About ARCS Scholars

Inspired and enabled by ARCS Foundation's financial support at a crucial moment in their scientific careers, ARCS Foundation's scholars are an impressive, influential and growing community.

ARCS Scholars have gone on to

• contribute recognized research,
• found notable companies,
• be awarded numerous patents,
• publish extensively in their chosen fields.

While grateful for the extraordinary confidence that ARCS Awards bring, ARCS Scholars also enjoy the opportunities afforded by a deep and relevant network.  ARCS Members often provide valuable professional introductions. Fellow ARCS scholars, both in nearby and separate scientific fields offer advice, friendship and collaboration.

Being an ARCS Scholar brings a young scientist into a vibrant network of learning that goes beyond departmental, University campus and regional boundaries.

As one scholar commented, “Being named as an ARCS Foundation Scholar was a great honor. The ARCS Foundation award provided additional funds so that I didn’t have to worry as much about finances. Most of all, I enjoyed meeting other students and members of ARCS Foundation. Hearing about others’ work, sharing my project and talking with members of ARCS Foundation about their lives and interests gave me extra inspiration to work hard.”

Who Can Be an ARCS Scholar?

ARCS Scholars are selected annually by qualifying departments of science, engineering and medical research within ARCS Foundation's 51 academic partner universities and colleges.  ARCS Foundation neither solicits nor accepts applications from potential ARCS Scholars.  Our academic partners identify and select ARCS Scholars who meet the following criteria to be eligible for funding:

• be a United States citizen;
• be enrolled in a full-time degree-granting program, majoring in fields of science, engineering or medical research; and
• have a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

ARCS Foundation Chapters fund ARCS Scholars through their academic partners, and each ARCS Scholar enters into an agreement with the funding Chapter prior to receiving a scholar award.  Please note that scholar awards are not made to post-doctorate fellows or to post-graduate early career researchers.

The complete list of ARCS Foundation participating institutions is found on our Academic Partners page. For further information on ARCS Scholar selection and funding procedures, please contact National.

"Organizations like ARCS Foundation are the perfect example of how a group of people poised to take action can make a difference."

Shirin Doroudgar, Ph.D.
Researcher, Molecular Cardiology
San Diego State University
ARCS Scholar 2000