Hertz Fellowship — Fellowship

The Hertz Fellowship supports doctoral students in applied physical and biological sciences, mathematics, and engineering. The Fannie and John Hertz Foundation selects fellows for their technical depth, creative problem-solving, leadership, and commitment to addressing major societal challenges.

Recipients pursue a full-time, in-person PhD at a US institution and receive financial support plus mentoring, professional development, and a lifelong peer community. Funding for the 2027 cohort is expected to begin in fall 2027.

Benefits & funding

A compensation package valued at up to $250,000, including a cost-of-education allowance and personal stipend.
Under Hertz-only funding: a $38,000 nine-month personal stipend, full tuition equivalent, and annual renewal for up to five years.
Fellows with dependent children receive an additional $5,000 per year.
When coordinated with another award, the foundation works with the other funder to maximize compensation; its published NSF example includes full tuition and a $44,000 nine-month stipend during the Hertz-funded period, plus a $9,000 annual Hertz supplement during the NSF-funded period.
Mentoring, symposia, professional development, networking, and a lifelong fellowship community.

Eligibility

Applicants must be US citizens or US permanent residents. These are alternative routes; either status qualifies.
Standard applicants are college seniors, first-year graduate students, or people in a gap period preparing to enter graduate school.
Applicants beyond the first year of a PhD may apply only through the foundation’s exceptional route and must explain both their circumstances and how the fellowship would substantially change their graduate research.
Applicants must intend to pursue a full-time, in-person PhD in applied physical or biological sciences, mathematics, or engineering at a US institution.
Professional degrees are not supported, although the PhD portion of an MD/PhD program is eligible.
Applicants must intend to direct their work toward major, near-term societal problems and, before an award, make a non-binding moral commitment to make their skills available to the United States during a national emergency.

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Application process

1
From August 31, 2026, create an account or sign in through the official application portal.
2
Complete the online application, including education, research experience, interests, and essays; a separate research project proposal is not required.
3
Register four recommenders, who will receive the foundation’s evaluation form by email.
4
Submit the application by the late-October 2026 deadline; the foundation lists the reference deadline separately in November 2026.
5
Shortlisted applicants complete a first-round Zoom interview in December 2026 or January 2027; selected finalists attend an in-person second-round interview in February 2027.

Program timeline

Most recent cycle’s exact application deadline.
October 31, 2025
August 31, 2026
2027 Fellowship application opens.
Information sessions.
September 2026
Late October 2026
2027 Fellowship application deadline; the exact date is not yet published.
Reference deadline and application preselection.
November 2026
First-round Zoom interviews.
December 2026–January 2027
In-person second-round interviews and finalist notifications.
February 2027
Fellowship recipients notified.
April 2027
Fellowship recipients announced.
May 2027
Fellowship funding begins.
Fall 2027