Our Team and Who We Support
The Career Center’s Fellowships Team supports eligible undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni throughout the application processes for 40+ (inter)nationally competitive fellowships that require Vanderbilt’s institutional nomination.
To connect with us, please email our team at fellowships@vanderbilt.edu.
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Elizabeth Harrington Lambert, PhD
Associate Director, Fellowships
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Kailey Payne, M.Ed
Fellowships Advisor
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Tristan Brown
Fellowships Advising Graduate Assistant
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Grace Truett
Fellowships Advising Graduate Assistant
Why Pursue Fellowships?
Fellowships can support:
- Mentored research at Vanderbilt or in international or domestic laboratories
- Fully-funded postgraduate degree in the US or abroad
- Intensive, immersive research, study or language learning in the US or abroad
Over 250 Vanderbilt alumni, graduate + professional students have received funding through the Fulbright US Student Program. Fulbright places English Teaching Assistants in c. 100 countries, funds research and creative projects across disciplines on six continents, and supports earning graduate degrees in Europe, Australia, Asia, and Latin America.
Vanderbilt Fulbrighters have conducted dissertation, thesis, and independent research projects in Australia, Tunisia, Russia, Namibia, India, Sweden, Ukraine, Rwanda, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Australia, Morocco, Peru, the Netherlands, Israel, and Belgium. Alumni have also earned graduate degrees in Taiwan, the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, Mexico, Sweden, Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia.
Through Fulbright and country-specific fellowship programs including JET, USTA, TAPIF, NALCAP, and EPIK, Vanderbilt students and alumni have taught English in Germany, Austria, Spain, France, South Korea, Italy, Taiwan, Thailand, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, Macedonia, and Cyprus.
CBYX offers students and alumni the opportunity to complete postgraduate professional development programs in Germany, Luce does the same in South and East Asia and Fulbright does so in Mexico and FAO Schwarz and Project Horseshoe Farm support domestic opportunities.
Pursuing Fellowships at Vanderbilt
Do you know how to draft a competitive research proposal? Or how to demonstrate your academic and professional goals to various audiences in writing and video or in-person interviews? Can you craft a compelling story tracing the evolution of your interests with a clear red thread?
The Career Center’s Fellowships Team focuses on supporing eligible students and alumni throughout the application processes for (inter)nationally competitive fellowships that require Vanderbilt’s institutional nomination.
Fellowships alumni reflect on the value of the application process, which offers tremendous transferable skills, benefits that accrue whether you advance or not. This inspired us to create the Postgraduate Proposal Development Program (PPDP or “Bootcamp”) in collaboration with the ELC, Writing Studio, campus and alumni partners.
Active engagement in the PPDP ensures that applicants have sufficient time to draft, workshop and refine dossier materials and are supported throughout the application process by the Fellowships Team, campus and alumni partners to present the strongest possible application on behalf of Vanderbilt.
The fellowships process builds applicants’ self-awareness and helps them gain clarity around their academic, professional and personal goals. PPDP participants create well-crafted research statements, statements of grant purpose (academic + personal plans), CVs/ resumes, and other tangible materials ready to adapt for postgraduate study applications and post-Vanderbilt career journeys.
Working with the Fellowships Team can be one of your highest impact experiences at Vanderbilt (or as a recent alum).
To get started, explore the list of fellowships that we support, connect with VU Fellowship alumni and review our “Enter the Race” (pre-application) forms in the InfoReady portal or in award-specific application portals (currently, for Boren, Udall, CLS, Gilman, Gilman-McCain and DAAD Short-Term awards).
Fulbright Fellowship
Vanderbilt has been recognized by the US Department of State as a repeat Top Producer for the Fulbright US Student Program, the US government’s flagship international postgraduate fellowship. Over 250 Vanderbilt students and alumni have completed Fulbright awards in the 80 years since the founding of the Fulbright program.
The Fulbright US Student Program funds over 2000 postgraduate Fulbrighters annually. Fulbrighters serve as US cultural ambassadors in 140+ countries. Placements include serving as English Teaching Assistants (ETAs), conducting research across disciplines on six continents, earning graduate degrees in Europe, Asia, Australia and Latin America or a unique binational business internship program in Mexico.
Vanderbilt-affiliated Fulbrighters have conducted dissertation, thesis, and independent research projects in Tunisia, Russia, Namibia, India, Sweden, Ukraine, Rwanda, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Australia, Morocco, Peru, the Netherlands, Israel, Macedonia and Belgium (to name a few). VU Fulbrighters have also earned graduate degrees in Taiwan, the UK, Ireland, Mexico, Sweden, Germany, New Zealand, Denmark and Australia. ETAs have served throughout Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia, including recent placements ranging from Germany and Spain, Timor Leste, Taiwan, Israel, Korea, Kosovo, Czech Republic and Vietnam.
To support students/alumni in crafting competitive dossiers for Fulbright and related postgraduate study and research opportunities, the Fellowships Team collaborates with the English Language Center, Writing Studio, campus and alumni partners, colleges and schools to administer the Postgraduate Proposal Development Program (PPDP or “Bootcamp”).
Vanderbilt requires potential nominees to participate in the PPDP in the spring/summer prior to seeking nomination. Active engagement in the PPDP ensures that applicants have sufficient time to draft, workshop and refine dossier materials and are supported throughout the application process by the Fellowships Team, campus and alumni partners to present the strongest possible application as representatives of Vanderbilt.
Working with the Fellowships Team can be one of your highest impact experiences at Vanderbilt (or as a recent alum).
To get started, explore the list of fellowships that we support, connect with VU Fellowship alumni and review our “Enter the Race” (pre-application) forms in the InfoReady portal or in award-specific application portals (currently, for Boren, Udall, CLS, Gilman, Gilman-McCain and DAAD Short-Term awards).
A Note for Graduate Students
We strongly encourage applications from graduate students and graduate alumni who are eligible for Fulbright, Marshall/Chevening/Sherfield, DAAD, Luce, Boren, DAAD-RISE Pro, and other nomination-based awards. We also provide structured support for NSF GRFP for eligible seniors, alumni or first-year graduate students in collaboration with the Writing Studio, Graduate School, alumni and campus partners.
The Graduate and Postdoctoral Career Success (GPCS) program supports the career plans of graduate and postdoctoral scholars in non-biomedical STEM, Humanities, and Social Sciences disciplines. These plans include internships, alt-ac careers, post-ac opportunities, and related career opportunities outside of the academy. GPCS also supports master’s candidates interested in pursuing doctoral studies.
For more information, visit the Graduate and Postdoctoral Career Success (GPCS) program webpage.