berkeley phd fellowship

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The School of Information is UC Berkeley’s newest professional school. Located in the center of campus, the I School is a graduate research and education community committed to expanding access to information and to improving its usability, reliability, and credibility while preserving security and privacy.

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The School of Information offers four degrees:

The Master of Information Management and Systems (MIMS) program educates information professionals to provide leadership for an information-driven world.

The Master of Information and Data Science (MIDS) is an online degree preparing data science professionals to solve real-world problems. The 5th Year MIDS program is a streamlined path to a MIDS degree for Cal undergraduates.

The Master of Information and Cybersecurity (MICS) is an online degree preparing cybersecurity leaders for complex cybersecurity challenges.

Our Ph.D. in Information Science is a research program for next-generation scholars of the information age.

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The School of Information's courses bridge the disciplines of information and computer science, design, social sciences, management, law, and policy. We welcome interest in our graduate-level Information classes from current UC Berkeley graduate and undergraduate students and community members.  More information about signing up for classes.

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Research by faculty members and doctoral students keeps the I School on the vanguard of contemporary information needs and solutions.

The I School is also home to several active centers and labs, including the Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity (CLTC) , the Center for Technology, Society & Policy , and the BioSENSE Lab .

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I School graduate students and alumni have expertise in data science, user experience design & research, product management, engineering, information policy, cybersecurity, and more — learn more about hiring I School students and alumni .

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On the March 27th episode of PBS’s documentary series Nova titled “A.I. Revolution,” correspondent Miles O’Brien...

A group of scholars from the School of Information are tackling the issue of illegal sand mining with the help of a...

When the Bancroft Library received over 100,000 Japanese-American internment “individual record” forms (WRA-26) from...

The Goldman School of Public Policy, the CITRIS Policy Lab, and the School of Information hosted the inaugural UC...

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Funding Your Ph.D. Education

At the I School, all our Ph.D. students receive funding packages with a minimum of six years of financial support through a combination of fellowships, research positions, and academic student employment. Details of individual funding packages may vary; in order to take full advantage of offered funding, students need to remain in good academic standing and advance to doctoral candidacy in normative time to degree, and may need to meet other funding conditions of specific fellowships or positions.

In the first year, I School Ph.D. students receive fellowship support to cover all tuition and fees, including Non-Resident Supplemental Tuition and the Student Health Insurance Fee, and a stipend for living expenses. For the academic year 2023–2024, the minimum first-year I School Ph.D. student 12-month stipend is $40,000.

After the first year, Ph.D. students are typically funded through graduate student academic appointments or research positions for up to four years (eight semesters). In addition to an hourly wage, students receive fee remission that offsets a portion or all of their tuition and fees. For more information, see Graduate Student Academic Appointments and Fee Remission .

Some students continue their research positions during the summer. The I School also offers limited summer grant opportunities for Ph.D. students who have no other summer funding sources secured.

After Ph.D. students pass their qualifying exam and advance to doctoral candidacy, the Berkeley Doctoral Completion Fellowship (DCF) provides eligible students with one year (two semesters) of tuition remission and a stipend for living expenses. Students are expected to make every effort to meet DCF eligibility conditions in order to take advantage of this funding opportunity.

The University also awards through competition a limited number of merit- and need-based fellowships each year. See University Fellowships for further details.

Tuition and fees listed reflect currently approved amounts; these figures may not be final. Actual tuition, fees, and charges are subject to change. Students should expect fees to increase moderately each fall term.

* Students may opt out of the UCGPC fee .

** Students have the option to waive the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) if they have other major medical health insurance that meet the SHIP waiver criteria and don't wish to have dual coverage. For waiver qualifications, instructions, forms, and FAQs, please see Waiving SHIP .

*** The Document Management Fee is a one-time fee charged in the first term of enrollment.

For additional information on the cost of attendance, please visit: Financial Aid and Scholarships Office Cost of Attendance .

California residents, for purposes of registration, are those who have been legal residents of California for at least one year immediately before the opening day of the semester for which they register. Legal residence is a combination of physical presence and the intention of making the state one’s permanent home, coupled with the relinquishment of legal residence in any other state.

Eligible Ph.D. students are expected to establish California residency for tuition purposes by their second year of the program.

International students with F-1 visas cannot be classified as California residents for tuition purposes.

More Information:

• Residency (for Tuition Purposes)
• How to Apply for Residency (for Tuition Purposes)
• Residency Requirements: Graduate Students
• Immigration
• Exceptions & Exemptions

Financial Aid

Graduate students may apply for need-based loans and work-study through the Financial Aid Office. The programs are based on demonstrated financial need and require a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Only U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens (those holding permanent resident cards) may apply for funds administered by the Financial Aid Office. Financial aid can include work-study, loans, the Native American Opportunity Plan , and other sources of financial aid.

• More information

If you are employed by a U.S. federal, state, local, or tribal government or not-for-profit organization, you may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Learn more  here .

Additional Fellowships

In addition to the first-year fellowship and academic student employment, Ph.D. students may supplement their funding by applying for additional internal and external fellowships. Some university restrictions on combining funding opportunities apply; students are encouraged to consult our admissions staff with questions about specific conjunctions of funding.

Fellowships for I School Students

All admitted Ph.D. applicants will automatically be considered for the Hal Varian endowment .

The I School awards a variety of fellowships to I School students.

List of I School fellowship opportunities

External Fellowships

Students are encouraged to apply for external fellowship opportunities as relevant. Below are several examples of external fellowships that our I School Ph.D. students have successfully obtained:

• Facebook Fellowship
• Fulbright Study/Research Award
• Hertz Fellowship
• Marcus Foster Fellowship
• NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
• Peter Lyman Fellowship for New Media
• Soros Fellowships for New Americans
• UC Berkeley Mentored Research Award

Our Ph.D. students have also received grants from the following organizations and centers:

• MIMS Program
• 5th Year MIDS Program
• MIDS Program
• MICS Program
• Graduate Certificates

Last updated:

• Application

Fellowships and Grants

Graduate division fellowships and awards.

Most commonly awarded to students in English. Please see the Graduate Division Fellowships page for a complete list and applications.

Doctoral Completion Fellowship (DCF)

The DCF replaces the DNTF for students admitted in fall 2010 and after.  Students who pass the Ph.D. oral qualifying exam and advance to candidacy for the degree by the end of their sixth semester of study automatically qualify for two semesters of the DCF. Students may claim the DCF in any year through the seventh year.  Students who accept the DCF may not receive any U.C. funding (fellowships or teaching) other loans after the seventh year. DCF Acceptance Form (PDF) .

U.C. Dissertation-Year Fellowship

Awarded to eligible graduate students whose doctoral work will be completed by the end of the program and who demonstrate strong potential for university teaching and research. Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident whose background and life experiences enhance the level of diversity within the department or discipline. The English Department nominates one or two students to the Graduate Division. Fellows will receive a $22,000 stipend, payment of in-state fees, travel allowance and $3,000 bonus for early dissertation filing. Applications will be requested by email in mid-January and due in mid-February.

