(L) Douglas Swango, 2023 Beckman Scholar & (R) Micaila Marcelle, 2024 Beckman Scholar
About
The Beckman Scholars Program, funded by the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, helps stimulate, encourage, and support research activities by exceptionally talented, full-time undergraduate students who are pursuing their studies at accredited four-year colleges and universities in the United States. The Beckman Scholarship is a prestigious one, providing a total student stipend of $18,200 plus $2,800 for research supplies and travel support over the course of the 15-month experience. Two Beckman Scholars will be selected annually.
The UA Beckman Scholars Program gives undergraduates funding and support to conduct in-depth research with a UA Beckman Mentor on a full-time basis for two consecutive summers, and part-time during the intervening academic year. UA Beckman Scholars work on a project of interest in their selected mentor’s lab, engage in professional development activities, such as leading undergraduates in small group discussions, inviting and hosting an eminent scientist to give a seminar at UA, meeting with Beckman Mentors, and serving as student leaders within the Undergraduate Biology Research Program, etc.
UA Beckman Mentors
Eligibility
To apply to UA’s Beckman Scholars Program, you must:
- Be a University of Arizona full-time undergraduate student whose major is in one of the following departments or schools
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology
- School of Plant Sciences
- Be a freshman, sophomore or junior, at the time of application, graduating in May 2027 or later.
- Be in good academic standing.
- Be a U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident, or hold DACA recipient status.
- Minimum of 6 months of prior research experience
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Be willing and able to devote two consecutive summers (full-time, in-person for a minimum of 10 weeks) and the intervening academic year (part-time) to working on a research project.
- Be willing and able to participate in the annual Beckman Symposium, held in Irvine, CA, for both summers. If in-person, travel and hotel accommodations will be provided.
- Be willing and able to serve as a summer workshop leader and peer facilitator for Undergraduate Biology Research Program (UBRP) participants and engage in the professional development activities associated with this program.
Application Process
The application for the UA Beckman Scholars Program starting in Summer 2026 will be posted by October 15th, 2025 and fill be due January 28th, 2026 at noon.
Beckman Scholar Selection
A committee will review students’ application packets and evaluate the creativity/merit of their research proposals; the most highly qualified applicants will be invited for an interview with the selection committee in early March. At the interview, applicants will give a 10-minute presentation on their proposal to the selection committee. All applicants will be notified of their acceptance or rejection for the UArizona Beckman Scholarship by April 1, 2026.
Questions?
Please contact Quinn Reilly at qreilly@arizona.edu.