Graduate Student Fellowships

Fellowships sponsored by: Eli Lilly and Company and Agilent Technologies (9-month fellowships); Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh (9-month and summer fellowship); and Eastman Chemical Company (summer fellowship).

The American Chemical Society Division of Analytical Chemistry Graduate Fellowship Program is designed to encourage basic research in the field of analytical chemistry, to promote the growth of analytical chemistry in academic institutions and industry, and to provide recognition of future leaders in the field of analytical chemistry.  The program has endeavored to be a model of the benefits of cooperation between the academic and industrial communities, with chemical companies employing Ph.D. analytical chemists sponsoring the fellowships for outstanding analytical graduate students.

The Graduate Fellowship Committee of the ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry, which is comprised of representatives from the sponsoring companies, analytical faculty from undergraduate institutions, and scientists from national laboratories, evaluate the applications and make the fellowship awards. Both nine-month ($21,000) and summer ($7,000) fellowships are available.

Eligibility criteria

The applicant must be a full-time student working toward a Ph.D. and must have completed the second year of graduate study by the time the fellowship period begins. Analytical chemistry must be a central part of the applicant’s Ph.D. thesis. The applicant’s research supervisor must be a member of the American Chemical Society Division of Analytical Chemistry.

Only one nomination per research supervisor will be accepted. Summer Fellowships begin on June 1, of the calendar year, therefore applicants for summer fellowships must not have completed their thesis research before September 1, of a given calendar year. Nine-month fellowships may begin on June 1, July 1, August 1 or September 1, for instance applicants for 2019-2020 nine-month fellowships must not have completed their thesis research before March 1, 2020. Applicants for awards in previous years are encouraged to reapply. Previous nine-month fellowship recipients, however, are not eligible for a second award.

Applicants must demonstrate outstanding research ability and accomplishment, as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications in analytical chemistry. Consequently, fellowships are normally awarded to students in their third or fourth years of graduate study when they have established a publication record.

Application process

Through Interfolio, students must submit an application package consisting of:  

• a nomination form from the research advisor (link available here).

• an application describing previous accomplishments and the proposed research during the fellowship period (link available here).

• all undergraduate and graduate transcripts (submitted as a single file).

• three confidential letters of recommendation submitted (one must be from the research advisor).

All application materials should be submitted through Interfolio (link).

Application materials are being accepted now.  The deadline for receipt of application materials is January 1, annually.  Paper and e-mail applications will not be accepted. 

Fellowship sponsors

The ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry is extremely grateful to the following companies and organizations who currently sponsor graduate fellowships: Eli Lilly and Company and Agilent Technologies (9-month fellowships); Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh (9-month and summer fellowship); and Eastman Chemical Company (summer fellowship).

Additional information

Nine-month fellowships may not be accepted concurrently with any other external fellowship. Because the purpose of the fellowship is to provide the opportunity for research, the holder will not engage in outside work for added compensation during the fellowship period.  Tuition may not be paid out of the fellowship, nor is the university permitted to deduct any administrative costs.  It is expected that fellowship recipients will be engaged in full-time research for the duration of the fellowship and be in residence at the home institution (except when performing collaborative experiments which are part of the funded project).  Recipients will also be invited to participate in a special symposium at the National ACS Meeting in the fall featuring the winners of the ACS Analytical Graduate Fellowships. At the end of the fellowship period, a brief report of the accomplishments or achievements made by the student should be submitted to the Chair of the Graduate Fellowship Committee and to the sponsor.

It is requested that any publications which result from the studies done during the fellowship period bear the following statement: This work was supported by the American Chemical Society, Division of Analytical Chemistry Fellowship, sponsored by (company or group name).

Any questions regarding the fellowship or application process may be directed to:

Dr. Emily Niemeyer

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Southwestern University

niemeyee@southwestern.edu