42 U.S.C. § 16536 — Protecting America’s Competitive Edge (PACE) graduate fellowship program

(a) Definition of eligible student: In this section, an "eligible student" is a student attending a college that offers a doctoral degree in a field relevant to a Department mission area. (b) Establishment: The Secretary must establish a graduate fellowship program for eligible students pursuing a doctoral degree in a Department mission area. (c) Selection: (1) In general: The Secretary must award fellowships through a competitive merit-review process, including written applications and oral interviews, designed to spread awards widely across the United States. (2) Criteria: To win, an eligible student must: (A) be pursuing a field of science or engineering important to a Department mission area; (B) demonstrate to the Secretary (i) the capacity to understand technical topics from first principles, (ii) imagination and creativity, (iii) leadership skills, shown through past awards and experience, and (iv) strong verbal and communication skills to explain and defend technical subjects; and (C) be a citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States. (d) Awards: (1) Amount: A fellowship must (A) provide an annual living stipend; and (B) cover (i) graduate tuition at the college, and (ii) related expenses such as books, computers, and software. (2) Duration: A fellowship can last up to 3 years within a 5-year period. (3) Portability: A fellowship stays with the student if they change colleges. (e) Administration: The Secretary, acting through the Director of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education, must (1) administer the program; and (2) may contract with a nonprofit entity to help administer it, including selecting and awarding fellowships. (f) Authorization of appropriations: Congress may provide: (1) $7,500,000 for fiscal year 2008; (2) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, including nonexpiring fellowships from the prior year; (3) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, including nonexpiring fellowships from prior years; (4) $20,600,000 for fiscal year 2011; (5) $21,200,000 for fiscal year 2012; and (6) $21,900,000 for fiscal year 2013.