Science Scholars Program

Read more about the 2026-27 Science Scholars!

The Fellowship

Science Scholars are expected to:

• participate in part-time research activity (ten hours per week) during the Junior Year Spring semester,
• participate in full-time research activity for ten weeks during the Summer following Junior Year,
• participate in part-time research activity (ten hours per week) during their Senior academic year, and
• prepare interim reports after Spring [junior], Summer [rising senior], and Fall [senior], and a final report for the Foundation in May of their senior year.

All research activities are expected to take place under the supervision of a faculty member at Occidental College.

The Science Scholars will receive:

• Spring Junior year: study grant of $2,000
• Summer after Junior year: $6,000 study grant, with on-campus housing and a meal plan fully covered.
• Senior academic year: a $2,000 study grant for both the fall and spring semesters.
• $3,000 Budget for research expenses and professional travel to present at a professional conference.

Note: Academic year study grants may affect eligibility for federal loans and work-study. Please consult the Financial Aid Office regarding your individual circumstances.

Eligibility

The program is open to current Juniors conducting research projects in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, cognitive science, computer science, geology, kinesiology, physics, or psychology (neuroscience emphasis) under the supervision of an Occidental College faculty member in one of these disciplines.

Students planning to study abroad or participate in off-campus programs during the grant period are ineligible for the Science Scholars Program.

Application

Science Scholars are selected by a committee consisting of the Chairs of the specified science departments. Applications are evaluated in two rounds; students chosen as finalists will be invited to interview with the committee in late January.

Completion of the application via the Google Form is required, along with all listed components, between November 3 and November 17. You will be prompted to upload the following as a single PDF file (in this order), saved as: LastName, FirstName_ScienceScholars.pdf

• Non-Specialist Abstract: A 250-word description of the scientific proposal written for a non-specialist STEM audience.
• Proposal: A scientific proposal, limited to two single-spaced pages, that includes (i) a description of the problem and important known results; (ii) a statement of the specific question(s) to be investigated and proposed methodology; (iii) a discussion of one's earlier research work in this field, and in particular, any results obtained in the proposed areas; and (iv) a brief appendix consisting of diagrams, references and additional similar information that supports the argument of the proposal. (The appendix does not count toward the page limit.)
• Timeline: A proposed timeline for the completion of the work described in the proposal, limited to one single-spaced page.
• Broader Impacts: 100-word description of the broader impacts of your research project.
• Personal Statement: In no more than one single-spaced page, describe the nature of your interest in scientific work, career goals in science-related fields, and professional aspirations, and your potential for leadership within the scientific community.
• CV
• Itemized Budget: Use the Science Scholars Budget form.

Applications will be evaluated based on:

1. The quality of the scientific proposal and prospects for the candidate to make a scientific contribution by the conclusion of the funding.
2. The strength of support from the proposed research mentor.
3. The candidate's potential for leadership in science in their future career beyond Oxy.

Applicants should consult their faculty mentor or contact Raul Navarro, Faculty Director of the URC, to discuss the application and program requirements.

Mentor Letter of Support

The Letter of Support should be written by the student's proposed faculty mentor, and should address the following:

• Detail the capacity in which you have known and worked with the student, including the duration of your association.
• The quality and feasibility of the proposed research question and methodology, including the extent to which the project was developed independently by the student.
• A mentorship plan that specifies the depth and kind of support the mentor will provide for the student’s successful completion of their project and their development as an Oxy student and a researcher, more broadly.
• The student's readiness to do the proposed work, including their mastery of skills required to complete the project.
• The likely impact of this experience on their educational and professional development.
• The student's potential for leadership within the scientific community.

Letters should be emailed to urc@oxy.edu by the November 17 deadline.

Deadline

The application is due by 5 pm on November 17.