Mentored Research Award

Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident whose background and life experiences enhance the diversity within the department or discipline. The English Department nominates one to two students, typically post-orals, who are doing early dissertation research to the Graduate Division. Fellows will receive a $20,000 stipend plus payment of in-state fees. Applications will be requested by email in late January and due in mid-February.

Diversity and Community Fellows Program

Diversity and Community Fellows, individually and collectively, will advance and implement the Diversity and Inclusion goals of the Office for Graduate Diversity and the Graduate Division. Critical components of this work will include but are not limited to, supporting an inclusive graduate community and enhancing the cultural, academic, and professional experience of historically underrepresented students (e.g., students of color, low income and first generation college students, and LGBTQ+ students, undocumented students, etc.). Fellows will work across and within academic units to create healthy communities for graduate students. Fellows will receive a stipend of $7,500 per academic year.

Conference Travel Grants

Academic masters (M.A. & M.S.) and all doctoral students may apply for funding to attend professional conferences; however, students in professional degree programs are not eligible. Grant amounts will depend on the location of the conference (up to $600 within California, $900 elsewhere in North America, including Canada and Mexico, and $1,500 outside of North America). Master’s students are eligible for only one conference travel grant per academic career. Doctoral students are eligible for two grants per academic career, regardless of how many degrees they earn.

Foreign Language and Area Studies Awards (one-year and summer awards)

Enables students who are U.S. citizens and permanent residents to acquire a high level of competence in one or more foreign languages. Fellowships are awarded to students in modern foreign language and area studies, with priority given to students in the humanities, social sciences, and professional fields. Academic year awards provide a $15,000 stipend plus fees and summer awards a $5,000 stipend . Deadline: late January

Graduate Student Parent Grant

For registered graduate student parents (single, married, or registered domestic partners) who live with dependent children and demonstrate financial need. If funding permits, awards of up to $11,000 per year ($5,500 per academic term) will be made to eligible applicants. Deadline: late June.

Tuition Support for External Fellowships

The Graduate Division strongly encourages graduate students to pursue external fellowship funding in support of their research at Berkeley and, through the Tuition Support for External Fellowships program, financially supports many students who win external fellowships. Most external fellowships include only partial payment of tuition, fees, and health insurance, and some fellowships include no such component at all. In many cases, the Graduate Division makes up the difference between the external fellowship’s tuition/fee allowance and a fellow’s actual fee charges. This difference is often substantial.

Other Berkeley Award Programs

Bancroft library study awards.

Awarded to outstanding continuing students enrolled at any University of California campus who plan to conduct advanced research on a subject for which source materials are available in the Bancroft Library. Applications are available at the Administrative Office of the Bancroft Library, (510) 642-3781, or online. Application deadline is the first Monday in February by 5 p.m .

Townsend Dissertation Fellowship

Awarded to graduate students writing Ph.D. dissertations whose research projects significantly involve humanistic material or problems that have a significant bearing on the humanities. The competition is open to graduate students who are advanced to candidacy. More information, including application materials, is available online at the page linked in the header. Application deadline: mid November.

Townsend Center Working Grants

The Townsend Center Working Groups program sponsors research in the humanities and the humanities-related social sciences. Working group awards range from $250-$750 for the academic year.

The Center for British Studies Grants

The Center for British Studies offers two grants:

• Dissertation Research Grant (March 1 deadline): This grant of $2,000 will be awarded to graduate students who have defended their dissertation prospectus to finish research in the UK and aid them in completing their dissertation.
• Graduate Travel (Pre-Dissertation) Grant (March 1 deadline): This grant is specifically intended to fund airfare expenses to Britain for UC Berkeley graduate students in their second or third year who have not yet advanced to candidacy. The winner will receive a round-trip ticket to the UK for the purpose of research, to be booked and paid for by the Center.

Graduate Assembly Grad Student Parent Grant Travel Award

The GSP Travel Award provides funding for graduate student parents or legal guardians who, out of necessity, must bring their child(ren)/minor dependent and/or a caregiver for their child(ren) to conferences outside of the San Francisco Bay Area.

The University of California President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

The University of California President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program was established in 1984 to encourage outstanding women and minority Ph.D. recipients to pursue academic careers at the University of California. The current program offers postdoctoral research fellowships, professional development and faculty mentoring to outstanding scholars in all fields whose research, teaching, and service will contribute to diversity and equal opportunity at UC.

Berkeley Chancellorʹs Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

The Berkeley Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program offers postdoctoral research fellowships, faculty mentoring, and eligibility for a hiring incentive to outstanding scholars in all fields whose research, teaching, and service will contribute to diversity and equal opportunity at the University of California.

American Council of Learned Societies

ACLS is one of the leading private institutions supporting scholars in the humanities and related social sciences at the doctoral and postdoctoral levels. See their page of upcoming deadlines for fellowships and grants.

Extramural Fellowships

Ford foundation fellowships.

Through its program of Fellowships, the Ford Foundation seeks to increase the diversity of the nation’s college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, to maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.

• Dissertation Fellowships : Dissertation fellowships provide one year of support for individuals working to complete a dissertation leading to a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) degree. The Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship is intended >to support the final year of writing and defense of the dissertation. Provides a $28,000 stipend.
• Postdoctoral Fellowships : These fellowships provide one year of support for individuals engaged in postdoctoral study after the attainment of the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) degree. Provides a $50,000 stipend.

Mellon International Dissertation Research Fellowship (IDRF)

The program invites proposals for dissertation research conducted, in whole or in part, outside the United States, on non-US topics. It will consider applications for dissertation research grounded in a single site, informed by broader cross-regional and interdisciplinary perspectives, as well as applications for multi-sited, comparative, and transregional research. Fellowship amounts vary depending on the research plan, with a per-fellowship average of $23,000.

Charlotte Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships

For 12 months of full-time dissertation research and writing on ethical or religious values.

Mabelle McLeod Lewis Fellowships

Provides grants to advanced doctoral candidates in the humanities for completion of a scholarly dissertation project on which significant progress has already been made. Due date is in mid-January of each year.

Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fellowship

Liebmann Fellowships are awarded “to attract and support students with outstanding character and ability who hold promise for achievement and distinction in their chosen fields of study.” Candidates must be U.S. citizens with outstanding undergraduate records and demonstrated need for financial assistance. Eligible students include not only those in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, but also those in professional programs like law, medicine, engineering, and architecture. Fellowships provide fees and a living stipend, and are renewable for up to three years of total support. The sponsor does not have a website, but search or scroll down the Graduate Division Fellowships page for more information, including how to apply.

American Association of University Women (AAUW) Fellowships

Dissertation and career development grants for women in graduate programs who have achieved distinction or show the promise of distinction in their fields. Deadlines vary; applications can be requested online.

