The Ruby Distinguished Doctoral Fellows Program is designed to attract outstanding doctoral students who will excel in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at West Virginia University.
This prestigious program allows select doctoral students to work with nationally recognized faculty in their fields of study. Financial support is intended to allow incoming doctoral level scholars to commit themselves fully to expanding their talents and using their research to benefit the people of West Virginia, the nation and the world.
The Ruby Fellowship provides an annual stipend of $34,000, waiver of University tuition, a College tuition scholarship, payment of University fees, and graduate student health insurance. Awards provide up to three years of funding.
Fellows receive up to $2,000 annually for professional development travel.
Awards are paid over a 12-month period during which time students must be enrolled full-time.
College/School must agree to assist selected Ruby Fellows to obtain a graduate assistantship (teaching or research) after the fellowship ends.
Nominations must be submitted by a faculty member or a program; students cannot apply for this fellowship. Nominators should visit the Fellowship Nomination Information page for instructions on how to nominate students for this fellowship.
ELIGIBILITY
- Nominees must be US citizens (permanent residents are not eligible for this fellowship).
- Nominees must be incoming (Fall 2024) doctoral students in STEM disciplines; students admitted for the Spring 2025 and Summer 2025 terms are also eligible.
- NSF STEM Classification of Instructional Programs.
- Nominees must have completed an application for on-campus, Fall 2024 admission to a WVU Ph.D. program no later than the time the fellowship nomination is submitted.
- Nominees must have a minimum GPA of 3.2 for undergraduate or 3.5 for graduate course work.
SELECTION PROCESS
The nominee’s academic promise must be substantial. Ruby Distinguished Doctoral Fellowship recipients are selected by the Ruby Foundation Fellowship committee based on the following criteria:
- GPA.
- Strength of graduate admissions application essay (if required for application) and standardized test score (if required for application).
- Strength of graduate application letters of recommendation.
- Strength of CV or resume.
- Strength of letter of support from the WVU department/program or faculty member making the nomination.
NOMINATION PROCESS
Nominations must be submitted by an individual faculty member or by an academic college or department; students cannot apply for this fellowship. There is no nomination limit for this fellowship. Note that faculty members and programs are encouraged to only nominate their most qualified applicants for this fellowship. Finalists will be invited to campus to interview with the selection committee, and awardees will be notified by late March.
WVU names up to four new Ruby Scholars each year.
Nominators should visit the Fellowships Nomination Information page for instructions on how to nominate students.
Please contact the Office of Graduate Education and Life at GradEd@mail.wvu.edu or 304.293.7173 for assistance.