AIP Robert H. G. Helleman Memorial Fellowships

Applications are closed for 2024.

About the Fellowships

In his will Robert H. G. Helleman bequeathed funds for AIP to establish an endowment to support graduate students or postdoctoral fellows with Dutch citizenship to pursue research activities in physics in the United States.

• The AIP Robert H. G. Helleman Memorial Graduate Fellowships will support graduate students in physics and its subdisciplines (including the history of physics) with an annual stipend of $40,000 for an initial period of 4 years with a possible 1-year extension. Each student will receive an additional $10,000 for research expenses.
• The AIP Robert H. G. Helleman Memorial Postdoctoral Fellowships will support postdoctoral fellows who would start within 2 years of their PhD in physics and its subdisciplines (including the history of physics) with an annual stipend of $70,000 for an initial period of 1 year with a possible 1-year extension. Each postdoctoral fellow will receive an additional $10,000 for research expenses.
• The AIP Robert H. G. Helleman Memorial Graduate Research Fellowships will provide short-term support for graduate students to perform research in a laboratory, archive, or university department. These awards of $3000 per month will be provided for periods from 2 to 6 months.

Fellowship applicants will affiliate as appropriate with U.S. academic programs in physics and its subdisciplines (including the history of physics) or with other appropriate research institutions. Applicants may not apply to work with the American Institute of Physics as their institutional affiliation and sponsor while in the U.S.

The applicant must make their own arrangements for visa sponsorship with their host institution in the U.S. Please note that health care coverage is not offered as part of the fellowships and applicants are required to obtain coverage on their own, such as through their host institution.

Application Information

Applications are to be submitted in .pdf format via email; include ALL information/attachments in one email, except where noted. Applicants must submit:

• A cover letter of up to three pages, including a statement of research interests and a plan of research activity for the duration of the fellowship;
• A curriculum vitae;
• If applying for the Graduate Fellowship, an official transcript or equivalent showing performance in undergraduate coursework;
• Proof of award of bachelor's or master's degree in an appropriate discipline;
• Three letters of reference (which may be submitted directly by the letter writer);
• One letter of support from the U.S. advisor for the upcoming research;
• Official letter of acceptance into a U.S. graduate program or postdoctoral research appointment letter, if relevant

Application materials should be emailed to helleman@aip.org .

Fellowship opportunities will be announced annually if sufficient funding is available. Successful applicants may be asked to submit a letter from their host institution indicating they are not concurrently receiving a stipend from other sources. A review committee appointed by the AIP CEO will review all applications received by April 1 each year and select fellows, who will be announced by May 10.