Ph.D. Fellowship Program

Available for qualified candidates with professional experience, and a desire to pursue an academic career, with the means of acquiring a doctoral degree in the field of Mining or Extractive Metallurgy/Mineral Processing (EM/MP) at a U.S. accredited university.

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Focuses on providing financial support to qualified candidates with industry experience and a desire to pursue an academic career, who are currently enrolled or have been formally accepted in a U.S. academic institution, with the means of acquiring a doctoral degree in the field of mining or extractive metallurgy/mineral processing at a U.S. accredited university.

SME has implemented these programs to address the long-term challenges that threaten the sustainability of U.S. mining and mineral processing/extractive metallurgy academic degree granting programs, as well as the looming future labor deficiencies associated with retirements over the next two decades.

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Questions? Send an email to academicgrants@smenet.org

Award Recipients:

  • 2023 SME Ph.D. Fellowship Grant – Younes Shekarian, Penn State

  • 2022 Shoemaker Ph.D. Fellowship Grant - Lynette Hutson, University of Arizona

  • 2022 Stantec/McIntosh Ph.D. Fellowship Grant - Amy McBrayer, South Dakota School of Mines

  • 2022 SME Ph.D. Fellowship Grant - Elham Rahimi, Penn State

  • 2021 Shoemaker Ph.D. Fellowship Grant - Lauren Shields, University of Kentucky

  • 2021 Stantec/McIntosh Ph.D. Fellowship Grant - Dayan Anderson, Colorado School of Mines

  • 2021 SME Ph.D. Fellowship Grant - Richard Bishop, Virginia Tech

  • 2019 Shoemaker Ph.D. Fellowship Grant - Amy Richins, University of Utah

  • 2019 Stantec/McIntosh Ph.D. Fellowship Grant - Behzad Hassas, Pennsylvania State University

  • 2019 SME Ph.D. Fellowship Grant - Benjamin Teschner, Colorado School of Mines

  • 2018 Robert S. Shoemaker Ph.D. Fellowship Grant - Robert Doug Weyher, University of Utah

  • 2018 Stantec/McIntosh Ph.D. Fellowship Grant - Aaron Young, University of Utah

  • 2018 Lou Henry Hoover WAAIME Ph.D. Fellowship - Alexander Douglas, Missouri Univ. of S&T

  • ​2017 Robert S. Shoemaker Ph.D. Fellowship Grant – Shane Lee, South Dakota M&T

  • 2017 Stantec/McIntosh Ph.D. Fellowship Grant – Heather Lammers, Colorado School of Mines

  • 2017 SME Ph.D. Fellowship Grant – Danielle Rocha, Colorado School of Mines

  • 2016 SME Ph.D. Fellowship Grant – Gail L. Heath, University of Arizona

  • 2016 SME Ph.D. Fellowship Grant – Richard M. LaDouceur, Montana Tech

  • 2016 SME Ph.D. Fellowship Grant – Penny L. Padgett, University of Kentucky

  • 2015 SME Ph.D. Fellowship Grant – Russell Lamont, University of Kentucky

  • 2015 SME Ph.D. Fellowship Grant – Christopher Roos, Montana Tech

  • 2015 SME Ph.D. Fellowship Grant – Joshua Werner, University of Utah


Grants receiving complete funding from an individual, company or organization in any given year(s) may qualify for “naming rights” recognizing the individual, company or organization as the grant underwriter.