The 2026 Beckman Scholars Program Application is an Open Call to apply. Only one application per institution may be submitted for consideration.
A webinar was held February 20, 2025 to discuss program and application changes and answer questions. Highlighted sections in the below document are talking points from the past webinar and are available to all for download.
2026 Beckman Scholars Program Announcement - Webinar
Please download the Guidance Document for BSP Frequently Asked Questions
BSP FAQ Document
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.
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 to be a Beckman Scholar, a student will retain the award for 15 consecutive months, if the student continues to excel academically and continues to perform research work within their mentor’s lab. Beckman Scholar funds provided to any one student may not exceed two summers and one academic year. Beckman Scholar’s may use their second summer funds during the summer following graduation.
INSTITUTIONAL AWARDS:
Beckman Scholar awards are institutional (university or college) awards and only one active award at an institution will be funded at a time. For the 2026 Program, the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation changed the program from invite-only to an open call. Current awardee institutions in year three of their Beckman Scholar Award are eligible to apply; awardee institutions in year one or year two of their existing award are not eligible to apply for the 2026 program year.
Universities/colleges will be eligible for one institutional Beckman Scholar Award, which must be used over a three-year period. Each institutional Beckman Scholar Award will fund a total of six Beckman Scholars (with funding for student stipends, institutional contact funds, travel funds, and mentor research supplies) extending over two summers and one academic year. Awardee institutions will name two Scholars in each year of the three-year institutional award term, for a total of six Scholars.
The 2026 Beckman Scholar Awardee institutions will select their Scholars in early 2026 and begin their first award term in the summer of 2026, followed by a second award term beginning in the summer of 2027, and a third award term in the summer of 2028. Institutions who receive the 2026 Beckman Scholars Award will not be considered for new applications until the 2029 program.
2026 Beckman Scholars Program: Award Cycle
Year 1 Scholars - Summer 2026 / Academic Year 2026-27 / Summer 2027
Year 2 Scholars - Summer 2027 / Academic Year 2027-28 / Summer 2028
Year 3 Scholars - Summer 2028 / Academic Year 2028-29 / Summer 2029
INSTITUTIONAL AWARDS TO THE SCHOLARS:
Each Beckman Scholar will pursue an independent research project, under the guidance of an approved Mentor who is included on the Faculty Mentor Summary Data Sheet in the original application package to the Foundation. The amount of funding for the 2026 Beckman Scholars Program is $26,000 per Scholar; $21,000 specifically for the Scholar, $4,800 for the Scholar’s Mentor and $200 for the Institutional Contact. The following provides a breakdown of each Beckman Scholar award:
- Student Stipend $18,200; per student, distributed as follows:
- First summer - $6,800
- Academic Year - $4,600
- Second summer - $6,800
- Scientific Supplies and Travel $2,800; per student, distributed as needed to support current research activities. Can be used to support travel, materials and supplies purchases, graduate school application fees, and other activities that support the Scholar’s research and their transition into future training positions.
- Mentor Research Funds $4,800; per student, distributed as needed during the associated Scholar’s award term to support the following, but not limited to:
- Execution of the Scholar Mentorship Plan (SMP), which should include:
- Outlining the Scholar/Mentor relationship
- Detailing the collaboration between scholar, mentor, and mentor’s lab
- Defining the expectations of the Beckman Scholar, including but not limited to:
- Attendance at outside presentations/scientific symposia with the Mentor
- Pursuit of research publication and presentation by the Scholar and Mentor
- Outlining the anticipated results of the Scholar’s research
- Mentor/Scholar Travel - to support attendance with, or for, the Scholar at outside scientific symposia.
- Scientific Supplies - related to the Scholar’s research.
- Publication Fees - for publishing in undergraduate and peer-reviewed publications related to the Scholar’s research.
- Institutional Contact Fund: $200; per student, distributed as needed during the associated Scholar’s award term to support the following, including but not limited to: opportunities to engage with the Scholars, such as coffee, lunch speaker series, or similar activities.
The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation does not provide for overhead or for indirect costs. Institutions may not fund additional or “matching” Beckman Scholars.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR UNIVERSITIES/COLLEGES:
- Each institution may submit ONE application for consideration for an award and must meet the Foundation’s requirement as a 501(c)(3), or similarly qualifying, non-profit organization (IRS Determination Letter/Federal Tax ID required).
