NSF Bridge to the Doctorate Graduate Fellowship Program

The NSF Bridge to the Doctorate Graduate Fellowship Program (NSF B2D) program was created by NSF (federal funding) to help support a cohort of twelve underrepresented STEM students in their doctoral studies.

Faculty mentors are key to guiding our NSF B2D Grad Student Fellows

Overview

UC Berkeley’s NSF B2D program is connected to the NSF LSAMP network of alliances. Through this program, the NSF seeks to continue its goal of increasing the number of ethnically underrepresented students completing STEM doctoral degrees by offering recipients the opportunity to enroll in graduate program without the financial burden. Typically each B2D fellows receives a ~$30,000 fellowship during their first two years, and the cost of the next three years is paid for by the department (contingent upon availability of funding). Other benefits include advising and advocacy, professional development, conference travel, a supportive community, and access to a diversity student center. Typically one UC LSAMP Alliance applies for the grant each year, meaning that it this opportunity to apply rotates among the UC system. UC Berkeley hopes to be given the opportunity to write this grant for the 2025 cycle if approved by our statewide office at UC Riverside.

Our sister campus UC Irvine will be representing our UC LSAMP Alliance by submitting for this grant for the 2023 cycle. This means that if funded, UC Irvine will be considering students that are applying to UC Irvine’s graduate school STEM programs during the fall of 2022. This means, if they are selected for the NSF B2D Fellowship students will start their doctoral journey in fall of 2023 at UC Irvine. So if you are interested in applying to one of UC Irvine’s STEM graduate programs, you should consider reaching out Professor Derek Dunn-Rankin, https://ddr.eng.uci.edu/ .

NSF B2D Fellow Maribel in her mechanical engineering research lab

Additional NSF B2D information can be found here: https://lsmrce.org/lsamp/bridge-doctorate.aspx

UC Berkeley NSF Bridge to the Doctorate Cohort (2012-2021), all 12 earned STEM Graduate Degrees

Eligibility Snapshot

U.S. citizens or permanent residents

Students have typically been from Native American, Hispanic, and/or African-American backgrounds.

Verified NSF LSAMP scholar alumni

Bachelor degree in STEM earned by start of program

Minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA

Admitted to a UC Berkeley Ph.D. program in STEM for year in question

Please send your questions to Director Diana Lizarraga via text at #510.778.5165 or via e-mail at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Text is preferred and faster.