Part of the integration work of the newly created Alcatel-Lucent was a reassessment of the company's Foundation and the programs it supports. As a result, the company has decided to change the focus of the Foundation going forward, including canceling the Bell Labs Graduate Research Fellowship program.

The decision to end the Bell Labs Graduate Research Fellowship program does NOT affect the graduate students already enrolled in the graduate program. The Alcatel-Lucent Foundation will continue to honor its financial commitment to existing members.

The Foundation is changing its primary focus from science and math, which had been mostly U.S.-oriented and could not be adapted easily in other global locations. Consequently, all previous programs that focused on science and math have been discontinued, with the Bell Labs Graduate Research Fellowship program being one of the most notable. The Alcatel-Lucent Foundation will now primarily focus on education and volunteerism.

All of us at the Foundation, as well as the Bell Labs scientists involved in the program since 1996, are proud to have been a part of this great initiative. And we look forward to fulfilling our commitment to the graduate students currently participating in the program.

Questions should be sent to the Alcatel-Lucent Foundation at foundation@alcatel-lucent.com.