---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 16536"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "16536"
heading: "Protecting America’s Competitive Edge (PACE) graduate fellowship program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/16536"
units:
  - "Chapter 149 — National Energy Policy and Programs"
  - "Subchapter XVII — Protecting America’s Competitive Edge Through Energy"
---

# §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](/usc/42/16531.md?p=2) that offers a doctoral degree in a field relevant to a mission area of the [Department](/usc/42/16531.md?p=1).
- (b) **Establishment—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/16531.md?p=4) shall establish a graduate fellowship program for eligible students pursuing a doctoral degree in a mission area of the [Department](/usc/42/16531.md?p=1).
- (c) **Selection—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/16531.md?p=4) 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](/usc/42/16531.md?p=4).
  - (2) **Criteria—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/16531.md?p=4) 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](/usc/42/16531.md?p=1);
    - (B) to demonstrate to the [Secretary](/usc/42/16531.md?p=4)—
      - (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](/usc/42/16531.md?p=2) described in [subsection (a)](#a); and
      - (ii) incidental expenses associated with curricula and research at the [institution of higher education](/usc/42/16531.md?p=2) (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](/usc/42/16121.md?p=3) with the eligible student.
- (e) **Administration—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/16531.md?p=4), acting through the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) 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](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) 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.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2011—Subsec. (f)(4) to (6). Pub. L. 111–358 added pars. (4) to (6).