2027
Amelia Earhart
Fellowship
Please note that post-doctoral research programs are not eligible for the Fellowship.
Application Deadline: November 15th, 2026
Application:
Application Description:
Award Description:
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Zonta International offers up to 30 international awards of US $12,000 each
Eligibility Requirements:
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Women of any nationality pursuing a Ph.D./doctoral degree who demonstrate a superior academic record conducting research applied to aerospace engineering or space sciences are
eligible. -
It is imperative that students be registered in a full-time Ph.D./doctoral program and have completed at least one year of that program or have received a master’s degree in an aerospace-applied field at the time the application is submitted.
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Applicants must be registered in a full-time Ph.D./doctoral program by 15 November 2026 and must not graduate before April 2028.
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Provide evidence of a well-defined research program applied to aerospace engineering or space sciences in the application essay (in general scientific terms), the academic documents (references, transcripts, verification of enrollment) and the list of publications (Note: please do not attach publications; citing the references is sufficient).
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Clearly demonstrate that the Ph.D. research program is directly related to aerospace/space sciences and furnish verification of the research program through at least one of the reference letters required with the application. The thesis supervisor or advisor and a university professor
must each be one of the referees.
Amelia Earhart Fellowships A Zonta International Program.
Funded through the Zonta Foundation for Women The Fellowship The Zonta International
Women’s contributions are essential to advancing exploration, innovation and our understanding of the universe yet they continue to be significantly underrepresented in aerospace engineering and space sciences. For almost 90 years, Zonta International has invested in women who are pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
Established in 1938 in honor of famed aviator and Zontian Amelia Earhart, the Amelia Earhart Fellowship supports women pursuing Ph.D./doctoral degrees in aerospace engineering and space sciences. Up to 30 Fellows will receive a US$12,000 Amelia Earhart Fellowship to support their advanced studies at any university or college offering accredited post-graduate courses and degrees in these fields.
The Fellowship reflects Amelia Earhart's pioneering spirit and Zonta's commitment to ensuring that women have access to the resources and opportunities needed to advance and take their
place as leaders and decision-makers in these competitive and cutting-edge fields.
Since the program's inception, Zonta has awarded 1,824 Amelia Earhart Fellowships totaling more than US$12.5 million to 1,395 women from 81 countries. Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellows have gone on to become astronauts, aerospace engineers, astronomers, professors, geologists, entrepreneurs, corporate leaders and even the U.S. Secretary of the Air Force. Their achievements demonstrate what becomes possible when women are given the opportunity and resources to pursue their ambitions.