First-Year Success Research Institute (FSRI): A comprehensive program of orientation and academic support designed to ease the transition from high school to college while building a strong research foundation.
FUTURE Ignited and FUTURE Ignited CCE: A conference designed to boost the number of students of color who pursue graduate studies in science and engineering.
Graduate Summer Research Institute (GSRI): A comprehensive program of orientation, academic support, and professional development designed to ease the transition into Caltech's graduate programs.
Research University Alliance (RUA): The program, formerly the California Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP), is designed to increase diversity in academic fields with the greatest national underrepresentation of minorities: mathematical, physical, and computer sciences and engineering.
Scholarships and Fellowships
Curated list of external scholarships from Caltech Financial Aid
External fellowships for underrepresented groups from the Caltech Graduate Studies Office
Amgen Scholars: A national program aimed at increasing research opportunities for students committed to pursuing careers in the sciences. Caltech is committed to providing research opportunities to students traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields and to those who attend schools where undergraduate research is limited.
Caltech/Base 11 Aerospace Mentoring Program (AMP): Connects high-achieving, underrepresented students from community colleges throughout the country with top research institutions like Caltech. For more information, email amp@caltech.edu.
GPS Faculty Fellowships: The goals of the GPS faculty fellowships are to increase the number of historically underrepresented students (African Americans, American Indians, Hispanic/Latin(x) Americans, and others) pursing graduate degrees in Geological and Planetary Sciences and Environmental Science and Engineering, and to promote the benefits of a graduate degree within academia. The GPS Faculty Fellows receive a $5,000 supplement to their stipend during their first year of graduate school. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents.
Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF): A prestigious national program focused on increasing the number of underrepresented students who will pursue doctoral degrees in core fields in the arts and sciences. Fellowships include mentoring, research stipends, and travel support.
Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship: The Presidential Postdoctoral Fellows program was established to increase the number of historically underrepresented minority faculty in STEM fields by providing support for a more diverse and inclusive postdoctoral community at Caltech. Fellows receive stipends, mentoring, and services that build community and foster professional development
Questbridge: A national nonprofit that offers scholarships for first-generation and low-income students.
RSI Pioneer Fellowship: The Resnick Sustainability Institute's Pioneer Postdoctoral Fellowship recruits outstanding recent PhD graduates to pursue research and training in exciting areas of sustainability at Caltech. The Pioneer Fellowship was established to increase the number of historically underrepresented minority faculty in sustainability science, by providing support for a more diverse and inclusive postdoctoral community from which the next generation of faculty are drawn. We recognize that a diversity of backgrounds and experiences is an enormous asset in the pursuit of cutting-edge science and technology development to support a more sustainable planet. This fellowship will empower these researchers by giving them access to cutting edge facilities, training, and broad expertise in sustainability science and engineering.
WAVE Fellows: Caltech's WAVE Fellows program aims to foster diversity by increasing the participation of underrepresented students in science and engineering Ph.D. programs and making Caltech's programs more visible and accessible to students not traditionally exposed to Caltech.
Awards
CCID Celebration of Excellence Awards
Chen Institute Diversity and Inclusion Award: Recognizes graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in neuroscience at Caltech for the uncompensated time and effort they are dedicating to achieve diversity and inclusion at Caltech, and/or the wider community and in STEM education
GPS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award: Given annually in recognition of exceptional commitment to the advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the GPS division. For more information, contact Jennifer Shechet.
Kavli Nanoscience Institute (KNI) Catalyst Awards: Recognizes and highlights researchers in the KNI community who demonstrate efforts to support and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion at Caltech or within the broader scientific community
New Horizons DEI Award: Offers funding for new initiatives to support diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts by members of the Division of Engineering and Applied Science. Short proposals (one page with a budget) can be submitted to dei.eas@caltech.edu on a rolling basis and will be reviewed by members of the EAS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
Rising Tide Program: Rising Tide is a research techniques training program that is directed at increasing the participation of students from historically underrepresented backgrounds in science and engineering Ph.D. programs by making Caltech's programs more visible and accessible to students not traditionally exposed to Caltech. Rising Tide participants receive chemistry research techniques training from Caltech graduate students or postdoctoral scholars.
Other funding
The Housner Fund was created to enhance the experience of undergraduates and can be used to support independent study, travel to conferences, and more.
The Moore-Hufstedler Fund supports large-scale student related projects that have not been sufficiently funded by other sources.
The Caltech Y Hummel Gray Travel Fund supports undergraduate travel opportunities.