Gaius Charles Bolin Dissertation Fellowships

The Bolin Fellowships enable graduate students from underrepresented groups to devote the bulk of their time during the academic year to the completion of dissertation work in residence at Williams College .

Huntington Library Fellowships

The Huntington Library awards over 150 research fellowships annually. Recipients of all fellowships are expected to be in continuous residence at The Huntington and to participate in, and make a contribution to its intellectual life.

The William L. Clements Library Research Fellowships

The William L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan offers both short-term and long-term fellowships, as well as a new digital fellowship to support the digitization of one of our collections. Applications are typically due mid-January for research to be undertaken the following academic year.

Winterthur Dissertation Fellowships

Doctoral candidates conducting research or writing a dissertation receive four- to nine-month fellowships. Stipend: up to $7,000 per semester. The deadline for all research fellowship applications is January 15.

Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University

Awards of up to $15,000 to graduate students and outstanding undergraduates embarking on liberty-advancing careers in ideas.

Paul and Daidy Soros Fellowship for New Americans

$25,000 stipend that supports new Americans, immigrants, or the children of immigrants, who are pursuing graduate school in the United States.

Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowships

$35,000 fellowship to support advanced graduate students in the humanities and related social sciences in the last year of Ph.D. dissertation writing.

The Woodrow Wilson Dissertation Fellowship in Women's Studies

The Woodrow Wilson Women’s Studies Fellowships support the final year of dissertation writing for Ph.D. candidates in the humanities and social sciences whose work addresses topics of women and gender in an interdisciplinary and original way. Fellows will receive $5,000 to be used for expenses connected with completing their dissertations, such as research-related travel, data work/collection, and supplies.

The Jim Fahey Safe Homes for Women Fellowship

The Jim Fahey Safe Homes Fund for Women endowment was established in 2007 to provide scholarships for graduate students at UC Berkeley with demonstrated financial need and a strong aptitude in relevant subjects as well as a deep commitment to combating domestic violence against women. Preference is given to students who are close to graduation.

Eudora Welty Fellowship

This competitive fellowship of $5,000 from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History will be offered for summer research conducted using the Eudora Welty Collection.

The Stephanie G. Hoffman Scholarship

Major in library science, literature, or a related field. One or more scholarships of $1,000 - $5,000 are expected to be given annually. Provided eligibility requirements are met, past recipients may reapply.

Fellowships & Awards

Click here for Fellowships by Field . 

Campus Fellowships

Conference Travel Grant

The History Department does not offer funding for conference travel, however students seeking this financial support are encouraged to consider the conference travel grant that is offered by the campus. The eligibility requirements and the application link can be viewed on  the university webpage.  Once the campus travel grant has been expended, additional conference travel support may be provided at the discretion of a sponsoring faculty advisor. 

Fellowships Administered by Graduate Division

Global International and Area Studies

Each constituent unit in GIAS oversees its own fellowship and grant opportunities.  Includes Center for African Studies, Center for Latin American Studies, Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Institute of European Studies, Institute of International Studies, Institute of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies, Institute for South Asia Studies, Canadian Studies Program, and Institute for East Asian Studies.

Graduate Fellowships in International Studies

Currently includes Pre-dissertation research grant in international studies as well as the Simpson research grant in international studies for ABDs More details regarding eligibility and how to apply can be found on the IIS website.  The application deadline for both grants is in March.

Bancroft Library Fellowships & Awards  (includes the  Gunther Barth Fellowship , which supports undergraduate or graduate students researching the 19th-century history of the North American West, among others.)

External Fellowships

UCSB Department of History List

ASEEES Dissertation Research Grant Program

Thanks to the generosity of donors and members, the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies is offering research grants with a stipend of maximum $6,000, for the purposes of conducting doctoral dissertation research in Eastern Europe and Eurasia in any aspect of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian studies in any discipline.

Blakemore Fellowships

The Blakemore Foundation was founded in 1990 by Tom and Frances Blakemore for the purpose of providing fellowships for the advanced study of Asian languages and grants to facilitate the introduction of Asian art to communities in the United States.

CAORC Multi-Country Research Fellowships

The Multi-Country Research Fellowship enables US scholars to carry out trans-regional and comparative research in countries across the network of Overseas Research Centers as well as other countries. 

The fellowship supports advanced research in the humanities, social sciences, and allied natural sciences for US doctoral candidates, who are ‘all but dissertation,’ and scholars who have earned their PhD or a terminal degree. Preference will be given to candidates examining comparative and/or cross-regional research. Applicants are eligible to apply as individuals or as teams. Twelve awards of $12,600 each will be granted.

Cohen-Tucker Dissertation Fellowships

The Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies invites applications for the Stephen F. Cohen- Robert C. Tucker Dissertation Fellowship Program in Russian Historical Studies, funded by the KAT Charitable Foundation. The application deadline is in January. 

Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation Dissertation Fellowship

Each year IGCC provides funding for graduate students from all ten UC campuses, including one specially designated Herb York IGCC Fellowship. IGCC seeks to support dissertations around research topics that closely track current global security priorities. The proposed dissertation research must have one of the following themes as an integral part of the project: Food Security, Human Security, Global Health, Nontraditional and Emerging Threats; Terrorism and Political Violence; Cybersecurity; Regional and Major Power Relations; Energy and Environmental Security; Global Environmental and Health Cooperation; Nuclear Nonproliferation; Defense and Military Issues; Geo-economics and the Political Economy of Security.

Fellowships consist of a nine-month stipend of $25,000 to defray living expenses. It is not intended for UC student fees, tuition or health insurance. Doctoral students enrolled in the University of California, including JD/Ph.D., MD/Ph.D., and MD with thesis, are eligible to apply.

Kibbey Fellowship

The Mead B. Kibbey California State Library Fellowship, established in honor of Mead B. Kibbey, supports projects at the California State Library by currently enrolled college and university students, regardless of academic degree sought, as well as members of Faculty. 

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation

Are you ready to embark on a leadership development journey rooted in Brave Spaces? To apply to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Scholarship, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:

1) You must be already accepted into or in year one, two, or three of a full-time doctoral program in the humanities or social sciences (broadly defined; please see the FAQ for more details on this)

2) Your doctoral work must relate to at least one of the Foundation’s Four Themes: Human Rights and Dignity, Responsible Citizenship, Canada and the World, People and their Natural Environment

3) Be a Canadian citizen studying at a Canadian or foreign institution, or a non-Canadian (permanent resident or foreign national) enrolled in a doctoral program at a Canadian institution.

Summer Fellowships

Human Rights Center Fellowships

The Human Rights Center Fellowship provides $6,000 awards and professional support to UC Berkeley undergraduate, graduate, or graduating students to conduct social justice-related projects with an international or domestic partner organization over the summer and participate in the year-long fellowship. Additional aid may be available for students with exceptional need. Since 1994, we’ve enabled more than 364 fellows to work with human rights defenders in 80 countries. Applications are due February.

