§16536 Protecting America’s Competitive Edge (pace) Graduate Fellowship Program

Summary

The Secretary must create a graduate fellowship program for students working on doctoral degrees in fields tied to a mission area of the Department. An eligible student is someone who attends a college or university that offers a doctoral degree in a relevant field. Fellowships are awarded by a competitive review with written and oral interviews and must be spread widely across the United States. Applicants must study science or engineering important to the Department, be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, and show strong technical understanding from first principles, creativity, leadership (shown by awards or experience), and good verbal and communication skills. Each fellowship gives an annual living stipend and pays graduate tuition at the student’s school, plus incidental costs like books, computers, and software. Awards can last up to 3 years within a 5-year period and travel with the student. The program is run by the Secretary through the Director of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education, who may hire a nonprofit to help. Congress authorized these funds: $7,500,000 for FY2008; $12,000,000 for FY2009 (including nonexpiring fellowships from prior years); $20,000,000 for FY2010 (including prior nonexpiring fellowships); $20,600,000 for FY2011; $21,200,000 for FY2012; and $21,900,000 for FY2013.