Microsoft Research PhD Fellowship
The Microsoft Research PhD Fellowship has supported 142 fellows since the program was established in 2008, many of whom have gone on to work within the Microsoft Research organization. Others have gone on to perform pioneering research elsewhere within the technology industry or accept faculty appointments at leading universities.
It is a two-year fellowship for PhD students who are underrepresented in the field of computing and pursuing research aligned to the research areas carried out by Microsoft Research.
Two years
UpperĀ $42,000USD
Tuition and fees are covered for two academic years (2020-21 and 2021-22).
A $42,000 USD stipend is provided to help with living expenses while in school for two academic years (2020-21 and 2021-22). The stipend is not expected to cover all living expenses; it can be used for expenses including, but not limited to, childcare, conference fees and travel, research equipment, meals, rent, etc.
An invitation to interview for one salaried internship in 2020 with leading Microsoft researchers working on cutting-edge projects related to the recipient’s field of study.
An invitation to the PhD Summit: a two-day workshop in the fall at our Redmond lab where fellows will meet with Microsoft researchers and other top students to share their research.
PhD students must be nominated by their university, and their nomination must be submitted by the office of the chair of the department.
Students must be enrolled at a university in the United States, Canada, or Mexico.
Students must be in their third year of a PhD program in the fall semester or quarter of 2019. The department chair’s office at the nominating university will need to attest that the student is considered a third year PhD student having taken into account transfers, approved leaves of absence, etc.
A maximum of three nominations per department will be accepted; if more than two are nominated, then at least one nominee should help us increase the opportunities for students who are underrepresented in the field of computing. This includes those who self-identify as a woman, African American, Black, Hispanic, Latinx, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and/or person with a disability.
The recipient must remain an active, full-time student in a PhD program during the two consecutive academic years of the award or forfeit the award. Fellowships are not available for extension; however, leaves of absence will be considered on a case by case basis.
A recipient of the Microsoft Research PhD Fellowship may not receive another fellowship from another company or institution during the same academic period. Fellows accepting multiple fellowships may become ineligible to receive continued funding from Microsoft. Microsoft will at its sole discretion consider a joint fellowship with a government or non-profit organization.