SUPPORTING THE NEXT BREAKTHROUGHS
SUPPORTING THE NEXT BREAKTHROUGHS
The American Welding Society Foundation proudly supports graduate students who are actively engaged in cutting-edge research within the field of welding.
These fellowships, valued at $35,000 annually, are available to students pursuing master's or Ph.D. programs in collaboration with esteemed professors at North American universities. By investing in these scholars, we are not only advancing the field of welding but also nurturing the potential for groundbreaking innovations that will benefit future generations.
These fellowships, valued at $35,000 annually, are available to students pursuing master's or Ph.D. programs in collaboration with esteemed professors at North American universities. By investing in these scholars, we are not only advancing the field of welding but also nurturing the potential for groundbreaking innovations that will benefit future generations.
FELLOWSHIP REQUIREMENTS
FELLOWSHIP REQUIREMENTS
To:
Professors Engaged in Joining Research
Subject:
Request for Proposals for AWS Fellowships
Deadline:
April 15, 2026
The American Welding Society (AWS) Foundation seeks to foster university research in joining and to recognize outstanding faculty and student talent. We are again requesting your proposals for consideration by the AWS Foundation.
The Research Fellowships are $35,000 per year. $17,500 installments are paid following the submission of progress statements on November 1 and March 1. Proposals may be funded for a period of up to three years, however, renewal applications must be submitted for the second and third years. Renewal by AWS will be contingent on demonstration of reasonable progress in the research or in graduate studies.
Proposals must be received at American Welding Society by April 15, 2026. New Fellowships will be announced in May. The AWS Foundation reserves the right not to make awards if the Committee does not find any satisfactory candidates.
The AWS Fellowship is awarded to the student for graduate research toward a Masters or Ph.D. Degree under a sponsoring professor at a North American University. The qualifications of the Graduate Student are key elements to be considered in the award. The academic credentials, plans, and research history (if any) of the student should be provided in the application package.
The student must prepare the proposal for the AWS Fellowship. However, the proposal must be developed under the guidance of a professor and accompanied by letters of recommendation from the sponsoring professor and others acquainted with the student's technical capabilities. Should the student selected by AWS be unable to accept the Fellowship or continue with the research at any time during the period of the award, the award will be forfeited, and no further funding will be provided by the AWS Foundation. The bulk of funding should be for student support.
Research topics
Topics for the AWS Fellowship may span the full range of the joining industry. Proposals for both applied and fundamental research topics are welcome.
Details
The technical portion of the proposal package should include:
The technical portion of the proposal should not exceed 15 typewritten pages. The title page, which may include the executive summary, is not included in the page count limit. The maximum file size for the technical portion is 2 megabytes. Proposals that exceed either the page limit or file size limit will be considered non-conforming and will not be evaluated.
In addition, the proposal must include:
Proposal should be typed in a minimum of 12-point font in Times, Times New Roman, or equivalent. Proposals received after the deadline will not be evaluated. Proposals should be sent electronically by April 15, 2026 to Joe Young, Associate Director, AWS Foundation at jyoung@aws.org.
Award Requirements
Recipients will be expected to submit at least one manuscript for publication in the Welding Journal Research Supplement and to present in the Professional Program at a future FABTECH Conference event during the time you are funded under this fellowship (up to three years). The manuscript will be reviewed just like all other submissions, and no special treatment will be given during review resulting from the AWS Graduate Fellowship status.
Additionally, recipients of an AWS Graduate Fellowship are not eligible to receive AWS scholarship funds concurrently; individuals may be awarded either a fellowship or a scholarship in a given award year, but not both.
GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS
2025 - 26 Graduate Research Fellowships
The Ohio State University
Flint Colvin
Ultrasonic Assisted Soldering of Metallized-Polymer Current Collectors for Thermal Runaway Resistant Li-Ion Batteries.