- Current awardee institutions that will be entering into their third (final) year of the program are eligible to apply.
- Must have a Science Department in either biology, chemistry, or both.
- Accredited four-year college or university in the U.S.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR MENTORS:
- Be an assistant professor, associate professor, or professor in a science department such as biology, chemistry, the biological and medical sciences, or some interdisciplinary combination of these subjects.
- Actively support undergraduate research.
- Must provide continuous mentorship over the 15-month Scholar award term.
- Identified as one of the mentors on the Faculty Mentor Summary Data sheet.
- Both junior and senior faculty members are eligible.
ELIGIBILITY FOR SCHOLARS:
- Undergraduate students must be pursuing a degree in chemistry, biochemistry, the biological and medical sciences, or some interdisciplinary combination of these subjects.
- Undergraduate students with unique pathways to studies in STEM are encouraged.
- Must commit to 15-months of continuous research at the college or university (summer, academic year, summer).
- Must be a full-time undergraduate student throughout the duration of the award and must maintain good academic standing.
- Must be a U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident of the United States or its possessions, or hold DACA recipient status.
- Have a stated interest to pursue and communicate scientific research, such as through an advanced degree in science or engineering (e.g., PhD, MD or MD/PhD), or other STEM pursuits.
- Be interested in pursuing leadership roles in their scientific and professional journey.
ANY OF THE FOLLOWING WILL RENDER A UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE’S APPLICATION INELIGIBLE:
- Current Beckman Scholars Program Institution Awardee in Year 1 or Year 2 of their programs.
- If an institution submits more than one application in the program year.
- Application does not comply with program requirements.
NOTE:
The Beckman Scholars Program application is updated annually within this portal.
Applicants should read through all task instructions and use the current templates provided for download. Any tasks requiring signature(s) must be completed prior to application submission. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted for any reason. Applications must be submitted via this portal for consideration and no edits can be made once the application has been submitted.
Completed signatures are required to submit the application. The deadline to submit a completed application is June 13, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time/ 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Beckman Scholars Program
The 2026 Beckman Scholars Program Application is an Open Call to apply. Only one application per institution may be submitted for consideration.
A webinar was held February 20, 2025 to discuss program and application changes and answer questions. Highlighted sections in the below document are talking points from the past webinar and are available to all for download.
2026 Beckman Scholars Program Announcement - Webinar
Please download the Guidance Document for BSP Frequently Asked Questions
BSP FAQ Document
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.
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 to be a Beckman Scholar, a student will retain the award for 15 consecutive months, if the student continues to excel academically and continues to perform research work within their mentor’s lab. Beckman Scholar funds provided to any one student may not exceed two summers and one academic year. Beckman Scholar’s may use their second summer funds during the summer following graduation.
INSTITUTIONAL AWARDS:
Beckman Scholar awards are institutional (university or college) awards and only one active award at an institution will be funded at a time. For the 2026 Program, the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation changed the program from invite-only to an open call. Current awardee institutions in year three of their Beckman Scholar Award are eligible to apply; awardee institutions in year one or year two of their existing award are not eligible to apply for the 2026 program year.
Universities/colleges will be eligible for one institutional Beckman Scholar Award, which must be used over a three-year period. Each institutional Beckman Scholar Award will fund a total of six Beckman Scholars (with funding for student stipends, institutional contact funds, travel funds, and mentor research supplies) extending over two summers and one academic year. Awardee institutions will name two Scholars in each year of the three-year institutional award term, for a total of six Scholars.
The 2026 Beckman Scholar Awardee institutions will select their Scholars in early 2026 and begin their first award term in the summer of 2026, followed by a second award term beginning in the summer of 2027, and a third award term in the summer of 2028. Institutions who receive the 2026 Beckman Scholars Award will not be considered for new applications until the 2029 program.
2026 Beckman Scholars Program: Award Cycle
Year 1 Scholars - Summer 2026 / Academic Year 2026-27 / Summer 2027
Year 2 Scholars - Summer 2027 / Academic Year 2027-28 / Summer 2028
Year 3 Scholars - Summer 2028 / Academic Year 2028-29 / Summer 2029
INSTITUTIONAL AWARDS TO THE SCHOLARS:
Each Beckman Scholar will pursue an independent research project, under the guidance of an approved Mentor who is included on the Faculty Mentor Summary Data Sheet in the original application package to the Foundation. The amount of funding for the 2026 Beckman Scholars Program is $26,000 per Scholar; $21,000 specifically for the Scholar, $4,800 for the Scholar’s Mentor and $200 for the Institutional Contact. The following provides a breakdown of each Beckman Scholar award:
- Student Stipend $18,200; per student, distributed as follows:
- First summer - $6,800
- Academic Year - $4,600
- Second summer - $6,800
- Scientific Supplies and Travel $2,800; per student, distributed as needed to support current research activities. Can be used to support travel, materials and supplies purchases, graduate school application fees, and other activities that support the Scholar’s research and their transition into future training positions.
- Mentor Research Funds $4,800; per student, distributed as needed during the associated Scholar’s award term to support the following, but not limited to:
- Execution of the Scholar Mentorship Plan (SMP), which should include:
- Outlining the Scholar/Mentor relationship
- Detailing the collaboration between scholar, mentor, and mentor’s lab
- Defining the expectations of the Beckman Scholar, including but not limited to:
- Attendance at outside presentations/scientific symposia with the Mentor
- Pursuit of research publication and presentation by the Scholar and Mentor
- Outlining the anticipated results of the Scholar’s research
- Mentor/Scholar Travel - to support attendance with, or for, the Scholar at outside scientific symposia.
- Scientific Supplies - related to the Scholar’s research.
- Publication Fees - for publishing in undergraduate and peer-reviewed publications related to the Scholar’s research.
- Institutional Contact Fund: $200; per student, distributed as needed during the associated Scholar’s award term to support the following, including but not limited to: opportunities to engage with the Scholars, such as coffee, lunch speaker series, or similar activities.
The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation does not provide for overhead or for indirect costs. Institutions may not fund additional or “matching” Beckman Scholars.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR UNIVERSITIES/COLLEGES:
- Each institution may submit ONE application for consideration for an award and must meet the Foundation’s requirement as a 501(c)(3), or similarly qualifying, non-profit organization (IRS Determination Letter/Federal Tax ID required).
- Current awardee institutions that will be entering into their third (final) year of the program are eligible to apply.
- Must have a Science Department in either biology, chemistry, or both.
- Accredited four-year college or university in the U.S.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR MENTORS:
- Be an assistant professor, associate professor, or professor in a science department such as biology, chemistry, the biological and medical sciences, or some interdisciplinary combination of these subjects.
- Actively support undergraduate research.
- Must provide continuous mentorship over the 15-month Scholar award term.
- Identified as one of the mentors on the Faculty Mentor Summary Data sheet.
- Both junior and senior faculty members are eligible.
ELIGIBILITY FOR SCHOLARS:
- Undergraduate students must be pursuing a degree in chemistry, biochemistry, the biological and medical sciences, or some interdisciplinary combination of these subjects.
- Undergraduate students with unique pathways to studies in STEM are encouraged.
- Must commit to 15-months of continuous research at the college or university (summer, academic year, summer).
- Must be a full-time undergraduate student throughout the duration of the award and must maintain good academic standing.
- Must be a U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident of the United States or its possessions, or hold DACA recipient status.
- Have a stated interest to pursue and communicate scientific research, such as through an advanced degree in science or engineering (e.g., PhD, MD or MD/PhD), or other STEM pursuits.
- Be interested in pursuing leadership roles in their scientific and professional journey.
ANY OF THE FOLLOWING WILL RENDER A UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE’S APPLICATION INELIGIBLE:
- Current Beckman Scholars Program Institution Awardee in Year 1 or Year 2 of their programs.
- If an institution submits more than one application in the program year.
- Application does not comply with program requirements.
NOTE:
The Beckman Scholars Program application is updated annually within this portal.
Applicants should read through all task instructions and use the current templates provided for download. Any tasks requiring signature(s) must be completed prior to application submission. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted for any reason. Applications must be submitted via this portal for consideration and no edits can be made once the application has been submitted.
Completed signatures are required to submit the application. The deadline to submit a completed application is June 13, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time/ 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.