TL;DR:
• NVIDIA reopens $60K fellowship applications for doctoral AI researchers
• Program enters 25th year, having awarded $7.3M+ to 200+ students since 2002
• September 15 deadline for 2026-2027 academic year with mandatory summer internship
• Targets AI, ML, autonomous vehicles, robotics, and HPC research areas
NVIDIA just opened applications for its flagship graduate fellowship program, offering up to $60,000 awards to doctoral students pursuing AI and accelerated computing research. With the September 15 deadline approaching, the 25-year-old program signals NVIDIA's continued investment in nurturing the next generation of AI researchers as competition for top talent intensifies across Silicon Valley.
NVIDIA is making its biggest academic recruiting push of the year, reopening applications for graduate fellowships that have become Silicon Valley's most coveted research awards. The chip giant's Graduate Fellowship Program, now in its milestone 25th year, offers up to $60,000 per student plus mentorship and technical support for doctoral candidates working on AI, machine learning, and accelerated computing technologies.
The timing couldn't be more strategic. As the AI boom reshapes entire industries, NVIDIA finds itself at the epicenter of a talent war that's driving PhD recruitment to unprecedented heights. Google, Microsoft, and Meta are all ramping up their academic partnerships, but NVIDIA's fellowship program predates them all, having quietly built relationships with top research universities since 2002.
The numbers tell the story of NVIDIA's long-term investment strategy. Since inception, the program has awarded over 200 grants totaling more than $7.3 million, according to company data. That's not just funding – it's pipeline development for talent that will define the next decade of AI research.
[Embedded image placeholder: NVIDIA research lab with fellowship recipients working on AI projects]
What sets NVIDIA's approach apart is the mandatory internship requirement. Every fellowship recipient must complete a summer internship at an NVIDIA research office before their fellowship year begins. This isn't just mentorship; it's talent scouting with a clear pathway to full-time positions. The summer 2026 internship requirement for the current application cycle means NVIDIA is already planning its 2027 hiring strategy.
