Deadline for all materials: Monday, October 19, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET

The Chih Foundation honors Georgia Tech doctoral students whose peer-reviewed research demonstrates invention and innovation for the betterment of society. The Foundation seeks applicants who put the needs of others and societal impact ahead of personal gain. This award is not about the most publications, the highest citation counts, or prestige alone. It recognizes research and publications that advance societal progress.

Award

• Three awardees will each receive a one-time award of $3,000.

Eligibility

• Applicants must:
• Be current Georgia Tech PhD students who have not yet completed the doctorate.
• Have at least one peer-reviewed journal publication.
• Have a home department in the College of Engineering, College of Computing, College of Sciences, or College of Design.
• Be either a U.S. citizen or an international student.
• Be available to present your research in person on campus to the Chih family on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.

How to apply

1. Application packet
   1. Submit one single PDF through InfoReady, named "LAST NAME, First Name_Chih 2026." The PDF must include the following items, in this order:
      1. Impact and Innovation Statement, one page maximum in 12-point font, describing how your research is innovative and places societal needs above personal interests. References may appear on a second page.
      2. CV, including your publication list, anticipated graduation date, and redacted GT ID in the format XX2456789.
      3. One recent major publication that shows how your work contributes to societal progress.
      4. Submissions missing any item, or not following the required order and format, will be considered incomplete.
2. Faculty recommendation
   1. Your faculty advisor must submit one letter of recommendation, one page maximum, directly through InfoReady.
   2. The letter should speak to your qualifications and your commitment to using your research for the betterment of society.
3. Presentation slide
   1. Upload one static PowerPoint slide, saved as a PDF, through InfoReady with your application packet. 
      1. Title the file "LAST NAME, First Name_Chih 2026_Slide."
      2. Awardees may revise the slide before presenting.
   2. Presentation requirements:
      1. One slide only. Submissions with more than one slide will not be accepted.
      2. Presentations are limited to five minutes.
      3. No additional electronic media, such as sound or video files.
      4. No props, such as laser pointers, costumes, musical instruments, or laboratory equipment.

Submission: InfoReady only. Emailed materials will not be accepted.

Timeline

• October 19, 2026 — All materials due, 11:59 p.m. ET
• October 30, 2026 — Awards announced
• November 10, 2026 — Awardees meet the donors and present their research in person on campus (time TBD; location details will be provided to awardees)

Questions? Camile E. Matthews, Graduate Fellowships Manager, at fellowships@grad.gatech.edu.