Elevating the brightest minds in STEM for collective good

About


On September 24, 2021, Quad partners Australia, India, Japan, and the United States announced the Quad Fellowship: a first-of-its-kind scholarship program designed to build ties among the next generation of scientists and technologists. Schmidt Futures, a philanthropic initiative, will operate and administer the fellowship program in consultation with a non-governmental taskforce, comprised of academic, foreign policy, and private sector leaders from each Quad country.

This program will sponsor 100 exceptional American, Japanese, Australian, and Indian master’s and doctoral students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to study in the United States. The fellowship will develop a network of science and technology experts committed to advancing innovation and collaboration in the private, public, and academic sectors, in their own nations and among Quad countries. The program will build a foundational understanding among Quad Scholars of one another’s societies and cultures through cohort-wide trips and robust programming with each country’s top scientists, technologists, and politicians.

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Benefits


The Quad Fellowship offers a unique combination of financial benefits, cross-cultural exchange, networking, and content programming. Each Quad Fellow will receive a one-time award of $50,000 which can be used for tuition, research, fees, books, room and board, and related academic expenses (e.g., registration fees, research-related travel). All Quad Fellows are eligible to apply for separate demonstrated needs-based funding of up to $25,000 to cover costs related to completing graduate-level studies.

The Fellowship program has three core elements: 

  • Pre-program: Upon selection to the Quad Fellowship, Fellows Elect will have access to a variety of virtual resources and programming designed to build connections within the cohort as they navigate the graduate admissions process

  • Core program: Beginning in August and extending through until the end of the academic year, Fellows will take part in a residential experience followed by virtual programming opportunities designed to deepen their understanding of topics at the intersection of STEM and society

  • Alumni program: Upon graduation from the Quad Fellowship program, Senior Fellows will have access to resources that support a lifelong network across cohorts and the Quad countries

Eligibility


Applicants must:

  • Be at least 18 years of age at the time of application

  • Be citizens or legal permanent residents of Australia, India, Japan, or the United States

  • Have a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in a STEM field by August 2023

  • Have a demonstrated record of superior academic achievement at the undergraduate level

  • If applicants are currently enrolled in a Master's or PhD program in the United States, they may apply if they will be enrolled in a qualified academic program during their time as a Fellow (i.e., August 2023 - May 2024)

FAQ


Benefits

  • Applications will launch in March 2022. The first cohort of Quad Fellows will be announced in October 2022 and virtual pre-programming will begin. The residential program will begin in August of 2023. Fellows will receive funding for their graduate studies beginning in the 2023-2024 academic year.

  • Financial benefits

    • Each Quad Fellow will receive a one-time award of $50,000 which can be used for tuition, research, fees, books, room and board, and related academic expenses (e.g., registration fees, research-related travel). This award may be supplemented by other fellowships or grants. In addition, round-trip airfare to and from the United States is covered.

    • All Quad Fellows are eligible to apply for separate demonstrated needs-based funding of up to $25,000 to cover costs related to completing graduate-level studies.

    Programmatic benefits

    In addition to financial support, Quad Fellows will have access to a variety of programming opportunities, as outlined below:

    Pre-program for Fellows Elect

    Beginning in October, Quad Fellows Elect will participate in organized virtual programming, including virtual learning sessions, guest speaker events, and receive advice on navigating the university application process followed by a “send off” event in respective Quad countries prior to beginning their time as Quad Fellows.

    Core program for Fellows

    Beginning in August with a multi-day residential experience in Australia, India, or Japan, Quad Fellows will have access to virtual programming with the greatest minds in STEM, government, and society, a tailored mentorship program, and opportunities to participate in individual or small-group experiences or projects focused on Quad country priority focus areas.

    Alumni programming for Senior Fellows

    As Senior Fellows, Quad Fellowship alumni will be part of a growing and global lifelong network of exceptional engineers, mathematicians, scientists, and technologists dedicated to advancing innovation and research for positive social impact.

  • • The Quad Fellowship is the first multinational scholarship and educational fellowship program specifically supporting students in STEM.

    • Quad Fellowship programming will uniquely focus on elevating Fellows’ ability to use science and technology for social good.

    • The Quad Fellowship personal award of $50,000 can be used in combination with other grant and scholarship awards, enabling Fellows to maximize their education within a STEM field.

    • The Quad Fellowship is an initiative of the Quad partnership between the governments of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States. No other educational fellowship program operates with the express support of four national governments.

    • Most exchange programs foster bilateral cultural exchange experiences. The Quad Fellowship uniquely offers opportunities for quadrilateral cross-cultural exchange and exposure, by recruiting equally from Australia, India, Japan, and the United States and by inviting Fellows to participate in cultural exchange experiences in the Quad countries.

    • Thanks to support from the Quad governments and corporate partners, Quad Fellowship programming will offer Fellows unparalleled opportunities to connect with global leaders in STEM, government, business, and social impact.

 

Eligibility

  • Please see our eligibility criteria section to learn more about eligibility requirements.

  • Yes. So long as you are a citizen or legal permanent resident of Australia, India, Japan, or the United States, you are eligible to apply.

  • Yes. So long as you are a citizen or legal permanent resident of Australia, India, Japan, or the United States, you are eligible to apply. If accepted, you must follow all visa application requirements using your Quad member country citizenship or residency.

