage, and eligibility.
The steps below cover when to start looking, where to search, and what to check before deciding which ones to apply for.

• Start early: Begin your fellowship search 12-18 months before you anticipate needing funding. This allows time to identify opportunities before application deadlines, prepare a strong application, and allow for the fellowship sponsor’s review and selection process. If you require a shorter timeline, it is still worth exploring options, but be aware that most fellowships do not disburse funds until 6-12 months after the application deadline.
• Find fellowship opportunities: There are countless fellowships available. Use the resources below to identify those that best match your field of study, career stage, and professional goals. 
• Understand and meet eligibility requirements: Review the fellowship announcement or solicitation to ensure that you meet all eligibility requirements. These may include citizenship status, field of study, career/dissertation stage, and other sponsor-specific criteria.
• Assemble your team: Confirm your advisor’s support early in the process. Their guidance and letter of recommendation will be essential in preparing a strong application. 
• Review the benefits: Read the solicitation to understand benefits that the fellowship provides, and consult your advisor and/or department business office to determine how the funds can be used, whether supplemental funding will be needed and is available, and how the fellowship might impact your benefits and roles at Purdue. 
• Contact the sponsor (if appropriate): For some fellowships—such as the National Institute of Health (NIH) F-series fellowships—it is recommended to contact the program officer to confirm that you and your research are a good fit for the sponsor’s goals. For others—such as the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program (NDSEG)—contact is discouraged or not allowed. Always check the solicitation before reaching out.

Resources

• The Graduate Funding and Fellowships Office offers fellowship workshops year-round in collaboration with the Office of Professional Development. The monthly How to Find and Prepare Fellowship Applications workshop provides an introduction to starting the fellowship process. Check the schedule for additional sessions on popular fellowships for Purdue graduate students and postdocs. 
• The Fellowship Finder database from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a great starting point for incoming and current graduate students with easy-to-use filters and a digestible but extensive database including the most common fellowships that graduate students apply for. 
• Pivot offers a comprehensive database and advanced filters. It is particularly useful for postdocs and for graduate students seeking more targeted opportunities.
• Zintellect catalogs government and private sector STEM opportunities for graduate students and postdocs, including fellowships, internships, and scholarships.
• The Office of Research has a list of funding opportunities for early investigator funding. Find opportunities specifically identified for postdoctoral scholars, here.

Contact trainee-funding@purdue.edu with any questions about finding fellowships or whether a fellowship is likely to be a good fit. Our team is here to support you.