Tinker Field Research Grants

Tinker Field Research Grants are available to graduate students for travel and field-related expenses for brief periods of pre-dissertation field research in Latin America, defined here as the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries of the region. Awards are open to students across all academic disciplines and graduate degree programs.

Postdoctoral Fellowships

Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellowship

The Berkeley Chancellorʹs Postdoctoral Fellowship Program offers postdoctoral research fellowships and faculty mentoring to outstanding scholars in all fields whose research, teaching, and service will contribute to diversity and equal opportunity at the University of California. The contributions to diversity may include public service towards increasing equitable access in fields where women and minorities are underrepresented. In some fields, the contributions may include research focusing on underserved populations or understanding inequalities related to race, gender, disability or LGBT issues. The program is seeking applicants with the potential to bring to their academic and research careers the perspective that comes from their non‐traditional educational background or understanding of the experiences of members of groups historically underrepresented in higher education.

Fulbright Post-Doctoral Fellowships in Israel

Fulbright Israel plans to award up to eight fellowships to U.S. postdoctoral scholars who seek to pursue research in one of Israel’s academic institutions. Grants are open to researchers in all academic disciplines and support programs of research in Israel for up to 20 months (two academic years).

The program grants a $95,000 scholarship ($47,500 per academic year). The Fellowship Program is open to candidates in all academic disciplines.

Govern for America Fellowship

The GFA Fellowship is a two-year paid opportunity for recent graduates to serve in high-impact roles in governments across the country as a part of a diverse community of engaged leaders.

Hou Family Fellowships in Taiwan Studies

The Hou Family Fellowships in Taiwan Studies sponsors one postdoctoral fellow and one predoctoral fellow to join the Fairbank Center to pursue Taiwan-related research for six to twelve months. Affiliation for the full academic year is encouraged. Fellows are expected to reside in the Greater Boston area for the duration of the fellowship.

Postdoctoral Fellowships in the Social Sciences

This page provides information on some fellowships for postdoctoral researchers in the social sciences.  Deadlines refer to sponsor receipt deadlines. In most cases a portion of the application must be completed by the faculty sponsor, and the entire application must then be processed first by the administering unit and then by SPO. Please allow time for these activities.  Agencies may change their programs, requirements, deadlines, location, and other information at any time. Please verify information from agency websites.

President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship

The University of California President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program was established in 1984 to encourage outstanding women and minority Ph.D. recipients to pursue academic careers at the University of California. The current program offers postdoctoral research fellowships, professional development and faculty mentoring to outstanding scholars in all fields whose research, teaching, and service will contribute to diversity and equal opportunity at UC.

Princeton Society of Fellows Fellowship 

The Princeton Society of Fellows, an interdisciplinary group of scholars in the humanities and humanities-related social sciences, calls for fellowship applications annually. Three to five postdoctoral fellows are appointed each year for three-year terms in residence to pursue research and teach half-time in their academic host department, the Program in Humanistic Studies, or other university programs. The fellowships carry with them an appointment as lecturer in a fellow's academic host department. Fellows receive a competitive salary and benefits, a $5,000 research account, access to university grants, a shared office, a computer and other resources. Fellows are expected to reside in or near Princeton during the academic year in order to attend weekly seminars and participate fully in the intellectual life of the Society.

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Technology and International Security

The University of California announces a new collaborative initiative between the systemwide Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC) and the UC-managed National Laboratories: the Center for Global Security Research at the Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and the National Security and International Studies Office at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).

As a part of the joint-initiative, the institutions invite applications for up to six (6) one-year postdoctoral fellowship positions in Technology and International Security.

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Graduate Student Funding

Full funding.

The Department provides support for graduate students for five years, paying fees and a yearly stipend ($46,722 for 2023-2024). Out-of-state tuition is paid for the first year only; students are expected to become California residents after the first year. During the second year, the Department supports students as Graduate Student Researchers (who carry out specific projects in faculty laboratories) or as Graduate Student Instructors. Faculty thesis research advisors provide financial support (stipend and fees) for the final three years.

International students who hold neither dual citizenship in the United States nor Permanent Resident status cannot become residents of California. Accordingly, the students' research advisors must pay out-of-state tuition for the third through the final year.

Receiving Pay

All incoming graduate students are guaranteed 5 years of full support as long as students make satisfactory academic progress. Compensation matters are coordinated through the Graduate Student Affairs Office in conjunction with the BRS Human Resources. You will be paid either via payroll, student awards and fellowship or a combination of both. Consult with the Graduate Student Affairs Office in regards to how you are specifically paid. You must be enrolled in 12 units before your payroll or student award/fellowship can be processed.

Graduate Student Researcher (GSR)

GSRs perform research broadly related to their degree programs under the direction of a faculty member or authorized Principal Investigator. Research project(s) constitutes the dissertation work done by the student to obtain a Ph.D. degree. The wages for a GSR generally comes from contract or grant funds; hence, it is necessary that a student supported as a GSR pick a research topic that carries such funds. For PMB & GGM students, GSR appointments are the common means of support for graduate students for those terms in which they do not hold a GSI appointment. It is also often the GSR that supplements income for fellowships or appointments.

Graduate Student Instructor (GSI)

The general duties of a graduate student instructor (GSI) are to aid in the instruction, conduct, and grading of a course. Normally this will involve attending the lectures for the course, setting aside 2 or 3 hours per week for consultation with students in the course, leading discussions sections or lab instruction, and assisting in the development and grading of homework problems and quizzes. The department regards experience as a GSI to be highly valuable to a student whether or not a teaching career is chosen. Because of this, we require that all Ph.D. candidates serve as a GSI for a total of 2 semesters during their graduate studies (usually in their 2nd and 3rd years).

Reader Positions

Reader positions are often available each semester. As a reader you will assist Faculty instructors in course correcting exams, grading homework, and other non-teaching tasks. Current rates are on the Human Resources website ( https://hr.berkeley.edu/labor/contracts/BX/current-rates ). Positions will be advertised via email at the beginning of each semester. Earnings from Reader positions are in addition to your annual salary rate. 

GSR, GSI, Reader wages are disbursed through the payroll system. If appointed as a GSR, GSI, or Reader, you will be paid on the first of the following month. For example, your paycheck for August will be available on September 1 (or the last workday before September 1). On occasion, the payroll system can have problems. Therefore, be sure to respond promptly to any requests from the Grad Office, Payroll, or HR and promptly report any paycheck you perceive to be late or wrong. Sign up for Direct Deposit by logging onto UCPath.

Student Awards

Many student awards are disbursed through the Campus Award System in CalCentral. This system includes payments for University fellowships, block grants, special stipends, travel awards, and outside awards and fellowships. Pay dates can be sporadic but you will notice a pattern once payments begin.

