$12,000 Amelia Earhart Aerospace Fellowship

Zonta International awards up to 30 fellowships of US$12,000 each year to women doing PhD research applied to aerospace engineering or space sciences. The fellowship was set up in 1938 in honour of Amelia Earhart, a Zonta club member, and is open to women of any nationality at any accredited university. Past fellows have gone on to become astronauts, aerospace engineers, astronomers and professors.

What you get:

• US$12,000, paid once, for use at any university or college offering accredited postgraduate degrees
• Funds can go on tuition, books and fees, or living costs such as room, board and travel
• You may hold other grants and scholarships alongside it
• One of the 30 fellows each year is named the Sharon Langenbeck Amelia Earhart Fellow

What you'll do:

• Continue your full-time doctoral research in aerospace engineering or space sciences, supported by the award

Key dates:

• Applications close 15 November 2026
• All applicants notified of their status by the end of April 2027
• Payment of the US$12,000 is planned for September to October

More information:

• Apply through Zonta International's online portal, linked from the fellowship page
• Questions go to programs@zonta.org

• Women of any nationality
• Registered in a full-time PhD or doctoral programme by 15 November 2026, conducting research applied to aerospace engineering or space sciences
• Completed at least one year of the doctoral programme, or hold a master's degree in an aerospace-applied field, when you apply
• Must not graduate from the PhD before April 2028
• Postdoctoral researchers are not eligible
• Superior academic record, shown through official transcripts from every institution attended, translated into English where needed
• An essay of 500 words or less on your research programme and professional goals
• Three recommendation letters from university professors or supervisors, one of whom must be your thesis supervisor or advisor
• Verification of current enrolment; an acceptance letter does not count
• Previous Amelia Earhart Fellows, Zonta club members and direct members, and Zonta staff cannot apply