The mission of the Graduate Fellowships for STEM Diversity (GFSD) is to increase the number of American citizens with graduate degrees in the physical sciences and related engineering fields, with a strong emphasis on recruiting a diverse applicant pool. GFSD aims to contribute to achieving diversity and balance in the nation's scientific community by providing a continuous source of scientists who are U.S. citizens.
The GFSD Graduate Fellowship program supports broad goals of enhancing diversity and excellence in STEM fields through its unique fellowship opportunities. It is distinctive in that it is open to all American citizens and offers comprehensive support for up to six years. This support includes covering tuition costs, allowing fellows to also hold research or teaching assistantships, offering one or two paid summer internships with a government agency, and providing a mentor for a potentially lasting relationship with the sponsor. Supported fields typically include Astronomy, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geology, Materials Science, Mathematical Sciences, Physics, Chemical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and respective subdisciplines. The fellowship's duration and renewal are determined in partnership with an employer-sponsor, with initial support varying between two to six years. The cost to the employer for each student supported is annually set, including a fellow’s expense allowance and a fee to support GFSD operations. Participating institutions include any GFSD University or College.