Under the guidance of Dr. Avi Benatar, Ohio State University
Under the guidance of Dr. Avi Benatar, Ohio State University
The Ohio State University
Fernando Romero Consuegra
Evaluation of Hydrogen Embrittlement Susceptibility in Pipeline Steel Welds
Under the guidance of Professor Boian T. Alexandrov, PhD, The Ohio State University
Under the guidance of Professor Boian T. Alexandrov, PhD, The Ohio State University
University of Alberta
Eduardo Alvarez Rocha
Toughness properties of thick sections welded with multi-pass handheld laser beam welding (HLBW).
Under the guidance of Professor Patricio F. Mendez, PhD, University of Alberta
Under the guidance of Professor Patricio F. Mendez, PhD, University of Alberta
University of California
Matthew Tu
Optimization of Charpy V Notch (CVN)
Notch Location for Heat-Affected Zone (HAZ) Testing of Single and Multiple Pass
Steel Welds
Under the guidance of Professor Machel L. Morrison, PhD, University of California, San Diego
Notch Location for Heat-Affected Zone (HAZ) Testing of Single and Multiple Pass
Steel Welds
Under the guidance of Professor Machel L. Morrison, PhD, University of California, San Diego
Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. Fellowship
Iowa State University - Satyaki Sinha
Reducing Cracking and Porosity in Wobble Laser Powder Bed Fusion Using Modeling, Experiments, and Optimization Methods
Under the guidance of Dr. Tuhin Mukherjee, Iowa State University.
Under the guidance of Dr. Tuhin Mukherjee, Iowa State University.
Glenn J. Gibson Fellowship
Colorado School of Mines
Aric Adamson
Multi-Principal Element Alloy Filler Development for Brazing at Approximately 1000 Degrees Celsius
Under the guidance of Dr. Zhenzhen Yu, Colorado School of Mines.
Under the guidance of Dr. Zhenzhen Yu, Colorado School of Mines.
Welding Journal Research Supplement Archive
Relevant research papers by the world’s foremost scientists, engineers, scholars and industry professionals, are published monthly in the Welding Journal and are also available for download in PDF format. Browse current peer-reviewed reports of research on welding procedures, metallurgy, equipment, processes, testing and quality control.
Research papers must be submitted through Editorial Manager, where you will find more information on submission guidelines and author responsibilities. The Welding Journal Impact Factor (JIF) for 2022 is 2.2. Please email wjrs@aws.org if you have any questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who is eligible to apply for a Graduate Research Fellowship?
Graduate students pursuing a Master’s or Ph.D. degree in welding or joining–related research at a North American university are eligible. Applications must be developed under the guidance of a sponsoring professor.
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How much funding does the fellowship provide?
Each AWS Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship provides $35,000 per year, paid in two installments following the submission of required progress reports.
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Can the fellowship be renewed?
Yes. Fellowships may be renewed for up to three years, provided the recipient submits a renewal application and demonstrates satisfactory research and academic progress.
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Who submits the fellowship proposal?
The graduate student is responsible for preparing the proposal, under the guidance of a sponsoring professor. The application must include letters of recommendation, including one from the sponsoring professor./p>
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Can fellowship funds be used for tuition and student support?
Yes. The majority of the funding should be allocated toward student support, such as salary or tuition, as outlined in the approved proposal budget.
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Are fellowship recipients required to publish or present their research?
Yes. Recipients are expected to submit at least one manuscript to the Welding Journal Research Supplement and present their research at a future FABTECH Conference while funded under the fellowship.
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Can a student receive an AWS fellowship and scholarship at the same time?
No. Students may receive either an AWS Graduate Fellowship or an AWS Scholarship in a given award year, but not both.
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When will fellowship recipients be announced?
Fellowship awards will be announced in May 2026.
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Where should proposals be submitted?
Proposals must be submitted electronically to the AWS Foundation by the stated deadline. Late or non-conforming submissions will not be evaluated.