Women in STEM and Academia

The most extensive and well-established category of diversity-focused funding

Support available at every career stage, from undergraduate scholarships to faculty publication grants. These programs address the “leaky pipeline” where women disproportionately leave STEM and academic tracks.

📊 Overview

  • Coverage: All career stages (undergrad → faculty)
  • Funding Range: $2,500 - $60,000+
  • History: AAUW has funded women since 1888
  • Status: Well-funded “oasis” with robust opportunities

Graduate & Postdoctoral Fellowships

AAUW American Dissertation Fellowship

Organization: American Association of University Women (AAUW) Amount: $20,000 Deadline: November (annually) Eligibility: Women in final year of dissertation writing (all fields)

Offsets expenses during the final year of dissertation writing. STEM fields are explicitly encouraged.

AAUW Selected Professions Fellowship

Organization: American Association of University Women (AAUW) Amount: Varies Deadline: Varies Eligibility: Women in 1st-year Master’s/Professional degree programs

Supports women in degrees where they are underrepresented, explicitly citing STEM, Computer Science, Engineering, and Medicine.

L’Oréal USA For Women in Science Fellowship

Organization: L’Oréal USA & AAAS Amount: $60,000 Deadline: February (annually) Eligibility: Women postdoctoral scientists (STEM, US-based)

Prestigious award for five U.S.-based postdoctoral scientists annually. Includes mentorship, networking, and professional development opportunities.

Graduate Women in Science (GWIS) National Fellowship

Organization: Graduate Women in Science (GWIS) Amount: Up to $10,000 Deadline: January (annually) Eligibility: Women from grad student through assistant professor (STEM)

Research funding for women performing hypothesis-driven research in STEM and related social science fields. Broad eligibility across career stages.

Professional Society Grants

IEEE Frances B. Hugle Scholarship

Organization: IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) Amount: $2,500 Deadline: Varies Eligibility: Female IEEE student members, undergrad (after 2nd year), ABET-accredited engineering (US)

For female students in electrical engineering and computer science programs.

IEEE WIE International Scholarship

Organization: IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) Amount: $2,500 Deadline: Varies Eligibility: Female IEEE WIE student members, undergrad (after 2nd year), globally

Parallel to the Hugle scholarship but open to students at any accredited university worldwide.

Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowship

Organization: Zonta International Amount: $10,000 Deadline: November (annually) Eligibility: Women pursuing Ph.D. in aerospace-related sciences/engineering

Long-standing international award for women in aerospace fields.

Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Scholarships

Organization: Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Amount: Varies ($1,000 - $15,000) Deadline: Multiple deadlines Eligibility: Women in ABET-accredited bachelor or graduate programs (engineering, tech, CS)

Large portfolio of scholarships supporting women in engineering and computer science. Over 300 scholarships awarded annually (totaling ~$1.5 million).

Google Women Techmakers Scholarship

Organization: Google (formerly Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship) Amount: $10,000 Deadline: December (annually) Eligibility: Women in computer science or related technical fields (Global)

Encourages women to excel in computing and technology. Provides financial award and invitation to Google Scholars’ Retreat for networking and mentorship with women in tech.

Regions: Offered globally (North America, EMEA, Asia-Pacific) to women studying computer science or related degrees.

Microsoft Research Ada Lovelace Fellowship

Organization: Microsoft Research Amount: $42,000/year stipend + full tuition for 3 years Deadline: September (annually) Eligibility: Second-year PhD students from underrepresented groups in computing (including women), globally

3-year PhD fellowship aimed at increasing diversity in computer science research. Fellows receive full tuition, annual stipend, mentorship, and invitation to Microsoft Research summit.

Total Value: ~$126,000 stipend + tuition over 3 years

Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) Travel Grants

Organization: Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) Amount: $2,300 - $5,000 Deadline: February 15, May 15, October 1 (three rounds annually) Eligibility: Women mathematicians with PhD; U.S. work address

Conference travel and mentoring research collaborations for women mathematicians. Supports collaborative research visits, conference presentations, and professional networking. Multiple rounds per year make this a flexible funding option.

AWIS Scholarships

Organization: Association for Women in Science (AWIS) Amount: $2,000 - $10,000 (varies by award) Deadline: February 28 (annually) Eligibility: AWIS members at various career stages

Multiple awards including:

  • Distinguished Doctoral Scholarship: $10,000 for PhD students
  • First-Generation Scholarship: $2,000 for first-gen college students
  • Career Re-entry Scholarship: $2,500 for women returning to STEM after career interruption

Membership in AWIS required for application.

AWIS Bridge Grant Program

Organization: Association for Women in Science (AWIS) Amount: Varies (microgrants) Deadline: December 15 (annually) Eligibility: Early-career researchers and faculty facing funding gaps

Designed for researchers experiencing unexpected federal funding disruptions. Provides short-term funding to bridge gaps between grants or during delays in federal funding cycles.

P.E.O. Scholar Awards

Organization: P.E.O. Sisterhood Amount: Up to $25,000 Deadline: November 20 (chapter nomination required) Eligibility: Women doctoral students within 2 years of graduation (US/Canada)

Prestigious award for women in final stages of doctoral work. Requires nomination by local P.E.O. chapter. Covers tuition, fees, books, and dissertation expenses for final years of PhD.

