AMS Graduate Fellowship in the History of Science
Offered by American Meteorological Society
About This Scholarship
The AMS Graduate Fellowship in the History of Science is one of the most unusual awards in the earth sciences: a $20,000 stipend supporting one year of dissertation research on the history of the atmospheric, oceanic, or hydrologic sciences. It sits at the intersection of two fields, deliberately fostering working relationships between historians and scientists, and AMS works to place the fellow in a mentoring relationship.
The fellowship has backed dissertations at Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, and Berkeley since 1999, and recipients present their research at the History Symposium during the AMS Annual Meeting the year after their award, with the abstract fee waived and free AMS membership during the fellowship year.
Applicants must be graduate students in good standing at a U.S. institution who are completing a dissertation on a qualifying history-of-science topic. The fellowship cannot be deferred, but the research year can be spent away from your home institution if your thesis advisor approves the plan. Past applicants who didn't win are explicitly welcome to reapply.
Eligibility
- Graduate student in good standing completing a dissertation on the history of the atmospheric or related oceanic or hydrologic sciences
- Pursuing a degree at a U.S. institution
- Past applicants who were not previously awarded may reapply
How To Apply
- Complete the online application linked from the fellowship page
- Prepare a cover letter with vita and official transcripts from undergraduate and graduate institutions
- Write a detailed, typewritten description of the dissertation topic and proposed research plan (10-page maximum)
- Arrange three letters of recommendation, including one from your dissertation advisor
- Submit everything by January 15, 2027 (materials beyond the online application go by email to the AMS contact on the page)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be a meteorology student?
No — this fellowship is aimed at history-of-science dissertations. Past recipients have come from history departments at universities like UT Austin, Yale, Princeton, and Johns Hopkins, writing about the history of weather, climate, and ocean science.
Can I defer the fellowship?
No. The fellowship must be used in the year awarded, though the $20,000 can support research conducted away from your home institution if your thesis advisor approves.
Are there obligations after the award?
Yes. The recipient is invited to the AMS Annual Meeting one year after the award and is required to present their research at the History Symposium; the abstract submission fee is waived.