DojoGrants
The first institution-agnostic, year-round life sciences research funding program for undergrads.
DojoGrants
The first institution-agnostic, year-round life sciences research funding program for undergrads.
DojoGrants
The first institution-agnostic, year-round life sciences research funding program for undergrads.
Undergrads are undersupported in research. Let’s change that.
Undergrads are undersupported in research. Let’s change that.
DojoGrants is an initiative run by Nucleate Dojo, designed to financially enable U.S. and Canadian undergrads to pursue life sciences-related research opportunities in U.S.-based labs and institutes. We are currently running our first cohort of scholars to support research projects over the 2023-2024 academic year starting September 2023.
Nucleate Dojo’s mission towards improving undergrad biotech education and involvement has led it to commit attention to undergraduate research opportunities. In 2022, we surveyed a diverse group of 80+ undergrads to find that while research experiences are of high demand, 37% of students face financial barriers in pursuing them, as most of these opportunities are either unpaid or severely underpaid. Our mission is to disrupt this paradigm and empower any undergrad, regardless of their circumstance, to work on exciting problems in science.
Read our full manifesto here.
DojoGrants is an initiative run by Nucleate Dojo, designed to financially enable U.S. and Canadian undergrads to pursue life sciences-related research opportunities in U.S.-based labs and institutes. We are currently running our first cohort of scholars to support research projects over the 2023-2024 academic year starting September 2023.
Nucleate Dojo’s mission towards improving undergrad biotech education and involvement has led it to commit attention to undergraduate research opportunities. In 2022, we surveyed a diverse group of 80+ undergrads to find that while research experiences are of high demand, 37% of students face financial barriers in pursuing them, as most of these opportunities are either unpaid or severely underpaid. Our mission is to disrupt this paradigm and empower any undergrad, regardless of their circumstance, to work on exciting problems in science.
Read our full manifesto here.
DojoGrants is an initiative run by Nucleate Dojo, designed to financially enable U.S. and Canadian undergrads to pursue life sciences-related research opportunities in U.S.-based labs and institutes. Applications are open until July 15th at 11:59PM PDT for grants to support research over the 2023-2024 academic year starting September 2023.
Nucleate Dojo’s mission towards improving undergrad biotech education and involvement has led it to commit attention to undergraduate research opportunities. In 2022, we surveyed a diverse group of 80+ undergrads to find that while research experiences are of high demand, 37% of students face financial barriers in pursuing them, as most of these opportunities are either unpaid or severely underpaid. Our mission is to disrupt this paradigm and empower any undergrad, regardless of their circumstance, to work on exciting problems in science.
Read our full manifesto here.
Funding, for all undergrad researchers
Funding, for all undergrad researchers
You choose a research area and lab you’re excited about, and we’ll fund you. We don’t care about grades, previous research experience, or recommendation letters; instead, we want to support students who are boundlessly curious, self-motivated, ambitious, and can go far with our grants to accelerate their career in biotech and/or life science.
We aim to even out the playing field for everyone, regardless of your circumstance. We’re committed to supporting students who are low-income and/or identifying in underrepresented minority groups, who otherwise may not have the opportunity to pursue research.
You choose a research area and lab you’re excited about, and we’ll fund you. We don’t care about grades, previous research experience, or recommendation letters; instead, we want to support students who are boundlessly curious, self-motivated, ambitious, and can go far with our grants to accelerate their career in biotech and/or life science.
We aim to even out the playing field for everyone, regardless of your circumstance. We’re committed to supporting students who are low-income and/or identifying in underrepresented minority groups, who otherwise may not have the opportunity to pursue research.
Our Awards
Our Awards
DojoGrant Research Award
DojoGrant Research Award
General grant for undergraduate life sciences or biotech research projects, open to anyone. All awards will be variable up to $8000 USD.
General grant for undergraduate life sciences or biotech research projects, open to anyone. All awards will be variable up to $8000 USD.
Black Students in Biotech Research Award
Black Students in Biotech Research Award
Specialized DojoGrant for Black students, especially those from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Specialized DojoGrant for Black students, especially those from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Latinx Students in Biotech Research Award
Latinx Students in Biotech Research Award
Specialized DojoGrant for LatinX students.
Specialized DojoGrant for LatinX students.
Indigenous Students in Biotech Research Award
Indigenous Students in Biotech Research Award
Specialized DojoGrant for self-identified Indigenous students, especially those from Tribal colleges.
Specialized DojoGrant for self-identified Indigenous students, especially those from Tribal colleges.
Canadian Bioinnovation Research Award
Canadian Bioinnovation Research Award
Specialized DojoGrant for Canadian students to conduct research in the U.S.
Specialized DojoGrant for Canadian students to conduct research in the U.S.
How to Apply
How to Apply
For a detailed overview of how to apply and our advice on finding a lab position, view our informational webinar recording on YouTube.
Who can apply?
For a detailed overview of how to apply and our advice on finding a lab position, view our informational webinar recording on YouTube.
Who can apply?
Undergraduate students (currently enrolled, gap year, or co-op) intending to pursue a life sciences or biotech-related research internship/project hosted by a U.S.-based university or institute.
For this cycle, we are only accepting applications for all awards from U.S. and Canadian citizens and visa holders.
It is not necessary for applicants to have prior research experience.