To view your awards, log-in to CalCentral, then My Finances, and View Awards.  Any active awards and disbursement dates will appear under Gift Aid. 

Important: Unless you are an international student, taxes are not withheld from these payments even though the federal government expects you to pay taxes on this income. You will not receive a W-2 form for this compensation as these awards are not wages. You must keep track of your compensation. Instead, you will access the IRS Form 1098-T available via your CalCentral account.

Sign up for Direct Deposit here (this is different than direct deposit for payroll): Direct Deposit

Your stipend for the 2023-2024 Academic Year is $46,722 . Unless you have a fellowship that pays in lump sums or on a different disbursement schedule students should expect to be receiving about $3696 per month starting in August (paid September 1). This may increase to a higher monthly amount depending on the assigned rate by UC. A funding summary letter sent to you will include details of funding sources and how this annual rate is met.

Fellowship Supplementation for External, Competitive Fellowships

A student who applies for and is awarded a self-initiated external, competitive fellowship has the potential to receive income greater than the standard PMB stipend. Opportunities for grants and fellowships will be communicated to you throughout the year and are found on the PMB and Graduate Division websites.

PMB: https://plantandmicrobiology.berkeley.edu/graduate-programs/funding-fellowships Graduate Division: http://grad.berkeley.edu/financial/deadlines.shtml

The supplementation policy is subject to change and the department must comply with the terms and conditions set by UC and/or the fellowship granting agency before being able to determine any supplement. It is the student's responsibility to budget accordingly if income fluctuates between semesters.

NSF fellows:

• Receive a supplement to meet the PMB income minimum while on NSF tenure. If the student is a GSI while in the first year of NSF tenure, there is no supplement above the GSI wages.
• ​May be a GSI while on fellowship tenure as long as NSF continues to allow it.
• Required to GSI for two semesters

Example 1: Student on NSF year 1 tenure and does not GSI in that year. NSF $37K + $9,722 dept. or PI support = $46,722 total

Example 2: Student on NSF year 1 tenure and accepts GSI position in that year. NSF $37K + GSI wages (~$14,379) = $ 51,379 total

Other external fellowship recipients:

• If the fellowship is below the standard PMB stipend level, the department or PI will supplement the fellowship to meet the PMB stipend minimum and pay registration or health fees not covered by the fellowship.
• Additional earnings may be received if a student fellow were to be a GSI while on fellowship tenure. Any GSI wages will count towards bringing up to the PMB stipend level.

Example 1: Student on Fellowship that covers $20K in stipend and fees; student accepts a GSI in that year. Fellowship $20K + GSI wages (~$14,379) + dept. or PI support $12,343 = $46,722 total

Example 2: Student on Fellowship that covers $38K in stipend and all fees; student accepts a GSI in that year. Fellowship $38K + GSI wages (~$14,379) = $52,379 total

Training Grants

Students who receive a training stipend through a UC Berkeley departmental training grant will have the income count towards the annual stipend limit for the academic year. If the grant is below the standard PMB stipend level, the department or PI will supplement the grant to bring it up to the PMB stipend level and will pay registration or health insurance fees not covered by the grant. Any GSI wages will count towards bringing compensation up to the PMB stipend level.

Additional earnings may not be received if a student were to be a GSI while on grant funding tenure that exceeds the annual stipend level.

Example 1: Student on a training grant that covers $25K in stipend and some/all fees. Student accepts a GSI in that year. Training grant $25K + GSI wages (~$14,379) + dept. or PI support $7,343 = $46,722

Example 2: Student on a training grant that covers $25K in stipend and some/all fees and does not GSI in that year. Training grant $25K + dept. or PI support $21,722 = $46,722

Important: Some funding combinations might earn higher income during a given semester. It is the student’s responsibility to budget for changes in income during the year. For instance, you might be a GSI + receiving training grants in a fall semester. This will inevitably provide you with higher monthly payments during that term. But when the GSI is done, and you only receive training grant income in the following semesters, you must have saved extra income earned in fall to ensure you have enough carryover funds for spring and summer.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I get paid?

• GSR/GSI appointments are paid via UCPath and typically disburse after the previous month (ie. August pays out in early September). It is best to check UCPath for the actual pay dates since they do vary depending on the calendar month, holidays, and if the pay period ends on a weekend. You can log-in here to UCPath.
• Fellowships/Awards and other stipends that are not wages are paid via CalCentral. Go to My Finances, View Awards, then Gift Aid. It will show the amount you will be paid for the term. These are often set up to disburse at the beginning of the month, but do also vary depending on the award source and fund availability. 

Where does my payment come from?

• GSRs for 2nd years and beyond are funded by your faculty advisor. GSI wages are paid by PMB. Both payout via UCPath. Fellowships/stipend awards are funded by varying sources. You may receive a combination of funding from both GSRs/GSI and stipend awards as a way to ensure you receive the minimum payment amount set by PMB. (ie. NSF in CalCentral + GSR in UCPath). It's important to have direct deposit set up in both systems. 

I'm getting emails about overdue tuition/fees - do I need to worry?

• No, GSRs/GSIs and certain fellowships take a while to get processed by HR, but the fees will get paid. The department is responsible for covering all your tuition/fees unless you are told otherwise. No one will be cancelled for non-payment , so while the emails from the Registrar seem daunting - you will not lose access or be dropped from the semester. 

The paycheck I received is lower than the amount on the sheet, why? Are my paychecks getting taxed?    

•  Any payments from UCPath are considered wages and will be taxed before your paycheck is issued. Payments from CalCentral are not taxed (unless you are an international student) and should be planned for accordingly. The PMB annual salary of $46,722 is calculated based on pre-tax income. Resources for tax support and information can be found here: Grad Assembly Tax Support

Graduate Fellowships

Although we guarantee support, students are encouraged to apply for all applicable fellowships to defray fees and stipends. Students automatically compete for UC Berkeley-sponsored fellowships (University Fellowship Competition) when submitting the university application. The National Science Foundation's Graduate Fellowship Program and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Predoctoral Fellowship Program in the Biological Sciences have served as the main sources of extramural support for graduate students in the past.

For an estimated budget of student costs please visit the university Financial Aid office at students.berkeley.edu/finaid.

