CARTA Fellowship Program

Annette Merle-Smith

History of the Annette Merle-Smith Fellowships and CARTA Fellowships in Anthropogeny

Graduate students complementing a traditional degree with a Specialization in Anthropogeny gain valuable training in trans-disciplinary research spanning sciences and humanities. Such skill and qualification greatly benefit students as they embark on future careers in both public and private sectors, where the ability to mediate between different types of knowledge bases is becoming increasingly important.

Annette Merle-Smith Fellowships

Established in 2015, thanks to a generous gift from long-time CARTA supporter, Annette Merle-Smith, this award is given to students who have performed at the highest level in the Graduate Specialization in Anthropogeny, a three-year program offered by the Faculty of Anthropogeny through CARTA to UC San Diego graduate students from a variety of participating UC San Diego Ph.D. programs. Students enrolled in the program are required to complete the curriculum of elective courses on Anthropogeny (explaining the origin of our species), participate in CARTA’s scientific symposia and ensuing discussions, network with researchers from around the world, and cross-train with peers from a variety of disciplines.

Annette Merle-Smith has been supporting CARTA from the beginning, lending her generosity first to CARTA’s symposia, then to its Museum of Primatology, and now to the Specialization Track in Anthropogeny. She remarked that she is particularly pleased to support the graduate students in the Anthropogeny program, knowing the value and impact this trans-disciplinary education has not only on their research and future career but also on their outlook on life.


2022-2023 Annette Merle-Smith Fellows:


2022-2023 CARTA Fellows:


Past Fellows:

Please join us in congratulating our Fellows on this achievement. Each Fellowship covers partial stipend and tuition for one year. Assuming good performance by the students and future funding, each Fellow will be considered for renewal (maximum of 3 years of support).