Research experiences must occur over the 2023-2024 academic year. Although the start date for the research project is flexible, the project itself should last for at least 6 months for part-time hours (~10-20 hours/week) or at least 4 months for full-time hours (~40 hours/week).
Applicants should be able to regularly engage in in-person lab activity.
There is a particular emphasis on undergraduates who face financial obstacles that prevent them from participating in research. Candidates will be asked in the application to demonstrate this financial need.
Undergraduate students (currently enrolled, gap year, or co-op) intending to pursue a life sciences or biotech-related research internship/project hosted by a U.S.-based university or institute.
For this cycle, we are only accepting applications for all awards from U.S. and Canadian citizens and visa holders.
It is not necessary for applicants to have prior research experience.
Research experiences must occur over the 2023-2024 academic year. Although the start date for the research project is flexible, the project itself should last for at least 6 months for part-time hours (~10-20 hours/week) or at least 4 months for full-time hours (~40 hours/week).
Applicants should be able to regularly engage in in-person lab activity.
There is a particular emphasis on undergraduates who face financial obstacles that prevent them from participating in research. Candidates will be asked in the application to demonstrate this financial need.
Selection criteria
Selection criteria
We are looking for candidates who have clear and ambitious goals in the life sciences or biotech field and can articulate how DojoGrants will enable them to achieve those goals.
By the time of application, candidates must also have sourced a research position at a university or institute and be prepared to share more about the proposed research project.
Special consideration will go toward translational and applied life sciences research projects that can directly benefit human health or the bioeconomy.
Award amounts are variable up to $8000 USD determined by the applicant's requested amount, financial need, socioeconomic circumstance, duration and hours of research experience, and geographic location of the lab.
We are looking for candidates who have clear and ambitious goals in the life sciences or biotech field and can articulate how DojoGrants will enable them to achieve those goals.
By the time of application, candidates must also have sourced a research position at a university or institute and be prepared to share more about the proposed research project.
Special consideration will go toward translational and applied life sciences research projects that can directly benefit human health or the bioeconomy.
Award amounts are variable up to $8000 USD determined by the applicant's requested amount, financial need, socioeconomic circumstance, duration and hours of research experience, and geographic location of the lab.
Research projects
Research projects
What counts as a life sciences/biotech research project? According to National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIH):
Biophysics, Biomedical Technology, and Computational Biosciences
Genetics and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biological Chemistry
Special consideration will go toward translational and applied life sciences research projects that can directly benefit human health or the bioeconomy.
What counts as a life sciences/biotech research project? According to National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIH):
Biophysics, Biomedical Technology, and Computational Biosciences
Genetics and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biological Chemistry
Special consideration will go toward translational and applied life sciences research projects that can directly benefit human health or the bioeconomy.
Application requirements
Application requirements
Personal information, including:
Year, university, and field of study
Expected graduation date
Demographic information
An uploaded and signed Host Lab Authorization Form, agreed upon by the research supervisor of the lab that you intend to join. The purpose of this letter is to:
Expand upon your project goals, expected roles and responsibilities, dates/time commitment of the research experience.
Affirm that funding from DojoGrants will not conflict with institutional policies or a student's ability to receive course credit.
Note: As an acknowledgement of the obstacles that underrepresented students in STEM face when pursuing research opportunities, this prerequisite will be waived for students identifying in underrepresented or disadvantaged groups. Candidates are still welcome to apply and can have until July 31st to successfully obtain and submit a host lab authorization form.
An uploaded PDF of completed written response questions.
An outline of requested funding amount and details of your financial circumstance.
Preview all of the application questions here!
Personal information, including:
Year, university, and field of study
Expected graduation date
Demographic information
An uploaded and signed Host Lab Authorization Form, agreed upon by the research supervisor of the lab that you intend to join. The purpose of this letter is to:
Expand upon your project goals, expected roles and responsibilities, dates/time commitment of the research experience.
Affirm that funding from DojoGrants will not conflict with institutional policies or a student's ability to receive course credit.
Note: As an acknowledgement of the obstacles that underrepresented students in STEM face when pursuing research opportunities, this prerequisite will be waived for students identifying in underrepresented or disadvantaged groups. Candidates are still welcome to apply and can have until July 31st to successfully obtain and submit a host lab authorization form.
An uploaded PDF of completed written response questions.
An outline of requested funding amount and details of your financial circumstance.
Preview all of the application questions here!
Finding a Lab
Finding a Lab
We recommend checking out Weizmann Institute of Science's excellent and thorough guide that walks you through how to choose, reach out to, and evaluate if a lab is a good fit for you.
We recommend checking out Weizmann Institute of Science's excellent and thorough guide that walks you through how to choose, reach out to, and evaluate if a lab is a good fit for you.
Applications for the 2023-2024 academic year are now closed. Applications for the 2024-2025 academic year will open around June 2024.
Applications for the 2023-2024 academic year are now closed. Applications for the 2024-2025 academic year will open around June 2024.
FAQ
FAQ
I’m not residing in the U.S. currently. Can I still apply?
How much funding do you provide?
What are other benefits or expectations associated with the grant?
How will grants be distributed if I am awarded one?
I’m an underrepresented and/or Canadian student, so I’m technically eligible for more than one award. How will my application be evaluated?
Who is reviewing applications and determining awardees?
When will I hear back about the decision for my application?
If I advance, what are the next steps?
Who are supporting these grants?
Who can I contact if I have further questions?