In the Spotlight
Gateways to Medicine and Research
med.umn.edu
Gateways to Medicine and Research is a master’s program offered by the Duluth Regional Medical School (DMED) at the University of Minnesota Duluth. The curriculum is designed for students preparing for a career in biomedical research as well as those who are interested in boosting their application to medical school. Prospective students can apply to one of two tracks: a one-year medical track or a two-year research track. The DMED, which ranks No. 2 in graduation of Native physicians, trains many doctors who go on to serve Native and rural communities. The focus of the Gateways program is recruiting underserved students to address continuing issues in access and diversity in health care and research, and the curriculum will include courses on Native American health disparities. Anyone can apply to the program, but it is an especially good fit for students from the region who want to further their education in a small city close to home. Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in the physical or biological sciences or related field from an accredited college or university and meet other requirements. Scholarships are available. For more information, email gateways@d.umn.edu.
aises.org/scholarships
The AISES scholarship program provides students with opportunities to compete for a range of funding sources. Sponsors such as Oracle, Splunk, BNSF Railway, Intel, and VGT, among many others, have supported AISES students through scholarships. Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Indigenous peoples of Canada can apply through OASIS (the Online Scholarship Application Information System) provided by Indigenous Education. Requirements for specific scholarships vary, but you must be an AISES member to qualify.
beanactuary.org
The field of actuarial science, which studies risk, attracts students who are interested in math. Diversity scholarships offered by the Society of Actuaries and the Casualty Actuarial Society are focused on strengthening the profession by attracting underrepresented candidates. The society maintains a list of scholarships, including diversity scholarships, on its website, beanacutary.org. Some of this funding is available to entering first-year students.
geosociety.org
Awarded annually by the Geological Society of America in memory of Dr. W. Storrs Cole and Gladys W. Cole, grants are made to a GSA member or fellow in the fields of invertebrate micropaleontology and geomorphology. Recipients must be between 30 and 65 years old and have published a significant paper in their respective field, and funds must be used for work not previously accomplished.
dhs.gov
Participants in the Department of Homeland Security virtual Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Program apply their coursework in the real world by working part time alongside cybersecurity and information technology experts. Apprentices work remotely up to 20 hours a week throughout the agency. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, qualify for a security clearance, be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program with at least 30 credit hours completed, and meet other requirements.
thegatesscholarship.org
Designed to support underrepresented, first-time college students, the Gates Scholarship fully covers financial needs — including tuition, room and board, textbooks, and fees — not met by other funding sources. The Gates Scholarship (formerly known as the Gates Millennium Scholarship) is applicable at accredited institutions of higher learning, including online programs. Scholarship awards vary, but average about $12,000. Scholars also benefit from mentoring, career counseling, and networking with thousands of past scholars. Eligible candidates must be American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian American/Pacific Islander, African American, or Hispanic American; a U.S. citizen or legal resident; eligible for a Pell Grant; have a 3.3 cumulative high school GPA; and meet other requirements. Deadlines vary from year to year.
indspire.ca
This national program in Canada invests in the education of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students across the country in partnership with Indigenous as well as public and private funding sources. Students benefit from bursaries, scholarships, and awards, which are matched by the Government of Canada. To be eligible, candidates must have an Indigenous card or a parent’s Indigenous card and be enrolled in a full- or part-time program in college, university, skilled trades, apprenticeships, or technology programs and meet other requirements.
jkcf.org/ysp
This pre-college national scholarship program provides funds for high-performing seventh-grade students with financial need to attend a rigorous private high school. Additionally, this five-year program provides academic and college counseling through high school graduation — each Young Scholar is assigned an on-staff educational advisor. The foundation also offers Cooke-sponsored summer programs and internships and provides financial support for enrichment opportunities (such as art and music lessons), and year-round community programming. Young Scholars also receive special consideration for Cooke Foundation College Scholarships of up to $40,000 per year. Applicants must be in seventh grade and attending a high school in the U.S. or a U.S. territory, have no grade lower than a C in a core academic subject, a maximum adjusted gross family income of $95,000, and be available for required multiweek summer programs.
lumiere.foundation/program
The entirely virtual Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program pairs talented high school students with PhD mentors. During this 12-week learning experience, the pairs work one-on-one on an independent research project. Participants explore their field on a sophisticated level and develop an independent research paper and present it at the Lumiere Research Symposium. In addition to sessions with their mentor, participants work with a writing coach and attend workshops on the research process. The program, which has sessions seasonally throughout the year, is open to U.S. and international students who are academically talented. Financial aid is available.
mites.mit.edu/discovermites/mites-semester
High school seniors can participate — from wherever they are, whenever they can — in a six-month hybrid STEM learning and college prep program from MIT. From June through December, this engaging program delivers challenging online courses, weekly webinars, social events, workshops, and meetings with peers in the fall. Participants in MITES Semester also benefit from college counseling, essay reviews, interview prep, and opportunities to network with STEM professionals. Program costs (except travel to the fall conference) are covered by donors and free to participants.
smithsonian.com
The Smithsonian Institution offers students various fellowships and internship opportunities for research. Positions are available in Washington, D.C., at the National Museum of the American Indian, National Zoo, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, and more. Some internships may include stipends. Eligible applicants must be a high school, undergraduate, or graduate student and at least 14 years old.
grad.ubc.ca/awards/indigenous-graduate-fellowships
Multiyear fellowships are available to Indigenous master’s and doctoral students at the University of British Columbia (UBC). The awards, which are based on academic merit, are made in an annual competition administered by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Awards include tuition funding and a stipend. All Indigenous students, including international students, are eligible, but those whose traditional lands are in Canada are given preference. Both incoming and current graduate students at the UBC Vancouver campus may apply for this funding.
For more opportunities, subscribe to our monthly Paths to Opportunities newsletters at woc.aises.org.
photo by istock