The Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowships were established in 1938 in honor of Amelia Earhart, famed pilot and Zonta club member. The Fellowships are granted annually to women pursuing graduate Ph.D./doctoral degrees in aerospace-related sciences and aerospace-related engineering.
The Amelia Earhart Fellowships are awarded annually to women pursuing a Ph.D./doctoral degree in aerospace-related sciences and aerospace-related engineering. The Fellowship of US$10,000 may be used at any university or college offering accredited post-graduate courses and degrees. Students must be registered in a full-time Ph.D./doctoral program when funds are received in September and December. Current fellows may apply to renew the Fellowship for a second year and will undergo the same application and evaluation procedures as first-time applicants.
Women of any nationality pursuing a Ph.D./doctoral degree who demonstrate a superior academic record in the field of aerospace-related sciences and aerospace-related engineering are eligible. Please note that post-doctoral research programs are not eligible for the Fellowship. Members and employees of Zonta International or the Zonta International Foundation are also not eligible to apply for the Fellowships.
Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:
| (a) | Be registered in an accredited Ph.D./doctoral program in a qualifying area of science or engineering closely related to advanced studies in aerospace-related science or aerospace-related engineering. A letter of acceptance or verification of enrolment must be submitted with the application. |
| (b) | Demonstrate a superior academic record at a recognized university or college with accredited courses in aerospace-related studies as verified by transcripts and recommendations. In programs where graduate transcripts are not provided as a matter of institution policy, please provide a statement of that policy from the registrar or other school official. |
| (c) | Provide evidence of a well-defined research program in aerospace-related science or aerospace-related engineering as described in the application essay (in general scientific terms), academic documents and publications. |
| (d) | Clearly demonstrate the relationship of the research to aerospace and furnish verification of her research program through at least one of the reference letters required with the application [i.e. research supervisor or advisor must be one of the referees]. |
| (e) | Applicant must be registered in a full-time Ph.D./doctorate program when funds are received in September and December. |
The Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowship Committee reviews the applications and recommends recipients to the Zonta International Board of Directors. All applicants will be notified of their status by the end of April.
The Fellowship may be used for tuition, books and fees, or living expenses. Payments are made in equal installments in September and December.
For domestic and foreign recipients studying in the United States, Fellowship funds used for tuition, books, fees, supplies or required equipment for the program of study are not considered taxable income. Withholding taxes may be required on funds used for living expenses or other non-qualified expenses.
Recipients are not permitted to defer the Fellowship. Zonta International will consider a new application the following year, but no preferential consideration will be given to the second application.
Fellows may accept additional grants and scholarships from other sources.
Applications are accepted by fax or mail; however, email submissions are preferred. Applications submitted by email must be signed and sent as a PDF. Recommendations, transcripts, and verification of enrolment must be mail or faxed. These documents are accepted by fax or email provided the originals are post-marked within three days after the fax/email is received. Applications, recommendations, transcripts, and verification of enrolment for 2010 Amelia Earhart Fellowships must be received or post-marked by 15 November 2009 to be considered. Applications that are incomplete or late due to postal delays will not be considered.