WAVE Fellows

Caltech's WAVE Fellows program aims to foster diversity by increasing the participation of students historically marginalized in science and engineering Ph.D. programs and making Caltech's graduate programs more visible and accessible to students not traditionally exposed to Caltech. The program is extended, but not limited, to racially minoritized communities, women (in certain fields), first-generation college students, geographically underrepresented students, educationally or financially disadvantaged students, and students with disabilities. All applicants will be considered without regard to race or gender.

WAVE Fellows will have the opportunity to conduct research under the guidance of Caltech faculty working at the frontier of their fields.

• Applicants will identify several possible mentors with whom they are interested in working.
• Once accepted, Fellows will work with their mentor to define and develop a research project.
• Fellows will carry out the work over a 10-week period during the summer and submit two interim reports, a research abstract, and final paper. At the conclusion of the program, students give an oral or poster presentation at one of several SURF Seminar Days, symposia modeled on a professional technical meeting.

The 2023 WAVE Fellows award is $7,100 for the ten-week period, plus a $2,300 on-campus housing and travel supplement. Caltech housing is available and we strongly encourage all Fellows to live on campus. The 2023 WAVE Fellows program dates are June 21 through August 25.

In addition to the research experience, WAVE Fellows will participate in:

• Weekly seminars by Caltech faculty & JPL scientists and engineers
• An academic and professional development series on developing a research career, graduate school admissions, effective writing and oral communications, and other topics of interest to future researchers
• Effective writing workshops
• Social and cultural activities
• Weekly small student-faculty dinners
• Special field trips

The WAVE Fellows program is generously supported by on and off-campus partners, including: