The Hertz Foundation supports doctoral students it identifies as having exceptional creativity, initiative, and potential for high-impact research. The fellowship provides up to five years of funding valued at up to $250,000, covering a stipend and full tuition. Fellows also gain access to the Hertz community of scientists and engineers and receive ongoing mentorship.

September Information Sessions 

Current Hertz Fellows will discuss the application and their research strategies at two virtual sessions:

Thursday, September 10, 2026, 6:00 p.m. EDT
Monday, September 14, 2026, 12:00 p.m. EDT

Eligibility

• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
• Must be pursuing a PhD in the applied physical or biological sciences, mathematics, or engineering.
• Open to college seniors, students in a gap year before graduate school, and first-year graduate students.
• Students beyond the first year of a PhD are generally not eligible, though the Foundation considers rare exceptions where the fellowship would substantially enhance the quality or scope of the research.
• MD/PhD students may apply during the year before, or during the first year of, the PhD portion of their program.

Application Requirements

• Short essays of roughly 250 to 500 words and a personal essay of roughly 500 to 1,000 words.
• Four recommenders, each of whom completes the Foundation's own evaluation form rather than submitting a standard letter of recommendation.
• GRE scores are optional. MD/PhD applicants who have not taken the GRE may submit MCAT scores.

Plan Your Recommenders Now

Recommender evaluations are due Monday, November 2, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Pacific — after the student application deadline. Because the Foundation uses its own evaluation form rather than accepting standard letters, recommenders need advance notice and time to complete it. Identify and contact all four well before the October 30 deadline.

Selection Timeline

October 30, 2026 — Application closes
November 2, 2026 — Recommender evaluations due, 6:00 p.m. PT
December 2026 – January 2027 — First-round interviews by Zoom
February 2027 — Finalists named and in-person interviews held
May 2027 — Awards announced

Fellows make a non-binding moral commitment to make their skills available to the United States in times of national emergency.

Full eligibility details, the application portal, and FAQs are at hertzfoundation.org. Questions may be directed to fellowshipinfo@hertzfoundation.org.