Faculty Mentor Program Fellowship
Fellowship details
The Faculty Mentor Program (FMP) Fellowship is designed to increase the number of students who complete their Ph.D. degree and successfully acquire a faculty appointment. Fellows are expected to participate in meaningful research and, eventually, developing an independent project.
The funding package includes the following for the 2026-27 Academic Year:
- Fellows receive one year of fellowship support paid directly by the Graduate Division, including a yearly stipend of $35,000 (paid over a nine-month period, October 1, to June 1) and full resident tuition and fees
- Graduate programs also provide fellows a supplement to the fellowship (minimum: $7,000)
- Although it is not advised to seek employment during the fellowship period, it is permitted. If you opt to work during any quarter of your fellowship and your employment package includes remission benefits, these benefits will apply to your tuition and fees. However, you are not eligible to receive a fee fellowship in addition to employment remission benefits as part of this fellowship from the Graduate Division.
- Fellows receive a $500 academic travel stipend
- Fellows are expected to work towards developing an independent project during the Fall quarter of their award year
- Fellows are expected to develop an independent project for the Winter and Spring quarters of the award year
- Fellows are required to participate in UCI’s tracking of programs to assess student progress and eventual job placement
- Please note, non-resident tuition is NOT covered by this fellowship award
Schools are asked to internally select up to two applications and submit these to the Graduate Division.
Application Open: February 2, 2026
School Submission Deadline: April 1, 2026 at 5:oopm PST
Please note that Schools and Departments typically have earlier internal deadlines for fellowship submissions. Please contact your School or Department for details.
- Nominees must be current UCI Ph.D. students in the pre-advancement stage of their program and not at the dissertation stage during the award’s tenure.
- Nominees must demonstrate high potential and promise
- Nominees must indicate an interest in an academic career in teaching and research
- Nominees must be United States citizens, permanent residents or AB540 status (International students are not eligible for this fellowship)
- Nominees must have and maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA
- Before this fellowship is awarded, we will be checking that Winter 2026 and Spring 2026 grades to ensure academic standing. Prospective awardees not in good academic standing risk being removed from consideration of fellowship disbursement
- Students must enroll full-time during each quarter of the fellowship tenure
- Nominees must qualify as a diversity student as defined by the University of California and demonstrate experience of situations or conditions which impeded advancing to graduate study, such as socioeconomic or education limitations, the absence of family member who attended college, matriculation in a school with poor financial or curricular support, having a physical or learning disability or working long hours while attending school.
Eligible students are to complete the student application form, compile the materials listed below, and provide this to their department. Schools are asked to internally select up to two applications and submit these to the Graduate Division.
Students must submit the FMP Student Application Form to their department before the internal department/program deadline. Include the following items in a single PDF:
- Completed Student Application for the FMP Fellowship
- Personal Statement
Every graduate student has a story that is unique to them. Are there any special aspects about your background (e.g. special achievements, obstacles and/or interruptions to your schooling that you have had to overcome to complete your education to date, etc.) that you believe are important to share? How might these experiences, your research interests, and/or your career objectives contribute to the University’s goal of diversity? Write a short description of how you have been involved with programming, initiatives, and/or organizations who aim to diversify the college population. Please type out essay and do not exceed 1,000 words. - Funding
Please provide a detailed listing of funding support you have received during your graduate career (include number of quarters employed as a TA and/or GSR. - Mentoring Plan
Please work with your advisor and create a mentoring plan that will enhance the likelihood of degree completion. Mentoring can occur through interaction with your faculty advisor, and through participation in departmental activities that are designed to facilitate your academic success. The strength of the mentoring plan will be crucial to the selection of an application during the review process.Should the fellowship be awarded, any final revisions to this mentoring plan must be submitted to the Graduate Division by end of week three. Should you be awarded and accept the fellowship, the mentoring plan must be reviewed by the student and a faculty advisor on a quarterly basis. A quarterly progress report must be submitted by end of week eight to the Graduate Division during the tenure of the fellowship. Additionally, an annual progress report for the fellowship year, along with a new mentoring plan, for the upcoming year will be due to the Graduate Division by week eight of spring quarter. Each report should address progress toward mentoring goals, research benchmarks, fulfillment of fellowship requirements, and progress toward degree completion. A few bullet points addressing each topic will fulfill the reporting requirement.suggested length is 2-4 pages
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Unofficial Transcripts
Transcripts for your UC Irvine graduate program career. Grades for Winter will be reviewed to verify the student still meets the necessary academic requirements.
Departments must complete the FMP Nomination Form for each student the department is nominating. Create a single PDF containing the following items:
- Completed FMP Student Application Form & Student Application Materials (items 1 – 6 above)
- FMP Nomination Form (except for final AD approval signature)
- Faculty Mentor letter of recommendation
Schools must submit the completed documentation for their top two school nominees using the School Submission Link by April 1, 2026 by 5:00pm PST. This nomination form should be reviewed, signed and submitted by (or on behalf of) the School Associate Dean.
- Note: All materials should be combined into one PDF prior to submission
- Students should review the Terms and Conditions to ensure that they are eligible to receive fellowship or scholarship funding before applying.
- For students already receiving financial aid, acceptance of additional funding may affect their overall financial need-based support package. In such cases, students are strongly encouraged to consult with the UCI Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
fellowships@rgs.uci.edu or contact Turner Dahl at tdahl@uci.edu