Beckman Scholars Program

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State-specific expression of the lipid-droplet Jabba during Drosophila oogenesis (Blue = DNA, Green = Jabba). Photo credit: Beckman Scholar Dabne Herrera Guerra, University of Rochester.

State-specific expression of the lipid-droplet Jabba during Drosophila oogenesis (Blue = DNA, Green = Jabba). Photo credit: Beckman Scholar Dabne Herrera Guerra, University of Rochester.

Info Beckman Scholars Program

2027 BSP Application Informational Webinar

2027 BSP Application Webinar - YouTube

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2027 BSP Application Webinar Beckman Foundation

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Major Revisions to the Program

MAJOR REVISIONS TO THE PROGRAM:

The Beckman Scholars Program underwent minor updates for the 2027 application cycle. Revisions include clarifications to the description of Participating Academic Units (PAUs), and updated guidance on procedures when a Scholar terminates participation early. Additional significant updates were implemented between the 2025 and 2026 programs including a shift from an invitation-only model to an open call; revisions to the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) prompts; the removal of the Historical Scholars Report Table and Scholars Report Table; updates to the Institutional Data Sheet and Faculty Mentor Summary Data Sheet; the addition of provisions for funds to support the institutional contact; and a reduction in the mentor research funds.

REVISIONS TO SCHOLAR SELECTION CRITERA:

The program has eliminated the following criteria for Scholar selection: minimum GPA, previous research experience, and strong verbal and written communication skills. The Foundation intends to remove barriers to participation for prospective Beckman Scholars and to encourage student applicants from a variety of experiences, backgrounds, opportunities, and who may not have had access to STEM resources or role models during their K-12 education. Institutions may not use these criteria when selecting Scholars and inclusion in a submitted application will be deemed administratively ineligible.

Helpful Guides

2027 Beckman Scholars Program Announcement

2027 Participating Academic Units Guidance

2027 BSP Application Instructions

2027 BSP FAQ Guidance

2027 BSP Application Webinar Q+A Transcript

Program Overview

The Beckman Scholars Program relaunched with an Open Call application in 2025. The program is no longer by invitation only.

OVERVIEW: The purpose of the Beckman Scholars Program is to help stimulate, encourage, and support research activities by talented, full-time undergraduate students who are pursuing their studies at accredited four-year colleges and universities located in the United States of America. These research activities shall be centered in either chemistry, biochemistry, the biological and medical sciences, or some interdisciplinary combination of these subjects. Candidates for the Beckman Scholars Award must be full-time students throughout the duration of the award.

All institutions will include a minimum of one and a maximum of six Participating Academic Unit(s) and a Minimum of eight Mentors and a maximum of fifteen Mentors to be eligible for the Beckman Scholars Program

The research activities performed by Beckman Scholars shall be conducted under the guidance of a full-time, approved science faculty member at the college or university receiving an award. Research activities must be performed part-time (ten hours per week) during one academic year, and full-time over two summers (ten 40-hour weeks each summer) immediately before and after the academic year research experience. The continuity of the research experience is important to the Foundation, and alternatives to this “summer, academic year, summer” schedule will not be considered.

Students will be named as Beckman Scholars in the spring of either their freshman, sophomore, or junior year at their college or university. Once selected…

Topic areas: Life Sciences and Health, Education and Training.

Funding amount

This grant provides Varies in funding.

Deadline

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; there is no single fixed deadline.

Who can apply

This opportunity is open to the following applicant types:

• Not specified by the program.

Eligibility

The program did not publish a separate eligibility statement. See the official opportunity page for the full eligibility criteria.

Agency

Beckman Scholars Program is administered by Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation (Beckman), listed via Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation.