Rising Bird Fellows
Fund Your Passion!
Rising Bird Fellows, named for Dr. Tina Rising Bird '82 and Dr. Jeff Bird '82, MD '86, PhD '88, is a program that provides funding for Stanford students who participate in qualifying opportunities of unpaid internships, externships, or short-term projects during Winter, Spring, or Summer Quarter. These opportunities allow students to apply their classroom learning to real-world environments while exploring different industries and roles, learning new skills, and making professional connections. A goal of the Rising Bird Fellows program is to help students explore career opportunities outside of the Stanford environment and begin to gain experience and skills while they build their professional network.
Rising Bird Fellows stipends are calculated based upon the student time commitment to their opportunity during the quarter for which they are applying, with a maximum value of $7,500 during Summer Quarter and up to $2,815 for Winter and Spring Quarter. Students whose opportunities take place in the highest cost-of-living cities during Summer Quarter may also be eligible for an additional $500 or $1000. Rising Bird Fellows is open to eligible undergraduates and prioritizes students with the highest financial need.
Student Application Timeline
- October 7, 2025 - Applications open
- November 11, 2025 - Student Application closes
- November 13, 2025 - Employer Agreement closes
All Winter Quarter applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by December 5, 2025.
- January 13, 2026 - Applications open
- February 17, 2026 - Student Application closes
- February 19, 2026 - Employer Agreement closes
All Spring Quarter applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by March 13, 2026.
- February 24, 2026 - Applications open
- April 21, 2026 - Applications close
- April 23, 2026 - Employer Agreement closes
All Spring Quarter applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by May 22, 2026.
Rising Bird Fellows Eligibility and Requirements
Understand the conditions that must be met for a student, supervisor, and opportunity to be considered eligible for Rising Bird Fellows.
Rising Bird Fellows Application Process
Learn about the Rising Bird Fellows two-part application process that students and their supervisor are required to complete.
Rising Bird Fellows Commitments and Policies
Discover the benefits and expectations for Rising Bird Fellows including developmental touchpoints and stipend information.
Contact the Rising Bird Fellows Team
If you have a question about Rising Bird Fellows that is not covered on the Rising Bird Fellows pages, please feel free to reach out to us.
