In this section, the term "eligible student" means a student who attends an institution of higher education that offers a doctoral degree in a field relevant to a mission area of the Department.
The Secretary shall establish a graduate fellowship program for eligible students pursuing a doctoral degree in a mission area of the Department.
The Secretary shall award fellowships to eligible students under this section through a competitive merit review process, involving written and oral interviews, that will result in a wide distribution of awards throughout the United States, as determined by the Secretary.
The Secretary shall establish selection criteria for awarding fellowships under this section that require an eligible student-
(A) to pursue a field of science or engineering of importance to a mission area of the Department;
(B) to demonstrate to the Secretary-
(i) the capacity of the eligible student to understand technical topics relating to the fellowship that can be derived from the first principles of the technical topics;
(ii) imagination and creativity;
(iii) leadership skills in organizations or intellectual endeavors, demonstrated through awards and past experience; and
(iv) excellent verbal and communication skills to explain, defend, and demonstrate an understanding of technical subjects relating to the fellowship; and
(C) to be a citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States.
A fellowship awarded under this section shall-
(A) provide an annual living stipend; and
(B) cover-
(i) graduate tuition at an institution of higher education described in subsection (a); and
(ii) incidental expenses associated with curricula and research at the institution of higher education (including books, computers, and software).
A fellowship awarded under this section shall be up to 3 years duration within a 5-year period.
A fellowship awarded under this section shall be portable with the eligible student.
The Secretary, acting through the Director of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education-
(1) shall administer the program established under this section; and
(2) may enter into a contract with a nonprofit entity to administer the program, including the selection and award of fellowships.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section-
(1) $7,500,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(2) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, including nonexpiring fellowships for the preceding fiscal year;
(3) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, including nonexpiring fellowships for preceding fiscal 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.
(
2011-Subsec. (f)(4) to (6).