UC Noyce Initiative Launches New Graduate Fellowship
New graduate fellowship for five UC campuses
The UC Noyce Initiative has reached a significant milestone in its mission to advance digital innovation for the public good. Today, (May 13) the Initiative announced the launch of a new graduate student fellowship program designed to support the next generation of interdisciplinary researchers across five University of California campuses.
Applications for the inaugural cohort of the UC Noyce Initiative Graduate Fellowship will be accepted May 13 – June 5, 2026, with one fellow selected from each participating campus: UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Francisco and UC Santa Barbara.
Fellowship supports research in three key areas
The UC Noyce Initiative, which was established by Ann S. Bowers to honor the legacy Robert N. Noyce, has become a catalyst for high-impact, cross-campus collaborative research in computational health, quantum information science and cybersecurity. The new fellowship program extends that mission by investing directly in doctoral students whose research is shaping the future of these rapidly evolving fields.
“This fellowship represents an important step in strengthening the pipeline of talent working at the intersection of these critical areas,” said Bryan Kerner, executive director of the initiative.
“By supporting graduate students at a pivotal stage in their academic careers, we are not only advancing individual research projects, but also building a collaborative community of scholars who will help define the future of digital innovation.”
Unique cross-campus collaboration opportunities
The program is designed for Ph.D. students entering the final stages of their doctoral training. Applicants must be in good academic standing, enrolled at one of the five participating campuses and entering their third year of study at the start of the fellowship. Selected fellows will receive up to $75,000 per year for two years, with funding supporting tuition and fees, including health insurance.
Beyond financial support, the fellowship emphasizes the collaborative ethos at the heart of the UC Noyce Initiative. Fellows will have options to participate in workshops hosted across UC campuses, creating opportunities to engage with peers and faculty working in complementary disciplines. These gatherings are designed to foster cross-campus partnerships, align research efforts and accelerate discovery through shared expertise.
“From its inception, the UC Noyce Initiative has been about harnessing the collective strength of five campuses to tackle some of the most pressing challenges and promising opportunities of our time,” said Simon Atkinson, chair of the initiative’s executive committee. “This fellowship program embodies that vision by bringing together emerging scholars who are eager to collaborate, push boundaries and translate ideas into real-world impact.”
Build out network and presentation skills
Fellows also will play a visible role in the Initiative’s broader research ecosystem. Each year, they will participate in the UC Noyce Initiative’s Annual Symposium, where they will present their work, connect with initiative-funded researchers and engage with campus leadership from across the five universities. The symposium serves as a cornerstone event for the initiative, highlighting cutting-edge research while strengthening ties among disciplines and institutions.
In addition to advancing individual projects, the program aims to cultivate a cohort experience that extends beyond the duration of the fellowship. By building relationships across campuses and disciplines, fellows will be positioned to contribute to long-term collaborations and future funding opportunities, further amplifying the impact of their work
The fellowship also reflects a broader commitment to workforce development within the fields of computational health, quantum information science and cybersecurity. As these areas continue to shape industries, policy and everyday life, the demand for highly trained, interdisciplinary researchers is growing rapidly. Through targeted investment in graduate education, the UC Noyce Initiative is helping ensure that the next generation of scholars is equipped not only with technical expertise, but also with the collaborative skills needed to address complex, real-world problems.
Competitive application process
Applications will be peer reviewed through campus-specific processes, with each participating university selecting one fellow annually. Additional details about application requirements and submission guidelines will be available through campus graduate divisions and offices of research.
Since it is the inaugural year of the UC Noyce Graduate Fellowship program, participation will be limited to applicants advised by faculty principle investigators who are current or past UC Noyce Initiative research award recipients. This focused approach is intended to ensure strong alignment with UC Noyce research priorities while informing the development and potential expansion of the program in future years.
For graduate students whose work sits at the intersection of technology, innovation and societal impact, the UC Noyce Graduate Student Fellowship offers a unique opportunity of sustained support, cross-campus collaboration and a platform to help shape the future of research across the University of California. As Kerner noted, the program is ultimately about investing in people as much as ideas.
“The discoveries we’re working toward don’t happen in isolation,” he said. “They happen we provide support to talented individuals come together, share perspectives and build on one another’s work. This fellowship is about creating the conditions for that kind of progress to thrive.”