Diversity Resources
At the Eberly College of Science, we are committed to the success of our diverse graduate student population. Explore the variety of resources we offer from fellowships and scholarships to student organizations.
Fellowships and Scholarships
We offer a number of fellowship and scholarship opportunities to help recruit and support a graduate student population made up of diverse backgrounds and identities. Learn more about funding available to help support your Eberly experience.
Explore available opportunities
Named in honor of Mildred S. Bunton and Calvin H. Waller, the first-recorded African American alumna and alumnus of Penn State, Bunton-Waller is a merit-based assistantship given to students with strong academic and professional potential who bring diverse perspectives, identities, and interests to Penn State.
The graduate admission application serves as the Bunton-Waller Graduate Assistantship application. Applications will be evaluated on scholarly promise including quality of professional work or research experience, academic performance and potential as shown by transcripts, extracurricular and community activities to advance equity in science, leadership potential, and the candidate’s ability to add strong and unique value to the overall Penn State experience.
Bunton-Waller assistantships include five years guaranteed support of tuition, stipend, and subsidized health insurance, and are funded through a variety of support mechanisms, including research assistants or teaching assistantships.
The GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Graduate Fellowship Program promotes quantitative expertise and statistical analysis in disciplines relevant to biostatistics that will strengthen relationships between faculty and GSK and raise the visibility of GSK among graduate students at Penn State. In addition, these Fellowships will allow the students and faculty advisers to seed new research projects which may lead to additional funding with GSK business units and/or federal agency programs in the future.
Applications from students enrolled in graduate programs in the Eberly College of Science, the College of Medicine, and the interdisciplinary Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences will be accepted, creating one fellowship position per year. The Eberly College of Science Graduate Student Office will administer the program, with input and solicitation of eligible applicants from the College of Medicine (COM) and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences as equal contributors in the selection of viable candidates.
Learn More About GSK Graduate Fellowship Program
The Graham Endowed Graduate Fellowship was created to assist in the recruitment of outstanding students considering enrolling at Penn State. The funds will provide supplementation awards to incoming students who have been given assistantships, departmental fellowships or who are recipients of external awards. Award offers are typically one year. No additional application is required beyond the Graduate Admissions application.
The Science Achievement Graduate Fellows (SAGF) Program in the Eberly College of Science is designed to recruit, recognize, and promote outstanding graduate students seeking a doctoral degree in the sciences and mathematics. The Eberly College of Science is determined and committed to advancing women, who are underrepresented in the sciences and mathematics, to enable the full potential of humankind essential to solving the great global challenges. The science achievement graduate scholarships are named in honor of an outstanding woman scientist or mathematician who not only made groundbreaking discoveries, but also blazed the trail for others who have followed in their footsteps. These prestigious scholarships provide a high level of recognition to the awardees, which will continue throughout their careers.
SAGF is awarded each year to outstanding college graduates who have an interest in pursuing doctoral studies in one of the seven departments of the Eberly College of Science, with strong communication and leadership qualities, and who have a demonstrated interest in the advancement of women in the sciences and related fields. Holistic selection criteria are used to select a candidate with an emphasis on letters of recommendation, research experience, leadership potential, communication skills, an outstanding record of high achievement, initiative, and motivation. For eligibility, an additional interview is required.
The total SAGF support package includes five years guaranteed support of tuition, stipend, subsidized health insurance, and $3,000 per year for professional travel, purchase of computers, or other professional development needs and activities. At least one of five years will be offered as a true fellowship, while the remaining years will be funded through a variety of support mechanisms.
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation provides funding for matriculated doctoral students in mathematics, science, and engineering in order to assist efforts to diversify the Ph.D. degree-holding workforce.
Sloan Foundation grants may be used to pay for professional travel, research, equipment, books, and to cover many other needs during their doctoral studies, and are in addition to any assistantships and fellowships awarded to a student.
Sloan Scholars must have passed their qualifying exams to enter the program, and each Sloan Scholar must have an approved mentor in his/her academic field. Faculty members who have proven track records in graduating a diverse population of students from their doctoral programs are selected each year to mentor incoming fellows.
Learn More About Sloan Scholars
Graduate Student Organizations
At the Eberly College of Science, our focus is to support your journey toward academic success while strengthening the connection between your research and your community. We encourage graduate students to explore our diversity-focused organizations, find friends with similar experiences, advocate for issues you care about, or discover an exciting extracurricular.
Get involved on campus
GWIS is an interdisciplinary national society of women and men who support equal opportunities for all in science. Their mission as an organization is to build a global community to inspire, support, recognize, and empower women in science.
MGS in STEM serves as a community for underrepresented graduate students and allies. The mission is to provide a professional community for underrepresented students to develop skills to succeed as graduate students and professionals with an aim to build confidence and foster relationships through faculty mentorship.
NOBCChE strives to build a framework for successful diverse global leaders in STEM that will help advance their professional endeavors by adding value to their academic, development, leadership, and philanthropic ventures throughout the life-cycle of their careers.
oSTEM is a non-profit student organization geared toward influencing the academic and professional progress and development growth of LGBTQ+ students and youth in the field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. oSTEM focuses its efforts on educating, increasing and retaining acceptance, tolerance and enrollment in such professions.
Physics and Astronomy for Women+ is a club of undergraduates, grad students, and post-docs dedicated to advancing the status of women, gender minorities, and underrepresented groups in Physics and Astronomy by providing a network of support and a forum to discuss systemic bias in these fields.
SACNAS is an inclusive organization dedicated to fostering the success of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans, from college students to professionals, in attaining advanced degrees, careers, and positions of leadership in STEM.
We offer one-on-one meetings to help you learn about all the ways our office can offer you guidance and support during your time at Eberly. Appointments can be scheduled using Starfish.