Fellowship: Frequently Asked Questions

1. I’m interested in becoming an Engineering for Change (E4C) Fellow. How do I apply?

Please visit our Apply Webpage to learn more about the Impact Projects being offered for the 2023 Summer Cohort Fellowship. There you can fill out this Application Form (Round 1) to submit your application indicating your top three Impact Project choices. Applicants selected to advance to Round 2 of the application process will be notified via email, and applicants will submit additional materials such as references or writing samples. Applicants selected to advance to the Interview Round will be notified via email, and an online interview will be scheduled with the E4C Program Management team. Final selection and onboarding will occur between March and April of 2023.Please see summary below:

Round 1 (Deadline to Apply: February 12th, 2023)

Fill out the Application Form
Indicate your top three Impact Projects (can be any three of the projects listed on the website)
Submit your CV or resume
Submit 1 page letter of interest
Reference Form: you must have 2-3 references fill out a reference form concerning your skills and performance. You must be recommended by a representative of the University in which you are currently enrolled (ex. Program Manager, Lab Head, PI, etc.) and/or current Managers at the companies of current or past employment. These must be submitted by February 22nd, 2023 to be included in your application package.

Round 2

~ 200 words writing sample in English. This can be an extract from a paper you have written in the past or a quick paragraph about your previous experience in the Engineering for Sustainable Development field.
As applicable, work samples (e.g., portfolio, projects, models, simulations, certifications, etc.,)
As applicable, evidence of research proficiency (e.g., papers, projects, reports, etc.,)

Interview Round

Interview with E4C PM team

Final Selection (Mid April 2023)

Onboarding (End of April 2023)

*All requirements must be submitted in English.

2. What is the timeline for the application process?

Applications usually open yearly between December and the end of January. Round 1, Round 2, Interview Round, and Final Selection and Onboarding will occur between January and April of 2023. Applicants usually receive notification of Fellowship selection by the end of April.

3. What is the timeline of the program if I get selected?

Each year, the E4C Summer Fellowship starts in May and ends in September.

4. Who can apply to be a Fellow?

The E4C Fellowship is designed to advance the careers of early career professionals and students

Undergraduate students
Graduate student
PhD candidates
Working engineers with no more than 5 years work experience in this space

interested in working at the intersection of engineering/technology, sustainability, social impact, and global development including

Architects
Engineers
Data analysts
Computer scientists
… and more. Refer to our fellowship page to check out the profiles of some of our past Fellows.

Field experience with implementation of technology for development via academic programs, social entrepreneurship, or significant volunteering (e.g., EWB), project work, etc., or with a focus, specialization and/or interest in global development is encouraged, but not required. Applicants do not need to currently be affiliated with a university. To be eligible, candidates must be proficient in English (reading, writing, and speaking) given that the program is in English. Furthermore, candidates must be able to demonstrate their ability to do research or design, work with diverse international teams, be resourceful, meet deadlines, and work remotely.

5. Do I have to have a Research proposal to get selected for the fellowship?

No. To apply to the program, candidates do not need to come up with the research project proposal. These are determined by E4C and its partners/sponsors. E4C Fellows are matched with specific Impact Projects aligned to their field of interest and expertise, informed by cross-sector partners. Descriptions of the Impact Projects available for the 2023 Summer Cohort are available at our Application Webpage. To learn more about projects E4C Fellows have carried out in past Fellowships, please visit the E4C’s Research page.

6. What is the selection criteria?

Fellows are selected based on their academic performance; professional, Engineering for Sustainable Development (ESD), social impact, and/or sustainability experience; sector of specialization; references; geographical location; and alignment with specific Impact Project Fellow requirements.

7. How many E4C Fellowships are awarded annually?

The number of Fellows may vary from year to year and historically have ranged from 10 to nearly 60 Fellowships each year. E4C will award up to sixty (60) Fellowships for the Summer Cohort in 2023.

8. Are Fellows compensated?

Fellows receive a stipend for the duration of the fellowship. The amount awarded varies based on region and expertise of the applicants. The stipend payment is bound to performance and will be processed after completing defined goals/targets. For international Fellows (outside the US & Canada), internet connection support might be provided (Mobile data, Fixed Internet, etc.) based on the need and defined during the Fellowship selection process.

9. How many hours per week or month do Fellows work?

This is a part-time commitment. Fellows will need to have 20-25 hours per week available from the beginning of May to the end of September for the Fellowship. Fellows are not required to log their hours and E4C allows for flexibility in when Fellows work on their projects and assignments as long as they are able to attend mandatory Fellowship calls.

10. I don’t live in New York City where E4C is based. Can I still become a Fellow?

Fellows may be based in their location of residence so long as they have good internet connectivity throughout the five months of the Fellowship. This Fellowship is primarily virtual to provide a unique opportunity for students to continue their training in this field of engineering and social impact despite travel restrictions. For 2023, some projects may request travel or in-person meetings with partner organizations which are specified in the project descriptions listed on the Application Webpage. Fellows will be compensated for any pre-approved travel for Fellowship work.

11. What do Fellows do?

The Engineering for Change (E4C) Fellowship is a workforce development program at the intersection of technology and social impact, serving to activate and empower early-career engineers and technical professionals worldwide to solve local and global challenges. Providing a unique platform to develop soft skills and connect with mentors and peers from all continents, the E4C Fellowship offers leadership development opportunities preparing the next generation of technical professionals to reach their fullest potential and advance the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Since 2014, E4C has awarded over 200 Fellowships to exceptional early-career engineers, architects, and scientists from over 40 countries across all inhabited continents, supporting more than 120 projects with organizations worldwide, offering them first-hand experience in addressing global challenges.

Sponsored by mission-aligned organizations, E4C Fellows expand their understanding of the sector through participation in E4C’s Impact Projects, performing research or design work for social impact (please visit our Research page to learn more about past projects Fellows have worked on). Targeted Learning Modules deepen their knowledge in the space, while networking online opportunities with experts and rising engineers allow them to gain exposure to a global audience through the E4C community and E4C’s Alumni Network, gaining ample professional development opportunities to advance their career path. Fellows will have the opportunity to contribute to the E4C Solutions Library, write and publish an editorial for the E4C website, as well as engage in other E4C sponsored activities and events such as Impact.Engineered, and support ASME’s Innovation Showcase (ISHOW).

This Fellowship is a part-time and remote commitment that lasts five months, with Summer (May to September) and Winter (November-March) cohorts. Fellows get paid a stipend and are expected to work 20-25 hours per week with flexible schedules.

12. How do I change my project preference?

Unfortunately, you will not be able to change your project preference after you submit your application. Despite this, when submitting your application, you will be asked if you are open to being considered for projects outside of your expressed top three in which case you may be selected for another project that aligns with your skills and interests.

13. When do my references need to be submitted by?

Applicants must have at least two references complete a reference form by Wednesday, February 22nd, 2023. After this date, submissions will not be accepted, so please share the survey with your references as early as possible. If you have a question about whether or not your references submitted the reference form, please contact them directly to inquire.

14. What about visas?

Engineering for Change is not able to support applicants or Fellows in acquiring work visas. For any projects requesting in-person support, please ensure you have the right to work in that specific country.

For More Information

If you have additional questions please contact: fellows@engineeringforchange.org.