national physical science consortium (graduate fellowships in the physical sciences)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why do employers participate?

What types of companies participate in NPSC?

What would be the commitment of my company or agency?

Which universities participate?

Who are potential Fellows?

Can we commit to fewer than six years?

Can employers sponsor more than one NPSC Fellow at a time?

How does the process work?

Do many Fellows go on to work for the company that sponsors them?

Why do employers participate?

NPSC members recognize the importance of joining together with academia to increase the number of qualified, U.S.-citizen scientists in the physical sciences and related engineering fields. Many of our members are particularly interested in our program because of its emphasis on recruiting an applicant pool of top minority and female physical science and engineering students. The two summers of internship with the employer increase the likelihood of employment after the Ph.D. NPSC has improved its program to enhance that likelihood.

What types of companies participate in NPSC?

Current employers selecting NPSC Fellows are Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, the National Security Agency, Sandia National Laboratory-New Mexico, and Sandia National Laboratory-California.

What is the commitment of a company or agency?

Companies and agencies which become NPSC members pay no membership fee and have no obligation to support any particular number of students. At its discretion, an employer may decide not to take any fellows in a given year. But once an employer has asked NPSC to make an award offer to a student and the student accepts the offer, the employer is obligated to provide an annual stipend of $16,000 and NPSC's overhead fee of $5,000 for each student supported. The employer is obligated to provide that support for the first two years or the first three years of graduate school, as determined by the agreement between NPSC and the employer, or for six years if that is the duration of the initial award. The employer also agrees to provide two summers of paid internship plus round-trip travel for each of the two summers.

Which universities participate?

More than 100 public and private universities throughout the country participate in the program. Click here to view a current list of NPSC University Members.

Who are potential Fellows?

NPSC has an applicant pool of the highest quality and broadest diversity. Contact the Executive Director of NPSC for general information about the pool.

Can employers sponsor more than one NPSC Fellow at a time?

Yes, many do.

How does the process work?

Using brochures, posters, presentations, this web site, etc., NPSC publicizes the program and recruits applicants nationwide.
Students submit their applications to the NPSC between August and November. A team of graduate school professors screens the applications to identify those that are judged to be likely to obtain a Ph.D. with distinction.
Early in the calendar year, NPSC member employers review student applications and select the students whom they wish to sponsor as NPSC Fellows.
Applicants typically are notified in mid-March.
At the start of the fellowship, the employer pays its annual sponsorship directly to NPSC who then transmits the payment the university.

Do postdoctoral fellows work for the company that sponsors them?

NSPC encourages its Fellows, upon graduation, to work for their sponsoring employer or to seek employment with another NPSC employer. Many have done so. To increase the likelihood that more will, NPSC has modified its program as explained elsewhere on this web site.


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Fellowship Information Featured Fellows FAQ Industry & Lab Commitment Signatory Institutions Join The Consortium	Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Why do employers participate? What types of companies participate in NPSC? What would be the commitment of my company or agency? Which universities participate? Who are potential Fellows? Can we commit to fewer than six years? Can employers sponsor more than one NPSC Fellow at a time? How does the process work? Do many Fellows go on to work for the company that sponsors them? Why do employers participate? NPSC members recognize the importance of joining together with academia to increase the number of qualified, U.S.-citizen scientists in the physical sciences and related engineering fields. Many of our members are particularly interested in our program because of its emphasis on recruiting an applicant pool of top minority and female physical science and engineering students. The two summers of internship with the employer increase the likelihood of employment after the Ph.D. NPSC has improved its program to enhance that likelihood. What types of companies participate in NPSC? Current employers selecting NPSC Fellows are Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, the National Security Agency, Sandia National Laboratory-New Mexico, and Sandia National Laboratory-California. What is the commitment of a company or agency? Companies and agencies which become NPSC members pay no membership fee and have no obligation to support any particular number of students. At its discretion, an employer may decide not to take any fellows in a given year. But once an employer has asked NPSC to make an award offer to a student and the student accepts the offer, the employer is obligated to provide an annual stipend of $16,000 and NPSC's overhead fee of $5,000 for each student supported. The employer is obligated to provide that support for the first two years or the first three years of graduate school, as determined by the agreement between NPSC and the employer, or for six years if that is the duration of the initial award. The employer also agrees to provide two summers of paid internship plus round-trip travel for each of the two summers. Which universities participate? More than 100 public and private universities throughout the country participate in the program. Click here to view a current list of NPSC University Members. Who are potential Fellows? NPSC has an applicant pool of the highest quality and broadest diversity. Contact the Executive Director of NPSC for general information about the pool. Can employers sponsor more than one NPSC Fellow at a time? Yes, many do. How does the process work? Using brochures, posters, presentations, this web site, etc., NPSC publicizes the program and recruits applicants nationwide. Students submit their applications to the NPSC between August and November. A team of graduate school professors screens the applications to identify those that are judged to be likely to obtain a Ph.D. with distinction. Early in the calendar year, NPSC member employers review student applications and select the students whom they wish to sponsor as NPSC Fellows. Applicants typically are notified in mid-March. At the start of the fellowship, the employer pays its annual sponsorship directly to NPSC who then transmits the payment the university. Do postdoctoral fellows work for the company that sponsors them? NSPC encourages its Fellows, upon graduation, to work for their sponsoring employer or to seek employment with another NPSC employer. Many have done so. To increase the likelihood that more will, NPSC has modified its program as explained elsewhere on this web site. © Copyright 2004, National Physical Science Consortium.