Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Scholarship

PurposeARCS Foundation logo

The ARCS competitive scholarship rewards excellence in research. Selection is based primarily on the exceptional promise of the nominee to make a significant contribution to the advancement of science, and to the material and intellectual welfare of all people.

Eligibility

  • Outstanding PhD students entering years 1-6
  • U.S. citizens
  • Students must be enrolled in one of the following programs: Bioengineering, Biological and Medical Informatics, Biomedical Sciences, Biophysics, Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Epidemiology and Translational Science, Neuroscience, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics, TETRAD
  • GPA of 3.5 or higher
  • Programs are encouraged to nominate previous ARCS Scholars for repeat awards.

Required Nomination Documents/Information

1st year Students

  • Undergraduate institution
  • Prior graduate institution, if applicable
  • GPA (most current)
  • One recommendation letter from the student's application OR one recommendation letter from a UCSF faculty member (5 MB limit, PDF file)
  • CV or statement of academic achievements, including abstracts of published papers, all postsecondary honors and activities (from application) - 5 MB limit, PDF file
  • Copy of the transcript submitted with the application (5 MB limit, PDF file)

Students years 2-6

  • Statement of Interest (5 MB limit, PDF file)
  • Formatted CV (5 MB limit, PDF file in CV template format)
  • Unofficial UCSF Transcript (5 MB limit, PDF file)
  • Faculty Letter (5 MB limit, PDF file)
  • PI/Advisor Name

Support

  • Twelve awards
  • $17,917 stipend for 2023-24 over a nine month period (September-May)
  • The award does not include tuition or fees.

Donor/sponsor

Funding for the ARCS Scholarship is provided through a grant from the ARCS Foundation, whose mission is to advance science and technology in the United States by providing financial awards to academically outstanding US citizens studying to complete degrees in science, engineering and medical research. Visit the ARCS Foundation website to find out more. The Graduate Division and our students are grateful for this generous support.

Awardees

2023-2024

Jessica Blumenfeld – Neuroscience
Camille Derderian – Tetrad
Joe Germino – Biomedical Sciences
Chloe Ghent – Tetrad
Darwin Kwok – Biomedical Sciences
Nilsa La Cunza – Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics
Alex Lee – Biological and Medical Informatics
Rachel O'Sullivan – Neuroscience
Sruthi Raguveer – Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Devin Schoen – Bioengineering
Lauren Shechtman – Developmental and Stem Cell Biology
Carolyn Smith Hughes – Epidemiology and Translational Science

2022-2023

Jessica Rose Blumenfeld ‒ Neuroscience
Gauree Shriram Chendke ‒ Bioengineering
Jessica Morgan Cook ‒ Oral and Craniofacial Sciences
Jacqueline Paige Ernest ‒ Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics
Amanda Everitt – Biological and Medical Informatics
Felix Joseph Germino ‒ Biomedical Sciences
Ketrin Gjoni ‒ Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics
Miguel Alberto Guardado ‒ Biological and Medical Informatics
Rachel Olivia O'Sullivan ‒ Neuroscience
Manuela Richter ‒ Tetrad
Lauren A. Shechtman ‒ Developmental and Stem Cell Biology
Carolyn Smith Hughes ‒ Epidemiology and Translational Science

Learn more about how this and other internal fellowships are awarded.