• UC Berkeley Fellowships and Awards :  On-campus awards, departmental nomination required.
• UCLA Fellowship Database :  An excellent source for fellowship searches.
• Center for Emerging & Neglected Diseases (CEND) Fellowships :  Fellowships provided through CEND support several levels of trainees, including undergraduates, doctoral degree candidates, and postdoctoral fellows, in their pursuit of research related to emerging and neglected infectious diseases.
• UC Berkeley Financial Aid Office

Other excellent extramural fellowship sources:

• Fellows Initiative Natural Sciences (FINS)
• NSF-Graduate Research fellowship program
• EPA-STAR Fellowships
• Ruth Kirschstein NRSA Pre-doctoral Fellowship
• USDA NIFA AFRI Pre-doctoral Fellowship
• NASA Harriett Jenkins Fellowship
• Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants (DDIG)
• Ford Foundation Fellowship Programs
• California Science and Technology Policy Fellowships
• National Defense Science & Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG)
• DOE Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) Program
• DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowhip
• STEM Excellence through Equity and Diversity (SEED) Scholars
• Bridges to Baccalaureate
• Biology Scholars Program
• Firebaugh Scholars
• Miller Scholars Program 
• Haas Scholars Program 
• SURF L&S
• SURF Rose Hills Independent 
• Bergeron Women in STEM Program 
• NSF LSAMP Pre-PhD Research Program
• URAP Summer Fellows 
• Underrepresented Researchers of Color (UROC)

Graduate Funding

Entering graduate students to the Department of Philosophy have recently been offered up to six years of support. Typical packages include fellowship support for at least one year at the beginning of the program, and for an additional year at some point after advancement to candidacy (the Doctoral Completion Fellowship ). Other fellowships are available on a competitive basis from the university or outside funding sources. Students not on fellowships are supported as Graduate Student Instructors. Some students also receive support in the form of readerships and research assistantships.

The application for graduate study contains information about expenses and about the many forms of financial support provided by the university, as well as the forms that need to be completed to apply for fellowship assistance. Further detailed information about the forms of support available and the application procedures is available on the Graduate Division's Graduate Admissions website.

Applicants are also encouraged to apply for any support from outside this university for which they might be eligible.

Fellowships

The Philosophy Department draws upon University funding and upon its own endowed funds in order to provide fellowship support for new and continuing students.

Once students have passed the qualifying examination and advanced to candidacy, they are eligible for another year of support in the form of a Doctoral Completion Fellowship . (An application is required, but approval is pro forma provided basic conditions are met.)

The Carol Lee Price Fellowship in Philosophy supports non-resident supplemental tuition (NRST) for PhD students who are neither US nor Canadian citizens. The fellowship is awarded to at most one newly admitted PhD candidate in the Department of Philosophy per year.

Graduate Division maintains a long list of fellowships for which our graduate students can apply.

Graduate Student Instructorships

The Department can offer most graduate students positions as Graduate Student Instructors each semester and some positions are available during the summer sessions. GSI positions are however restricted to those who have completed at least one year of graduate study. The appointment involves assisting in undergraduate courses, conducting sections, grading papers, etc. Teaching for two semesters is required for the Ph.D. The salary covers the full costs of California resident tuition and normal living expenses for the year.

Research Assistantships

Individual faculty members may apply to the university for graduate research assistantships in the areas of their own work. There are usually several of these positions in the Department at any one time.

Readerships

The Department employs graduate students as readers and graders in some undergraduate courses, paid at an hourly rate. This can provide a supplement to a student's financial resources; actual earnings depend on the size of the class and the amount of work assigned.

Non-Resident Tuition Fee Waivers

The Department is often able to offset the higher tuition charged for students who cannot qualify as California residents. Students are however expected to establish residency during their first year of graduate study.

Fellowships

Application deadline:  Friday, April 26, 2024 at 4 pm.

The  Critical Theory  Dissertation Fellowship  is awarded to UC Berkeley Critical Theory Designated Emphasis (DE) graduate students with records of achievement and promising dissertation projects. The fellowships support students writing their dissertations, providing full fee remission (where required) and a full stipend, usually for a semester.

Applications for the 2024-2025 Critical Theory Dissertation Fellowship are due  Friday, April 26, 2024 by 4 pm.  Eligible students must be enrolled in the Critical Theory DE and not receive significant (non-teaching) financial support from their home departments during the period of the award. Applicants must have completed their Qualifying Exams and have an approved dissertation prospectus.

Application Guidelines

Applicants must submit:

• a cover letter;
• a 2-3 page abstract of the dissertation;
• an academic CV;
• a letter from the dissertation adviser evaluating the project’s promise.

Applicants planning on having the prospectus approved by the end of May 2025 should explain this in the application cover letter and should have the dissertation director, in their letter, evaluate the draft or proposed prospectus and the likelihood of its approval.

Applicants should specify in the cover letter whether they would prefer to have the award in the fall or spring semester.

Completed applications, including all supporting materials, must be received by  Friday, April 26, 2024, at 4 pm.

Please submit applications to  [email protected] .

Deadline for applications: April 26, 2024 by 4 pm Award Announced: May 2024 Award Period: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025 Award Amount: Varies according to the applicant pool and funds available.

The Dissertation Fellowship is open to Critical Theory students in UC Berkeley Departments including African American Studies, Anthropology, Berkeley Law, Comparative Literature, East Asian Languages and Cultures, English, Ethnic Studies, Film & Media, French, Gender & Women’s Studies, German, Geography, History, History of Art, Italian, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Rhetoric, School of Education, School of Public Health, Slavic Languages and Cultures, Social Welfare, Sociology, South & Southeast Asian Studies, Spanish & Portuguese, and Theater, Dance and Performance Studies.

Past Recipients

Support for this year’s awardees is generously provided by the Magistretti Graduate Fellowship Fund through the Division of Arts and Humanities, the Class of 1936 First Professor of Political Science, and the International Consortium of Critical Theory Programs.

Previous recipients:

2023-2024 - Zachary Hicks ( Slavic Languages and Literature), Maria Fatima-Santos (Sociology) Nejat Kedir (African American Studies)

2022-23 - Saniya Taher (Comparative Literature), Kevin Stone (Comparative Literature), Laila Riazi (Comparative Literature) Philip Campanile (Geography) 

2021–22 –  Brent Eng  (Anthropology),  Pedro Javier Rolón Machado  (Comparative Literature), and  Wendi Bootes  (Comparative Literature),  Alfonso Fierro  (Spanish and Portuguese),  Thiti Jamkajornkeiat  (South and Southeast Asian Studies),  Lubna Safi  (Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures),  Camila YaDeau  (Rhetoric)

2020–21 –   Jessica Ruffin  (Film & Media),  Elisa Russian  (Italian Studies),  Phillip Campanile  (Geography),  Aaron Eldridge  (Anthropology),  Donna Honarpisheh  (Comparative Literature),  Jaeyoon Park  (Political Science)

2019–20 –  Veronica Jacome  (Energy and Resources Group),  Ryan Rhadigan  (Rhetoric), and  Taylor Johnston  (Comparative Literature)

2018–19 –  Molly Borowitz  (Spanish & Portuguese),  Basit Iqbal  (Anthropology), and  Philip Gerard  (Comparative Literature)

2017–18 –  William Callison  (Political Science) and  Stephen McIsaac  (Anthropology)

2016–17 –  Paul Martorelli  (Political Science) and  Milad Odabaei  (Anthropology)

2015–16 –  Chiara Ricciardone  (Rhetoric)

2014–15 –  Joshua Williams  (Performance Studies)

2013–14 –  Ramsey McGlazer  (Comparative Literature)

2012–13 –  Mareike Winchell  (Anthropology)

Additional fellowship opportunities are posted as they become available.

