The Fellowship for the Future is a two-year leadership award program for Women of Color focused on increasing equity, inclusion, accessibility or social justice. We seek women specifically leading community-based science, technology, engineering, math, and/or medicine (STEMM) projects in line with the 500 Women Scientists mission. Projects are expected to directly involve and benefit community members. The term community is not restricted to locality but can also include individuals with shared goals, interests, and/or identities. During their fellowship, fellows will carry out a proposed project and receive financial and logistical support from the 500 Women Scientists leadership team. The scope of projects should reflect approximately 100-150 hours/year of the fellows’ time including project design, preparation, implementation, and wrap-up.
It is our goal that our fellows receive the care and support to continue doing their necessary life’s work. The fellowship experience is developed around 3 pillars:
Development of a personal mentoring network to nurture Women of Color scientists, including providing a safe space to build resiliency.
Development of advocacy skills on behalf of self and diverse populations.
Brand development to be able to leverage personal brand for success while being purposeful in communications.
Eligibility:
Self-identified Women of Color who have demonstrated an extensive commitment to justice and equity within a science, technology, math, and/or medicine (STEMM)-related field. Applicants must be residing in the United States, or a United States territory, for the duration of the fellowship term.
As part of the Fellowship, fellows will receive*:
An annual $5,000 honorarium
An annual $3,000 in supplementary project funds **
Support, community, and resources provided from networking with previous fellows, the Fellowship for Future team, the broader 500 Women Scientists leadership team, and advisory board
Training, workshops, and mentoring to gain more skills as women of color in open science and STEMM fields
Travel funds to attend in-person 500 Women Scientists meetings (pending CDC pandemic recommendations)
Fellows are expected to:
Lead community-based projects across the duration of the two-year fellowship
Participate in a minimum of two-hour quarterly virtual workshops, one-hour virtual community building sessions, and quarterly one-on-one check-ins online meetings during the year.
Attend one weekend-long 500 Women Scientists leadership retreat during the course of the fellowship (in-person pending CDC pandemic recommendations or if not, virtual meeting)
Sign up for 500 Women Scientists’ Gage directory and the 500 Women Scientists Newsletter to be part of our broader community
Commit to participate in our mentorship program, at least for one year, under a role and capacity to be determined collaboratively.
Note: Since our last application cycle, we have decided to remove the eligibility requirement of a degree in efforts to be more equitable. We acknowledge that while formal education is the traditional route for many people in STEMM field, experiences that are not under the purview of academic affiliation are just as valid and valued. Therefore, applicants are expected to have significant and meaningful experiences within a STEMM-related field, that can be achieved through formal educational training and/or informal, nontraditional training.
*Program details subject to change depending on available resources.
** All funds are required to be used as described in the recipient’s proposal and, in all circumstances, funds must be used only for charitable, educational or scientific purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”) and in furtherance and support of the state mission of 500 Women Scientists