Questions
Q2. When should I apply for a UNCF● Merck Graduate Science Research Dissertation Fellowship?
Q3. How many UNCF● Merck Fellows are there?
Q6. What is the UNCF SEI Merck Program all about?
Q8. When should I apply for a UNCF● Merck Undergraduate Science Research Scholarship?
Answers
Q1.
I am interested in applying for a UNCF● Merck Science Research Scholarship or Fellowship. How can I apply?
Answer:
The application process is entirely online. The online application is currently open for the 2013 awards. The deadline for 2012 UNCF● Merck Science Research Scholarships and Fellowships will be December 3, 2012. Go to the Home page then click Apply Online on the bar at the top of the page. Select the scholarship or fellowship for which you wish to apply. Click "Apply Now" and your browser will take you to the Apply Online login screen. If you have ever applied for a scholarship or fellowship at UNCF before (including UNCF● Merck), use the same login email address and password as you used before. If not, then "Register" in the box on the right.
Q2.
When should I apply for a UNCF● Merck Graduate Science Research Dissertation Fellowship?
Answer:
You can apply for a UNCF● Merck Graduate Science Research Dissertation Fellowship when you are within 1 - 3 years of completing your dissertation research. Also, you will need to have successfully passed your qualifying exams before September 1, 2013 in order to be eligible for a 2012 fellowship. Students currently applying to graduate school for 2012-13 matriculation are not eligible for a 2013 UNCF● Merck Graduate Fellowship. Similarly, most first year graduate students are ineligible as engagement in or in the final stages of planning your Ph.D. dissertation research is required.
Q3.
How many UNCF● Merck Fellows are there?
Answer:
The first class of UNCF● Merck Fellows dates back to 1996, and in the words of the director, "Once a Fellow, always a Fellow!" With the recent addition of 37 - 2012 UNCF● Merck Fellows, there are now 590 UNCF● Merck Fellows finishing their undergraduate or graduate studies, completing postdoctoral appointments, and working in academia and private industry.
Q4.
When I try to Register in Apply Online, I get a message that my login and password are already taken. What do I do?
Answer:
Apply Online uses your email address as a unique identifier. If you have ever logged onto Apply Online before at UNCF, please use that same email address and password then login through the "Returning User" on the right side of the Apply Online screen.
Q5.
I applied for a 2012 UNCF● Merck Science Research Scholarship or Fellowship. When will I hear a decision?
Answer:
All applicants will receive a decision via email by April 16, 2013.
Q6.
What is the UNCF SEI Merck Program all about?
Answer:
In July, 1995, Merck & Co., Inc. - a leading pharmaceutical products and services company - and UNCF announced the UNCF•Merck Science Initiative, whose purpose is to increase the number of African American students pursuing careers in scientific research. Merck's initial commitment was to support this initiative over 10 years with total funding of $20 million. This commitment was renewed in 2006 for an additional 5 years through 2010. This funding is used to support scholarships and fellowships at the undergraudate, graduate and postdoctoral levels.
Q7.
I am applying for a UNCF● Merck Graduate Science Research Dissertation Fellowship or a UNCF● Merck Postdoctoral Science Research Fellowship. Will I receive feedback on my research proposal from the review committee?
Answer:
No, you will not receive individual feedback on your research proposal. You will, of course, be notified of the selection committee's decision.
Q8.
When should I apply for a UNCF● Merck Undergraduate Science Research Scholarship?
Answer:
Assuming you meet the other eligibility requirements, you are only eligible to apply for a UNCF● Merck Undergraduate Science Research Scholarship as a college junior. If selected, the scholarship monies would be applied to your senior year in college and you would complete internships at Merck the summers after your junior and senior years.
Q9.
I am currently enrolled in a terminal Masters program. Am I eligible for a UNCF● Merck Graduate Science Research Dissertation Fellowship?
Answer:
No. UNCF● Merck Graduate Science Research Dissertation Fellowships only support students enrolled in a PhD, MD/PhD, or equivalent program in the biomedical sciences.