The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation has again invited UCI to submit an application to the Beckman Scholars Program, which supports research by exceptionally talented undergraduate students working in chemistry, biochemistry, the biological and medical sciences, or some combination of these subjects.
Please note this call is for programmatic support. It is not a call for undergraduate student applications. If UCI receives an award, eligible students may then apply to the Beckman funded UCI program. An application will be submitted to Beckman by one PI on behalf of 12-15 mentors who may include both young and established faculty members with a record of mentoring. Each Scholar will receive $21,000 for stipend, supplies and travel, and the mentor $5,000 over one academic year plus summers before and after that year. Six scholars will be appointed per year for three years.
UCI may submit just one application for consideration of an award, which typically requires an internal competition. However, due to the restricted breadth of the program, and based on previous years’ experience with this call, the Office of Research does not anticipate the need to conduct an internal review. Also, while it is not explicitly stated in the RFP, it is assumed that existing undergrad programs with demonstrated excellence have a higher chance of being funded through this program.
In order to verify that no internal review is required, Interested applicants are asked to send an “Expression of Intent” to the Office of Research by Wednesday April 12th if they do intend to submit a Beckman Scholars Program application. This Expression of Intent may consist of an email from the PI(s) with a brief 1-paragraph overview of the proposed program and its participants, and should be sent to OR@research.uci.edu. An expedited internal review and selection process will be held if multiple parties express interest. The application to Beckman is due June 15, 2017.
For more information about the Beckman Scholars Program a copy of the full RFP is available here. Questions about our internal campus review process may be directed to Greg Ruth at greg.ruth@uci.edu or x4-0372. Questions about the Beckman Foundation may be directed to Marge Brannon at mbrannon@uci.edu, x4-9932.