Ph.D. Fellowship Program
The SME Ph.D. Fellowship supports doctoral candidates in mining engineering or extractive metallurgy/mineral processing who plan academic careers, aiming to address faculty shortages and strengthen research in the field.
Funder: Society for Mining Metallurgy and Exploration
Due Dates (Anticipated): January 2027 (SME Ph.D. Fellowship Program)
Funding Amounts: $60,000 per year for up to 4 years; not automatically renewed each year
Summary: Financial support for Ph.D. candidates in mining or extractive metallurgy/mineral processing at U.S. universities who aspire to academic careers.
Key Information: Program is paused for 2026 and anticipated to resume in 2027; membership in SME required.
Description
The SME Ph.D. Fellowship Program is designed to address critical faculty shortages and sustainability challenges in U.S. mining and mineral processing academic programs. The fellowship provides substantial financial support to qualified doctoral candidates—particularly those with industry experience—who intend to pursue academic careers in mining engineering or extractive metallurgy/mineral processing at accredited U.S. universities. The program aims to incentivize more engineers to enter academia, thereby strengthening educational pipelines and supporting the long-term health of the mining and minerals sector.