  • The Quad Fellowship will provide scholarship or research funding for master’s degrees and doctorate of philosophy degrees (PhDs) in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) fields. Clinical healthcare degrees such as doctorates of medicine and master’s of science in nursing are not eligible for funding.

  • The Quad Fellowship supports graduate study in STEM fields, including Behavioral Sciences, Biological Sciences, Computer and Information Sciences, Engineering, Geosciences, Mathematics, and Physical Sciences. Clinical healthcare fields are not applicable.

  • Applicants are eligible to apply if they have completed or will complete a bachelor’s degree in one of the following fields by August 2023: Behavioral Sciences, Biological Sciences, Computer and Information Sciences, Engineering, Geosciences, Mathematics, and Physical Sciences. Applicants with bachelor’s degrees in social sciences are not eligible to apply.

  • No, clinical healthcare degrees such as medical degrees (including MDs, DOs, and PAs), nursing degrees, and clinical psychology degrees are ineligible for Quad Fellowship funding.

  • Yes. So long as you will be enrolled full-time in an eligible graduate or postgraduate degree program during the 2023-2024 academic year, you are eligible to apply.

  • Yes. So long as you are applying for a graduate degree in an eligible STEM field and satisfy the additional eligibility requirements, you are eligible to apply for the Quad Fellowship. If you are selected, the Quad Fellowship can only support tuition and other expenses related to your STEM degree.

 

Applications

  • There are three components of the application process:

    1. Online application requesting three essays, background demographic information, and three letters of recommendation. At least two letters of recommendation must come from professors who can speak to the candidate’s academic abilities; one may come from either a professional contact or another academic contact.

    2. Expert review designed to assess proficiency in the applicant’s STEM field

    3. Final-round panel interview designed to assess interest in the intersection of STEM and society, capacity to bridge differences, and an orientation towards results

    Final decisions will be announced in October or November 2022.

    For more details on the application process and required application materials, please see our Required Application Materials and Rules within the Terms of Use.

  • Applicants are encouraged to prepare their essay and written application materials prior to submitting their online application. Applicants will have the opportunity to upload a document into the application platform. Essay questions will be accessible once the application cycle opens. We encourage you to reach out to your recommenders as soon as possible so that they have ample time to complete their letters. See the Required Application Materials section for more information.

  • All interviews will be conducted virtually via Zoom. Notifications and correspondence will be conducted solely through email.

  • Applications will be reviewed holistically by a diverse team of reviewers from each Quad country with expertise in STEM subject areas. We are looking for candidates who demonstrate the following qualities:

    Academic excellence in STEM. Competitive applicants will have a record of demonstrated excellence in a STEM field through academic success and original research.

    Passion for the intersection of science, society, and policy: Competitive applicants should demonstrate their interest and engagement not only in the sciences, but also in the impact these fields can have on society and public policy. This could be demonstrated through research conducted, internships held, professional or academic indicators of commitment, or more.

    Capacity to bridge differences: Competitive applicants should demonstrate interest and ability to build connections between individuals with differing cultural, socio-economic, and professional backgrounds.

    Orientation toward results: Competitive applicants should have a demonstrated track record of producing tangible, successful, and positive results on past academic, professional, or extracurricular projects.

  • We use a holistic review process to evaluate applications within their context. While academic excellence is an important selection criterion, we do not rely solely on transcripts to make our decisions. The essays, letters of recommendation, and a candidate’s resume all factor into our assessment.

  • The application requires at least two letters of recommendation from professors who can speak to your academic abilities. The third letter of recommendation may be from either a professional contact or another academic contact.

  • Yes, but no more than four letters of recommendation will be reviewed. If you choose to submit an additional letter of recommendation beyond the three that are required, the recommender should address elements of your academic or professional experiences that you feel the other recommenders would not be able to cover.

 

General

  • The Quad Fellowship does not sponsor Visas or National passports. We encourage you to inquire with the university as soon as possible about their visa assistance program.

    Selected winners must have no legal barrier to entry to the United States that would prevent them from acquiring a student visa to accept their Quad Fellowship. Failure to obtain a visa for any reason will result in your inability to accept a Quad Fellowship.

  • The Quad Fellowship does not offer financial support for partners or dependents of accepted Fellows.

  • The application and programming will be offered in English.

  • Due to the structure and timeline of the Quad Fellowship, transfer students are ineligible to apply.

  • You may reapply in subsequent years so long as you plan to be enrolled in a qualified academic program during your time as a Fellow. We recommend indicating what has changed for you academically, personally, and professionally since your last application.

  • Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to offer individualized feedback, but encourage you to apply again if you continue to be eligible

  • The Fellowship is an educational initiative of The Eric and Wendy Schmidt Fund for Strategic Innovation, a 501(c)(3) private foundation, that is administered by Schmidt Futures, a philanthropic initiative of Eric and Wendy Schmidt, in partnership with the governments of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States. The funds of the Quad Fellowship will be managed and disbursed by Quad Fellowship LLC, a limited liability company wholly owned by The Eric and Wendy Schmidt Fund for Strategic Innovation.

Corporate Partners


The Quad Fellowship is also supported by a group of industry-leading corporate sponsors with track records of driving innovation and technological advancement