University of California, Merced
PA-7: Support for Future Faculty Diversity

The fellowships and scholarships noted below serve underrepresented groups at UC Merced and help build a diverse faculty by providing support to PhD students. The scholarships/fellowships identified with an asterisk are recognized by the University of California Office of the President for contributing to the diversity of the UC system. Eugene Cota-Robles Fellowship* The prestigious Eugene Cota-Robles (ECR) Fellowship is named in honor of one of the first Mexican-American professors in the University of California system. This fellowship is intended to help awardees focus on their graduate research and scholarship, and thereby accelerate progress towards achieving their doctoral degrees. The fellowship program is also intended more generally to increase the number and diversity of qualified candidates for faculty positions both within and outside the University of California system. Estimated Support: 4 years, with the first 2yrs at $20,106/yr stipend + tuition & fees + summer support Faculty Mentor Program Fellowship* The Faculty Mentor Program (FMP) forms an important link in the continuum of support for academically promising graduate students who will contribute to the diversity of the campus community. This award assists recipients in acquiring and developing advanced research skills under faculty mentorship. It is designed to improve mentoring for UC Merced (UCM) doctoral students who will not be at the dissertation stage during the award period, but who are currently engaged in research with a faculty mentor. The award is expected to increase the number of students who complete their Ph.D. degree and successfully acquire a faculty appointment. Estimated Support: 1 year; $20,700 stipend + tuition & fees + summer support Miguel Velez Scholarship The UC Merced Miguel Velez (MV) Scholarship is a prestigious award that provides students with an academic year scholarship. It is intended for Latin American graduate students who exhibit excellence in character and ability, and who demonstrate financial need. Estimated Support: 1 year; $10,000 stipend President's Dissertation Year Fellowship* The President’s Dissertation Year (PDY) Fellowship program is intended for students in their final year of graduate school who are planning to pursue teaching and research appointments soon after the end of their dissertation fellowship year. This award is intended to assist outstanding graduate students who will contribute to the diversity of the campus community with the completion of their dissertation. This award should also enhance their qualifications as candidates for university faculty teaching and research appointments. Estimated Support: 1 year; $20,700 stipend + tuition & fees + $1,000 research/travel allowance Additionally, Led by UC Santa Barbara, with sub-awards to San Diego State University, CSU Channel Islands and UC Merced, the Center for Research, Excellence, and Diversity in Team Science (CREDITS) is a program targeted at women and underrepresented minorities at the assistant professor and associate professor stages of their careers, in addition to nascent diverse scientific teams. It also targets Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). Through a five-year program that targets institutional leadership and policy-making, as well as individual women and underrepresented minority faculty researchers in the UC and CSU systems, CREDITS will: a) strengthen Team Science leadership and membership capacity among women and underrepresented minority faculty members; b) provide evidence-based research that will influence higher education leaders in California to improve policies and activities related to hiring and promotion in STEM fields, and c) catalyze collaborations among diverse scientific teams among institutions in California, particularly HSIs.