The GEM Fellowship

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Applications Open July 1 - Second Friday in November

What is GEM?

Founded in 1976 at the University of Notre Dame, we have operated quietly and steadily to graduate over 5,000 plus  researchers, professors, entrepreneurs, inventors, and business leaders, including over 500 men and women with doctorates in the physical sciences, life sciences, and engineering.

GEM invests in America’s workforce by investing in students looking to pursue Master’s and Doctoral degrees in applied science and engineering, and matches their specific skills to the specific technical needs of GEM employer members.

The GEM Fellowship Program

The GEM fellowship program invests in a competitive American workforce by supporting high-caliber students looking to pursue Master’s and Doctoral degrees in applied science and engineering, and matches their specific skills to the technical needs of GEM employer members. Through the fellowship, students receive full financial support and a paid internship. The program has received a Presidential Award for its impact in STEM and has produced over 5000 leaders in STEM. 

Program Specifications

The objective of this program is to promote the benefits of a masters degree within industry. GEM Fellows are provided practical engineering summer work experiences through an employer sponsor and a portable academic year fellowship of tuition, fees, and a stipend which may be used at any participating GEM Member University where the GEM Fellow is admitted. The following financial package is for GEM Fellowships beginning in the Fall or later (i.e., not retroactive for GEM Fellows who began their GEM Fellowship before the Fall). Please note that University/Associate Fellows are nominated by the University, not selected by the applicant.

The objective of this program is to offer doctoral fellowships to students who have either completed, are currently enrolled in a master’s in engineering program, or received admittance into a PhD program directly from a bachelor’s degree program. Fellowships may be used at any participating GEM Member University where the GEM Fellow is admitted. Please note that University / Associate Fellows are nominated by the University, not selected by the applicant.

During the first academic year of being awarded the GEM Fellowship, the GEM Consortium remits a stipend and a cost of instruction grant to the institution where the fellow is enrolled. Thereafter, up to the fifth year of the doctoral program, continued financial support of the GEM Fellow is borne by the GEM University through alternative sources of funding such as institutional awards, assistantships or other external fellowships. Continued support from the GEM University will be contingent upon the GEM Fellow remaining in good academic standing and making satisfactory progress in their graduate program. Fellows are provided a paid graduate level summer work experience through the Employer Member for at least one summer.

The goal of this program is to increase the number of minority students who pursue doctoral degrees in the natural science disciplines — chemistry, physics, earth sciences, mathematics, biological sciences, and computer science. Applicants to this program are accepted as early as their senior undergraduate year, as well as candidates currently enrolled in a Master’s of Engineering program and working professionals. Fellowships offered through this program are portable and may be used at any participating GEM Member University where the GEM Fellow is admitted.

During the first academic year of being awarded the GEM Fellowship, the GEM Consortium remits a stipend and a cost of instruction grant to the institution where the fellow is enrolled. Thereafter, up to the fifth year of the doctoral program, continued financial support of the GEM Fellow is borne by Missouri S&T through alternative sources of funding such as institutional awards, assistantships or other external fellowships. Continued support from Missouri S&T will be contingent upon the GEM Fellow remaining in good academic standing and making satisfactory progress in their graduate program. Fellows are provided a paid graduate level summer work experience through the Employer Member for at least one summer.

Ph.D. Science Fellows receive*:

  • $16,000 stipend in the first academic year of the GEM Fellowship
  • Missouri S&T provides a living stipend up to the 5th year of PhD program, equivalent to other funded doctorate students in the department
  • a minimum of one paid summer internship with a GEM Employer Member
  • full tuition and fees at Missouri S&T
*Missouri S&T will provide a financial contract at the time the GEM Fellowship is confirmed per this recommended distribution of the GEM Employer contribution.

Internships

The summer internship at a GEM Employer constitutes the initial phase of the GEM Fellowship program and acceptance of such employment validates the fellowship. Failure to accept the GEM summer internship offer cancels the fellowship. Internships generally run for 12 weeks, however, small variations are possible by mutual agreement between the GEM Fellow and Employer. Summer interns will receive a salary determined by the sponsoring employer. Each intern is also reimbursed for travel to and from the work site according to the GEM Employer’s travel policy.

Each employer assigns an experienced engineer or scientist as a supervisor to each GEM Fellow. The role of the supervisor is to provide one-to-one guidance, support, and assistance throughout the assignment. At the end of the summer, the supervisor and the student each complete forms evaluating the effectiveness of the assignment and the quality of the student’s work performance and may include recommendations regarding the student’s next year of study or employment.

Employer-sponsored PhD Fellows are required to intern with the selecting Employer Member at least one summer prior to the commencement of GEM Funding. Employer-sponsored MS Fellows are expected to intern every summer after their selection until completion of MS degree requirements.

The company determines the assignment and location of the summer internship. Every effort is made to match students whose research interests are compatible to the needs of the company.

Neither the student nor the company incurs an obligation beyond the student’s completion of the master’s or doctoral program.