Caltech recognizes that differences of perspective, experience, and thought is essential to achieving and maintaining scientific excellence. The WAVE Fellows program supports this goal by increasing visibility and accessibility to our PhD programs to undergraduates in STEM fields who are seriously considering attending graduate school. .
WAVE Fellows is a 10-week undergraduate research program that provides robust programming in the areas of academic and professional development.
Eligibility: Students must be current sophomores through non-graduating seniors and must be U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, or students with DACA status. A minimum GPA of 3.4 is required.
Competitive applicants will have completed sophomore-level courses in desired research field, have demonstrated through academic and/or co-curricular activities a passion for research, and can articulate how their interests align with Caltech's research areas. The most competitive applicants will have prior research experience.
The WAVE Fellows program is open to anyone regardless of race, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual identity, and/or any other protected characteristic.
Support: WAVE Fellows will receive a $6,000 award for the 10-week period, plus campus housing, and a dining and travel supplement of ~$1,000.
Application: Online applications are due January 9, 2026.
Program information sessions will be held throughout November. Register now!
Click here for more information or reach out to Carol Casey, casey@caltech.edu, with questions.
Caltech research areas include:
BIOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING (BBE)
- Faculty
- Research
- Biological Engineering
- Cellular and Developmental Biology
- Evolutionary and Organismal Biology
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, and Biophysics
- Neuroscience
CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING (CCE)
- Chemistry
- Chemical Engineering
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCE (EAS)
- Aerospace (GALCIT)
- Andrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering
- Applied Physics
- Materials Science
- Computing & Mathematical Sciences
- Electrical Engineering
- Environmental Science & Engineering
- Mechanical and Civil Engineering
GEOLOGICAL AND PLANETARY SCIENCES (GPS)
- Geology
- Geobiology
- Geochemistry
- Geophysics
- Planetary Sciences
HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES (HSS)
- Humanities
- Social Sciences
PHYSICS, MATH, AND ASTRONOMY (PMA)
- Physics
- Astronomy
- Math