# § 16536. Protecting America’s Competitive Edge (PACE) graduate fellowship program
**(a)** **Definition of eligible student** 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.
**(b)** **Establishment** The Secretary shall establish a graduate fellowship program for eligible students pursuing a doctoral degree in a mission area of the Department.
**(c)** **Selection**
**(1)** **In general** 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.
**(2)** **Criteria** 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.
**(d)** **Awards**
**(1)** **Amount** 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).
**(2)** **Duration** A fellowship awarded under this section shall be up to 3 years duration within a 5-year period.
**(3)** **Portability** A fellowship awarded under this section shall be portable with the eligible student.
**(e)** **Administration** 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.
**(f)** **Authorization of appropriations** 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.
---
**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 110–69, title V, § 5009, Aug. 9, 2007, 121 Stat. 618; Pub. L. 111–358, title IX, § 902(d), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 4045.)
## Editorial Notes
### Amendments
2011—Subsec. (f)(4) to (6). added pars. (4) to (6).