Fellowship Opportunities for Students

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Fellowships & Research

[Insert Research / Healy05-C-cloned.jpg 6.02MB. Permission requested. Still pending.] [image caption] Fellowships and research are excellent experiential learning opportunities that help students develop as professionals and as scholars.

What Is A Fellowship?

Fellowships are short-term, paid, opportunities that are sponsored by a specific organization and obtained through a competitive application process. Organizations sponsor Fellowships for multiple reasons. Most often they are seeking to expand their field by funding research, curating talent for the future workforce, and developing leaders. To satisfy that purpose, host organizations engage Fellows in challenging work and invest in their professional development.

There are a vast number of Fellowships, and programs vary widely. They can be designed to support a range of activities including graduate study in a specific field, research to advance work on a particular issue, developing a new community-based organization or initiative, training and reflection to support the fellow’s growth, and opportunities to further explore a particular field of work. Fellowships can take place domestically or abroad and they can last from a few months to several years.

Finding Fellowships

There are many online resources available to assist you in your search for Fellowship opportunities. We created this Handshake page with a curated list of resources that will get you off to a great start!

FAQs about Fellowships

Experiential Learning

Fellowships are structured to provide significant work experiences, and Fellows are often expected to take on a great deal of responsibility quickly. Generally, Fellows are provided with unique experiences that are not typically available to someone starting out in an entry-level position. This experiential learning component varies depending upon the Fellowship program.

Fellowship programs are known for their commitment to the professional development of individual Fellows and often include intensive training. Key elements of this training might include:

• Academic seminars to develop frameworks and apply theory
• In-depth research and analysis of a particular issue area
• A broad curriculum of skills development which may include leadership, community organizing, public speaking, grant writing, and media relations

Most fellowship programs provide a living allowance or stipend, yet it is not typically comparable to the salary of a full-time job. Financial compensation can vary greatly with stipends ranging from $10,000 to up to $50,000 for a 9-12 month program. Other incentives may be provided to fellows such as healthcare coverage, student loan repayment assistance, and transportation and housing stipends.

Although eligibility requirements vary with the fellowship, most programs look for:

• Motivation, self-direction, and personal integrity
• Highly developed interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Demonstrated leadership and potential for continued leadership
• Proven competency in a certain field or discipline
• High level of academic performance.

Applications can be extensive and often include a resume, transcript, letters of recommendation and writing sample. Depending on the fellowship, there may be additional application materials required as well.

Additionally, the application process for most programs includes an interview which may be a series of individual interviews, a single panel interview, or situational group interviews in which candidates work together to devise responses to a problem or question.

Molecular and Cell Biology

Spring 2024: New and Noteworthy: Postdocs and Students

Graduate students.

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Recipients:

Alex Maya-Romero (Zoncu Lab), Camila Sousa (Brar Lab), Cynthia Terrace (Savage Lab). Honorable Mention: Simon Chau (Martik Lab), Anna Freitas (Ingolia Lab), Sophia Swartz (Doudna Lab), Aditya Udupa (Staller Lab).

2023–2024 Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor (OGSI) Award Recipients: 

Sophia Adler (Nayak Lab), Dominik Aylard (Robey Lab), Janet Babirye (Vance Lab), Anna Christenson (Nuñez Lab), Lana Ho (Fu Lab), Michael Hsiao (Gomez Lab), Jan Mikhale Cajulao (Bilder Lab), Zehan Zhou (Doudna Lab).

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

MCB Class of 2023 Sponsored Research Award Recipients:

Viktoriya Georgieva (Savage Lab), Meralda Jeong (Refermat Lab, IGI), Tiffany Lei (DenBesten Lab, UCSF), Natalie Liang (Raulet Lab), and Phyllis Tameilau (Weiner Lab, Psychology).

Back to Main Spring 2024 Newsletter Page

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Alumni honored in 2023 Pulitzer Prizes

May 9, 2024

Three recent graduates are among those honored for distinguished journalism in the 2023 Pulitzer Prizes, Columbia University announced May 6.

Brett Murphy

Following a string of high honors from the nation’s top investigative reporting competitions, alum Brett Murphy (’16), a reporter on ProPublica’s national desk, won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. Judges noted the ProPublica team’s “Groundbreaking and ambitious reporting that pierced the thick wall of secrecy surrounding the Supreme Court to reveal how a small group of politically influential billionaires wooed justices with lavish gifts and travel, pushing the Court to adopt its first code of conduct.”

In recognition, ProPublica will be presented with the iconic Pulitzer Prize Gold Medal , awarded each year to the American news organization that wins in the Public Service category.

“This is a tremendous honor and I’m so happy I was able to be a part of the team,” Murphy said. “I’ve long admired ProPublica’s Pulitzer-winning projects, so it’s a career highlight to have played a small part in this one. I hope the recognition brings even more attention to the issues we uncovered last year.”

Murphy reached out to his alma mater to hire two Investigative Reporting Program (IRP) students Kathleen Quinn (’24) and Marissa Muller (’24) to do Bay Area-based research for the project. ProPublica’s Managing Editor Tracy Weber (’89) was an editor on the series.

ProPublica reporters, seated from left, Alex Mierjeski, Justin Elliott, Kirsten Berg, Joshua Kaplan and Brett Murphy and Managing Editor Tracy Weber celebrate with staff after receiving the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. Credit: Sarahbeth Maney/ProPublica

Sarah Cahlan

Sarah Cahlan (’19) is part of the staff of The Washington Post that won the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting for a series of stories about the AR-15, the rifle most commonly used in the nation’s deadliest mass shootings. “Could fresh reporting and new approaches to storytelling compel readers — of all ideologies — to confront the causes and consequences of gun violence directly, in a way they haven’t before?” asked Washington Post editors, in writing about the AR-15 series called “American Icon.”

The judges honored the “sobering examination of the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, which forced readers to reckon with the horrors wrought by the weapon.”

John Harden , who taught data journalism at Berkeley Journalism this semester, also contributed to The Washington Post’s AR-15 stories and shares in the Pulitzer honor.

Brian Howey. Photo by Clara Mokri (’21).

Brian Howey (’22) of Mississippi Today and The New York Times was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist for Local Reporting for his detailed examination of corruption and abuse, including the torturing of suspects, by Mississippi sheriffs and their officers over two decades.

“I joined the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting intending to work a three-month gig probing a troubled sheriff’s office,” Howey said, describing what has been one of the most formative experiences of his career. “A year later, we’re still not done investigating in Rankin County. We have altered the trajectory of several counties, changed state law, and developed a profound respect for the people of Mississippi who fight every day to make the state’s powerbrokers live up to their promises.”