Federal & Large-Scale Institutional Programs

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

Organization: National Science Foundation (NSF) Amount: $37,000/year stipend + $16,000 education allowance × 3 years Deadline: Mid-October (annually) Eligibility: US citizens/permanent residents; undergrad seniors or 1st-2nd year grad students in STEM

Premier federal fellowship with strong encouragement for applications from underrepresented groups including women in STEM. Provides 3 years of support for early-stage STEM graduate students. Also listed in general student grants but highly relevant for women in STEM.

Impact: Highly competitive; ~2,000 awards annually from ~13,000 applications.

NSF ADVANCE Program

Organization: National Science Foundation (NSF) Amount: Up to several million over 5 years Deadline: Varies by track Eligibility: U.S. institutions of higher education

Institutional transformation grants promoting gender equity for STEM faculty. Four tracks available for universities to implement systemic change. Note: This is an institutional grant (universities apply), but it creates opportunities and support structures for women faculty.

Faculty & Career Transition Grants

AAUW American Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship

Organization: American Association of University Women (AAUW) Amount: $30,000 - $50,000 Deadline: November (annually) Eligibility: Women postdocs seeking tenure-track positions

Designed to increase the number of women in tenure-track faculty positions. Provides funding for a full year of independent research.

AAUW American Short-Term Research Publication Grant

Organization: American Association of University Women (AAUW) Amount: Up to $7,000 Deadline: November (annually) Eligibility: Women in academia preparing research for publication

Directly addresses the “publish or perish” barrier to tenure. Funds preparation of research manuscripts for publication.

AAUW Career Development Grants

Organization: American Association of University Women (AAUW) Amount: Up to $8,000 Deadline: November (annually) Eligibility: Women seeking to enter/advance in fields, especially STEM

Funds short-term, accredited programs (certificates, specialized training) leading to employment outcomes.

International Programs

AAUW International Fellowships

Organization: American Association of University Women (AAUW) Amount: $18,000 - $30,000 Deadline: November (annually) Eligibility: Non-U.S. women pursuing full-time postgraduate study/research in the U.S.

Designed for non-U.S. women to pursue studies in the United States, with the goal of applying expertise in their home countries.

L’Oréal-UNESCO International Awards

Organization: L’Oréal Foundation & UNESCO Amount: €100,000 Deadline: Varies by region Eligibility: Eminent women scientists (one per global region)

Honors five outstanding women scientists annually—one from each of five world regions (Africa/Arab States, Asia/Pacific, Europe, Latin America, North America).

Organization for Women in Science (OWSD) Early Career Fellowship

Organization: OWSD Amount: $50,000 Deadline: Varies Eligibility: Women PhDs in Science and Technology Lagging Countries (STLCs)

For women researchers in developing countries who have completed PhDs in STEM.

Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future Fellowship

Organization: Schlumberger Foundation Amount: Full funding (varies by location and program) Deadline: November (annually) Eligibility: Women from developing/emerging economies pursuing PhD or postdoc in STEM abroad

Funds women from developing countries to pursue PhD or postdoctoral research in STEM at top universities worldwide. Goal is to empower women to become STEM leaders and faculty in their home countries.

Impact: Over 770 women from 84 countries funded since 2004. Awards cover annual stipend for study abroad, renewable up to 5 years for PhDs. Recipients expected to return home to contribute to STEM education and research capacity.

Margaret McNamara Education Grants (MMEG)

Organization: World Bank Group Amount: Up to $15,000 Deadline: Varies by region Eligibility: Women 25+ from developing countries committed to improving lives of women/children

For women from low- and middle-income countries studying in approved countries (US, Canada, South Africa, Latin America). Must plan to return to home country after completing studies. Priority given to those unable to access higher education due to social, economic, or political circumstances.

Regions: Applications accepted from specific geographic regions on rotating basis.

Organizational & Community Grants

FREE STEM Fund Grants

Organization: FREE STEM Fund Amount: Varies Deadline: December 1, 2025 Eligibility: Organizations and grassroots groups supporting girls, women, transgender, non-binary individuals in STEM

Organizational grants (not individual scholarships). Supports programs, initiatives, and organizations working to increase participation of underrepresented genders in STEM fields. Ideal for nonprofits, schools, community groups running STEM programs.

Undergraduate Support

Harriet Evelyn Wallace Scholarship

Organization: Association for Women Geoscientists Amount: Varies Deadline: June (annually) Eligibility: Female students pursuing Master’s or Doctoral degree in geoscience

Specialized grant for women in earth sciences and geoscience programs.

📋 Complete Grant Table

Grant Name Organization Amount Career Stage Link
AAUW American Dissertation Fellowship AAUW $20,000 PhD (final year) Apply
AAUW Selected Professions Fellowship AAUW Varies Master’s/Professional Apply
L’Oréal USA FWIS Fellowship L’Oréal USA & AAAS $60,000 Postdoc Apply
GWIS National Fellowship GWIS $10,000 Grad - Asst Prof Apply
IEEE Frances B. Hugle Scholarship IEEE WIE $2,500 Undergrad (US) Apply
IEEE WIE International Scholarship IEEE WIE $2,500 Undergrad (Global) Apply
Zonta Amelia Earhart Fellowship Zonta International $10,000 PhD (Aerospace) Apply
SWE Scholarships SWE $1,000-$15,000 Undergrad/Grad Apply
AAUW Postdoctoral Research Leave AAUW $30,000-$50,000 Postdoc Apply
AAUW Publication Grant AAUW $7,000 Faculty Apply

🔗 Related Opportunities

Also see:

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