The Quad Fellowship

A first-of-its-kind scholarship program designed to build ties among the next generation of scientists and technologists in Australia, India, Japan and the United States.

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Overview

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, composed of academic, foreign policy, and private sector leaders from each Quad country.

The Quad Fellowship supports 100 exceptional American, Japanese, Australian, and Indian master’s and doctoral students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) during their graduate studies in the United States each year. 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 aims to 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.

The answers to the world's hardest problems already exist inside the imaginations of the world's brightest minds.

We are proud to join the four Quad leaders in welcoming the 2022 Quad Fellows. An exceptional cohort of 100 bright minds across the sciences, we are hopeful that this group’s work will one day drive innovative breakthroughs in STEM to benefit society for years to come. Learn more about the Quad Fellows and their work here.

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

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

“We’re going to see more technological change in the next ten years than we saw in the last fifty. We want the next generation of scientists and technologists who will build the future to come from our Quad countries.” — President Joe Biden

Selection

In 2022, the Fellowship announced its inaugural class of Quad Fellows – a collaborative network of exceptional engineers, mathematicians, scientists, and technologists who will advance innovation and research with a steadfast dedication to positive social impact. Quad Fellows were selected from an international pool of distinguished candidates from the four Quad countries of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States. This dynamic pool of gifted graduates studied at 69 undergraduate institutions across the four Quad countries, and more than fifty percent of Fellows identify as women or non-binary. They are focusing on a broad spectrum of disciplines, including astronomy, biology, engineering, computer science, mathematics, oceanography, and many more. The cohort’s areas of specialization are diverse and impact-oriented, including sustainable energy grids, solid-state batteries, environmental protection and restoration, 5G and 6G telecommunications, bias-reducing artificial intelligence used in a variety of applications from healthcare imaging to origami-modeled robotics, molecular, chemical, and synthetic biology, hypersonics, quantum and optical computing, cryptography, and neuroimaging.

The first cohort of Quad Fellows will study in the United States beginning in August 2023.

The Quad Fellowship will open applications for its second cohort in Fall 2023. Those interested in staying in touch with the program may do so by registering here.

What we look for

Academic Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM): Candidates should have demonstrated excellence in a STEM field through academic success and original research.

Passion for the Intersection of Science, Society, and Policy: Candidates 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 by research conducted, internships held, or other professional or academic indicators of commitment.

Capacity to Bridge Differences: Candidates should demonstrate interest and ability to build connections between individuals with differing cultural, socio-economic, and professional backgrounds.

Orientation Towards Results: Candidates should describe their track record and abilities to produce tangible, successful, and positive results.

Learn more about the application process

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

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

• If applicants are currently enrolled in a Master’s or PhD program, they may apply if they will be enrolled in a qualified academic program during their time as a Fellow