GQS PhD
Fellowship

The GQS PhD Fellowship looks to advance PhD candidates’ research in mathematics, engineering, technology and science. Applications to our 2025 Fellowship program are now closed.

Powering
High-Impact
Research

Three GQS PhD Fellows will be eligible to receive a grant of up to $100,000 to fund their research.

Our firm’s ambition is to be the world’s most successful investment team, supporting the missions of the world’s preeminent institutions. Our success depends on curious, talented people who solve challenging quantitative problems with rigor and teamwork.

The GQS PhD Fellowship will propel the research of PhD candidates who share our hands-on approach to solving problems that matter. Three Fellowships will be awarded: one in mathematics/statistics, one in physics, and one in computer science/electrical engineering.

If you’re ambitious, driven and committed to focusing on research that can deliver real impact—whatever the problem you’re solving—we encourage you to apply.

Secure Academic Funding

Fellows will be eligible to receive a grant of up to $100,000 to cover tuition, fees and stipend for the 2025/2026 academic year.

Work with a Mentor

Each fellow will pair with a GQS mentor with deep scientific or mathematical expertise, who can share their experiences, offer guidance and help with networking.

Find Career Opportunities

Fellows will have the opportunity to network and socialize with GQS employees and will be eligible for summer internships and full-time positions.

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A Streamlined
Application

We know that applying for funding is time-consuming, so we’ve made the GQS PhD Fellowship application simple.

Applicants must:

Be a full-time student pursuing a PhD in mathematics, statistics, physics, electrical engineering or computer science, enrolled at an accredited U.S. university.
Complete the application form that best aligns with your research focus and upload a current CV by March 2nd.
If selected as a finalist, present to the fellowship decision panel in Chicago in early to mid-April.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many fellowships will be awarded? What are the selection criteria?

We will award three GQS PhD Fellowships: one in mathematics/statistics, one in physics, and one in computer science/electrical engineering. Each GQS PhD Fellow will be chosen by two senior team leaders with expertise in the prospective Fellow’s area of research, alongside Navneet Arora, Head of Global Quantitative Strategies.

The primary selection criterion for the GQS PhD Fellowship is impactful work in a quantitative field. We define “impactful” research broadly to include work that has academic impact (as measured by publications, academic papers and citations) as well as work that involves hands-on analysis of data or has demonstrable practical or commercial application.

Research does not need to be finance-related to be considered for a GQS PhD Fellowship.

What is the application timeline?

The application timeline is as follows:

January 6th: Applications open
March 2nd: Applications close
By March 28th: Finalists will be notified
March 31st – April 18th: Finalists will travel to Chicago to meet with and present to GQS PhD Fellowship decision panel
By April 25th: GQS PhD Fellows will be selected and notified

When and how will funding be provided?

What is expected of GQS Fellows as part of the fellowship?

Prior to Fellows being selected, a group of finalists will be invited to our Chicago offices to present to the GQS PhD Fellowship decision panel. Selected Fellows will be required to participate in one GQS-hosted event during their fellowship. Otherwise, we have kept fellowship obligations to a minimum to enable Fellows to focus on their research.

Our future fellows want to achieve greatness. They want to be at the forefront and solve truly hard problems sitting in the company of very accomplished people from different disciplines.

Navneet Arora
Head of Global Quantitative Strategies

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About Global
Quantitative
Strategies

Founded in 2012, Global Quantitative Strategies (GQS) is Citadel’s quantitative investment strategy. We’ve rapidly grown to become one of the firm’s core investment strategies and one of the top quantitative investment teams in the world.

Our agile teams of researchers, engineers and traders develop robust mathematical models and statistical methods to identify investment opportunities with unparalleled depth, breadth and scale.

Explore GQS

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