National Institutes of Health Undergraduate Scholarship Program (UGSP)

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National Institutes of Health Undergraduate Scholarship Program (UGSP)

award money Award: Up to $20,000 per academic year

Category: Other Scholarships

The scholarship is paid directly to your university and can be used for tuition, educational, and reasonable living expenses. as established by your university.


Eligibility Criteria:

This program is for students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to careers in biomedical, behavioral, and social science research. The program provides scholarship recipients up to $20,000 per academic year for tuition, educational, and reasonable living expenses. Scholarships are awarded for one year and can be renewed for up to four years.

UGSP scholars work in research groups directed by a Principal Investigator (PI). We offer research opportunities in the biomedical, behavioral and social sciences with opportunities to explore translational and clinical research. Students with experience in biology, engineering, epidemiology, psychology, mathematics, chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, nursing, physics, computer science,  bioinformatics and other health-related fields are invited to apply. UGSP Scholars may not work in administrative offices or outside of the NIH Intramural Research Program.

For every year of scholarship support, scholars commit to two paid service obligations in the NIH Intramural Research Program. These are:

  • A ten week full-time summer internship at the NIH immediately following the year of scholarship support
  • One year of full-time work at the NIH post-graduation; this service obligation may be deferred until completion of an advanced degree program.

To apply for UGSP, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. In addition, you must:

  • be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a full-time undergraduate student at an accredited four-year college or university.
  • have a grade point average of 3.3 or greater on a 4.0 scale, or rank within the top five percent of your class.
  • demonstrate exceptional financial need certified by your undergraduate institution's financial aid office.
  • be able to pass a federal background check

You are NOT eligible for UGSP if any one of the following applies to you:

  • You have already been awarded an undergraduate degree.
  • You are unable to fulfill the payback requirements.

Applicants with a family member working at NIH should be aware of the strict nepotism pollicy which may limit your ability to work in certain NIH institutes, centers, or research groups.

Selection Criteria:

Candidates that meet the minimal eligibility requirements will be reviewed by the UGSP Scientific Review Committee and a subset of candidates will receive invitations to interview virtually in mid-July. Successful candidates will be informed of their selection in late July.

During the application process we encourage you to visit the NIH Intramural Research Program website and explore the breadth of research conducted at the NIH. However, we discourage you from reaching out directly to any investigators until candidate selections are complete. At that time, we will guide new awardees through the mentor-matching process.

Application Materials/Process:

BEFORE YOU APPLY

The decision to accept a UGSP scholarship is an important one as there are required service obligations. You must relocate to the NIH Bethesda campus during the summer and to Bethesda or another NIH campus to complete your post-graduate service obligation. It is crucial that you fully understand the program structure and the expectations of UGSP scholars. Carefully review all eligibility and obligation requirements before you begin your application.

To learn more about the application process and requirements, review the video "How to apply to the NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program".

COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION

You must use the NIH Application Center to apply for this program.

  1. After you complete the required sections of your profile, you will be asked to select a preferred program. Choose the ‘Undergraduate Scholarship Program.’
  2. You must select 'Apply' next to ‘Undergraduate Scholarship Program’ for your application to be considered for this program.
  3. Ensure that you are eligible for this program before clicking 'Start Application.'
  4. To complete your application, import any relevant information from your profile. You must also submit:
  • Coursework & Exams - a list of coursework and grades
  • CV/Resume - a list of your education, experience, and other relevant history
  • References - the names and contact information of three references
  • Letter/Statement - a cover letter broadly describing your research experience, current interests and career goals
  • EFN certification - The email address of a financial aid officer at your institution so that they can complete EFN certification.

     5. Review all of your materials carefully before you submit your application.

 

Additional Benefits:

COMMITMENT:

UGSP scholars work in research groups directed by a Principal Investigator (PI). We offer research opportunities in the biomedical, behavioral and social sciences with opportunities to explore translational and clinical research. Students with experience in biology, engineering, epidemiology, psychology, mathematics, chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, nursing, physics, computer science, bioinformatics and other health-related fields are invited to apply. UGSP Scholars may not work in administrative offices or outside of the NIH Intramural Research Program.

Research groups are located on several NIH campuses, including the main campus in Bethesda, MD. While the summer service obligation takes place in Bethesda, scholars may complete their post-graduation service obligation on any NIH campus.

In addition to an intensive research experience, UGSP scholars have access to:

SERVICE OBLIGATION:

As an NIH Undergraduate Scholar, you will incur 1 year and 10 weeks (62 weeks total) of obligated service at the NIH for each full or partial year of support. The maximum service obligation is 4 years. Scholars are obliged to serve as full-time NIH employees in an NIH Intramural Research Laboratory. You must begin your service within 60 days of completing the requirements for your undergraduate degree, unless a deferment is granted by the NIH UGSP.



Disclaimer: This information is subject to change without notice. Please visit the scholarship website for up-to-date information.

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