UNCF●Merck Undergraduate Science Research Scholarships
The United Negro College Fund and the Merck Company Foundation announce the availability of the
UNCF ●Merck Undergraduate Science Research Scholarship Awards.
Apply Now for an Undergraduate Award
These awards are a component of the UNCF●Merck Science Initiative,
the goal of which is to support the training and development
of world-class African American biomedical research scientists.
At least 15
UNCF●Merck Undergraduate Science Research Scholarship Awards
will be made per year. The competition is open to all students
who meet the eligibility criteria. Award recipients will be selected
based on the applicants’ abilities and accomplishments.
PURPOSE
The UNCF●Merck Undergraduate Science Research Scholarship Awards are intended to encourage the interest of African American undergraduate students in furthering their science education and pursuing biological, chemical or engineering science careers by providing tuition support and opportunities for research and engineering experience in a state-of-the-art industrial laboratory.
AWARD DESCRIPTION
Awards up to $30,000.
At least 15 Undergraduate Science Research Scholarship Awards will be made in 2013. Each award is up to a maximum of $30,000 that consists of a scholarship award of up to $25,000 and a summer research internship. For administrative purposes, the scholarship portion of the awards will be sent directly to the institutions of the award recipients. As the scholarship award is intended to support the award recipient’s tuition, room and board, and billable fees, no part of the award may be used for indirect costs. Awards are not transferable and may not be used at institutions abroad. Awards will be distributed for a September 1, 2013 start date.
Scholarship Award and Summer Internships
Each award recipient will receive a Scholarship Award of up to $25,000 to support tuition, room and board, and billable fees for the academic year 2013-14. Award recipients will be known as UNCF●Merck Undergraduate Fellows. An award recipient may not receive more funds than are adequate to cover his/her tuition, fees and room and board costs for one academic year.
In addition to the scholarship award, each award recipient will be mentored by a scientist and receive a ten to twelve-week Merck Summer Internship assignment. The internship assignment will take place during the summer of 2013.
In summary, each 2013 award will consist of the following:
- Internship Opportunities will be available and applied for separately
- Tuition scholarship of up to $25,000 for the academic year 2013-14
Department Grant
The award recipient’s department may apply for a Department Grant of up to $10,000. The actual amount of the Department Grant will total the amount of funds remaining from the scholarship portion of the award after all tuition, room and board, and billable fees have been paid, up to $10,000. The Department Grant is intended to support research in the department and may be used to purchase research supplies and equipment or support scholarships for other students in the department. The Department Grant may not be used to support salaries, travel, or indirect costs.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To be considered for the UNCF●Merck Undergraduate Science Research Scholarship Awards, an applicant must be:
- African American (Black)
- Enrolled full time in a four- year college or university in the United States
- A junior who will be a degree candidate in the 2012-13 academic year
- A life or physical sciences, or engineering major. Physical sciences majors must have completed two semesters of organic chemistry by the end of the 2012-13 academic year. First professional degree (Pharm.D., D.V.M., D.D.S, etc.) majors are not eligible.
- A student with a minimum GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale
- Committed to the ten to twelve-week summer internships at a Merck facility
- A citizen or permanent resident of the United States.
SELECTION
A UNCF●Merck Selection Committee consisting of educators, scientists and engineers will review applications and select award recipients. Applicants will be selected on the basis of their GPA, their demonstrated interest in furthering their scientific education and pursuing a career in scientific research or engineering, and their interest in and ability to perform in an industrial laboratory.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Online applications must be submitted by December 3, 2012.
All required information (marked with an *) must be entered or submission will not be allowed
Save each page as you fill in the requested information before going to the next page. Failure to do so may result in your being required to reenter information.
When you submit your completed application, an email will be automatically sent to the institutional officials listed in your application notifying them that you have applied for the scholarship
Recommendation letters from three individuals is required for a complete application and may be cut and pasted into your application by the recommenders. Recommendation letters must be submitted before December 3, 2012. In order to give recommenders the maximum amount of time to submit recommendation letters, you should enter all information for your recommenders as early as possible and click the "email" button. This generates an email to each recommender notifying them of your application and request for a letter of recommendation. They should log on to the website and register as a recommender using the information contained in the email, and cut and paste a letter of recommendation for you.
The following item must be cut and pasted from your computer
- Career Interest and Goals Statement (up to two pages)
- Resume/C.V.
The following items must also be uploaded from the applicant's computer by December 3, 2012. Without these items, an application is considered incomplete.
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency (copy of birth certificate, U.S. passport, Resident Alien Card)
- Undergraduate transcript(s)
Please complete the online application and submit it, along with the other items required, by midnight December 3, 2012. All items must be entered online including proof of citizenship and transcripts. Nothing will be accepted by postal mail. Other information may be requested from: Carita Marrow., Relationship Manager, UNCF●Merck Science Initiative, carita.marrow@uncf.org.