The Fannie and John Hertz Foundation Awards Quarter Million Dollar Graduate Fellowships to New Fellows; Young Women Constitute Almost Half of 2013 Cohort -- Leaders in Applied Physical, Biological and Engineering Sciences

LIVERMORE, Calif., April 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Fannie and John Hertz Foundation today announced the 2013 Hertz Fellows. From over 700 applicants, 15 were selected to receive the Hertz Fellowship, considered to be the nation's most generous support for graduate education in the applied physical, biological and engineering sciences. The Hertz Fellowship is valued at more than $250,000 per student, with support lasting up to five years. Fellows have the freedom to innovate in their doctoral studies without most traditional research funding restrictions.

"As we announce this year's selection, we are pleased to point out that nearly half of the new Fellows are young women," stated Dr. Jay Davis, Hertz Foundation President. "This is a significant part of an historic trend in the Hertz Fellowship Community. Hertz Fellows have led this trend in our nation, as well, beginning with Margaret Fels, Hertz Fellow 1965. She was among the earliest Fellows in our five-decade history and became the first female faculty member in the engineering department at Princeton. Fels was dedicated to making science fun for many women elementary school teachers and the young students they taught."

Celebrating the 50^th Anniversary of the Hertz Fellowship, the Hertz Foundation has fostered the scientific and engineering strength of the nation by finding the best and brightest students from those disciplines. During the past decade of applications, there has been a major shift of the candidates towards those who apply physical and computational tools to the problems of biomedicine and health. Significantly, another shift of the Hertz Foundation has been to support Hertz Fellows to build the vibrant Hertz Fellows Community. All ages gather in annual workshops and retreats to inspire one another and collaborate across generations and disciplines for innovation that further augments their powerful contribution.

"We have invested more than $200M – in present day value – in these young people since the inception of the Fellowship," continued Dr. Davis. "We seek applicants with exceptional personal creativity and great promise for innovative research. Throughout five decades, their impact has fulfilled that promise. They join the community of leaders who produce advances in science, medicine, technology, business, academia and government. Scientists and engineers are only 4% of the U.S. workforce but they account for 50 to 85% of the growth in GDP. The top 1% is responsible for 90% of the important discoveries. Their creativity and risk-taking bring forth innovation for our nation's technical and economic security."

Hertz Fellows pursue their own ideas with complete financial independence, under the guidance of some of the country's finest professors and mentors. Fellows are chosen for their intellect, their ingenuity and their potential to bring meaningful improvement to society. The highly competitive selection process includes a comprehensive written application, four references, and two rounds of technical interviews by recognized leaders in applied sciences and engineering.

"The Hertz Foundation nurtures these remarkable scientists and engineers as they develop and explore their genius," continued Dr. Davis. "We help genius find itself."

Visit: www.hertzfoundation.org

SOURCE Fannie and John Hertz Foundation