“It’s an unbelievable honor to be recognized by the Pulitzer board,” Howey said. “I’ve been overwhelmed with joy this week to know that our reporting, which has made such a profound impact on us and the residents of Mississippi these past months, has also made such an impression on the nation and the discerning Pulitzer judges. My deepest gratitude to them, our crack editors at Mississippi Today and The New York Times, the data wizards at Big Local News, and to my friends and colleagues Jerry Mitchell , Nate Rosenfield and Ilyssa Daly .”

Brian Howey watching the Pulitzer Prize announcements at Mississippi Today.

Most importantly, Howey said, “we never could have achieved this honor — or even done this reporting — without the help of those who trusted us with the telling of their horrific experiences. We are all indebted to them for risking their safety, reputations, and freedom in order to share their stories with us. Any recognition we receive for this work has been earned by the grace of their bravery. With all of my heart, thank you, all of you.”

Professor David Barstow , director of the Investigative Reporting Program (IRP) at Berkeley Journalism and a four-time Pulitzer Prize winner, celebrated the achievements of former IRP and Berkeley Journalism students.

“One of the things we love most is when we are able to connect our fabulous students and recent grads to find opportunities for meaningful investigative reporting at places like ProPublica and Mississippi Today,” Barstow said.

Howey, who was a student of Barstow’s as part of Berkeley Journalism’s Investigative Reporting Program, is an award-winning investigative reporter at the Mississippi Center of Investigative Reporting at Mississippi Today and a 2024/205 New York Times Local Investigative Reporting Fellow . His stories have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and WIRED magazine. Howey was a student in Berkeley Journalism’s Investigative Reporting program.

Before joining ProPublica from USA Today’s investigations desk, where Brett Murphy covered labor, criminal justice and the federal government, he covered courts and hurricanes for the Naples Daily News and other Gannett newspapers. He has also taught reporting at George Washington University.

While at Berkeley Journalism, Murphy was awarded a Mark Felt Scholarship to pursue investigative stories while working under the Investigative Reporting Program’s faculty.

Sarah Cahlan is a video reporter and one of the founding members of the Visual Forensics team at The Washington Post. Her work combines open source and forensic technologies with traditional journalism and documentary filmmaking. She shared in a Pulitzer Prize for her reporting on the January 6 insurrection in 2022 and a 2021 Alfred I. Dupont Award for her coverage of the clearing of Lafayette Square. She started VF in 2020 after a year on the Fact Checker desk. Before coming to The Post, she directed the student BAFTA shortlisted short documentary “TheirStory” about the historical inaccuracies of gender roles. As an NBC/NAHJ fellow, she reported, produced and wrote stories about science, tech and Latino culture.

Brian Howey interviewing Monica Lee, the mother of Damien Cameron, who was killed by Rankin County deputies, for one of the stories in the series.

Upcoming Events

Dean's Newsletter

March 27, 2024

Quarterly Newsletter From Dean Geeta Anand

Spring 2024 Dear Berkeley Journalism community: With great optimism about the future of our school, I share with you news of the largest gift in the history of Berkeley Journalism:…

Quarterly Newsletter from Dean Geeta Anand

June 15, 2023

November 30, 2022

Programs & Resources

Undergraduate journalism minor.

Learn about our new year-around minor in journalism

Berkeley Journalism + Haas School of Business Journalism Program

Investigative reporting program.

Committed to reporting stories that expose injustice and abuse of power

California Local News Fellowship

Two-year fellowship matching early-career journalists with California newsrooms

Stay Up To Date

Get the latest news.

GradPro for Departments and Faculty

Departments and individual faculty members and staff play a key role in supporting graduate student professional development. GradPro offers guidance, resources, and programs to assist departments, faculty, and staff in carrying out this aspect of their work. Departments are also encouraged to direct students to GradPro’s resources and programs for students. For assistance, faculty and staff should contact GradPro at [email protected] .

Best Practices for Departments

Faculty, staff, and students alike can adapt these best practices for graduate student professional development in their respective departments.

Needs-Assessments

On request, GradPro can facilitate departmental needs assessment surveys, which are used to gather information about graduate student and postdoc professional development and career exploration goals, experiences, and needs. GradPro can provide an analysis of the survey results and a customized list of resources tailored to the needs of the department.

During a needs-assessment, GradPro distributes a short survey to students and postdocs and provides the department with an anonymized summary of survey results. This is a valuable way to understand the needs of students, as it provides an opportunity for students to offer anonymous feedback and suggestions. You may request GradPro’s needs assessment service by contacting us at [email protected] .

Examples of what your department can expect to learn by conducting a needs assessment include:

• Current graduate student career goals
• Programs, efforts, and opportunities beyond your department that are currently available to students and most utilized
• Steps your department could take to better meet the professional needs of students in your department

Grants for Departments

GradPro offers small grants (up to $1,000) each year for departments to enhance their support of graduate student career preparation and exploration. Examples include creating an alumni database, curating a departmental professional development webpage, or hosting alumni panels or speakers. Preference is given to funding the development and implementation of new programs and events, and those that foster faculty participation.

Request a Workshop

GradPro can facilitate workshops or presentations on a variety of professional development topics for courses, departments, and student groups.

Requests for workshops are accepted on a rolling basis, however it is strongly recommended that requests be submitted the semester prior to the workshop or presentation date whenever possible.

GradPro has offered specialized workshops in settings including:

• Department course or seminar series
• New graduate student orientations
• Student-group or club meetings
• Professional and career development conferences
• Departmental or town-hall meetings
• Departmental job placement committees

Reliable Representation Learning: Theory and Practice

Eecs department, university of california, berkeley, technical report no. ucb/eecs-2024-75, may 10, 2024, http://www2.eecs.berkeley.edu/pubs/techrpts/2024/eecs-2024-75.pdf.

Machine learning models trained on vast amounts of data have achieved remarkable success across various applications. However, they also pose new challenges and risks for deployment in real-world high-stakes domains. Decisions made by deep learning models are often difficult to interpret, and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood, and large-scale foundational models can memorize and leak private personal information. Given that deep learning models operate as black-boxes, it is challenging to understand, let alone resolve, various types of failures in current machine learning systems.

In this dissertation, we present research towards building reliable machine learning systems through the lens of representation learning. The first part focuses on transparent representation learning. We first propose a principled and effective objective function, called coding rate reduction, for measuring the goodness of representations, and present a white-box approach to understanding transformer models. We then show how to derive a family of mathematically interpretable transformer-like deep network architectures by maximizing the information gain of the learned representations. The second part focuses on privacy-preserving representation learning. We first present our investigation on understanding the effectiveness of learned representations using federated optimization methods, and present our approach for overcoming data heterogeneity when training deep, non-convex models in the federated setting. Next, we describe our work on training the first set of vision foundation models with rigorous differential privacy guarantees, and demonstrate the promise of high-utility differentially private representation learning.

Advisors: Michael Jordan and Yi Ma

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