DojoGrants
DojoGrants
The first institution-agnostic, year-round life sciences research funding program for undergraduates.
The first institution-agnostic, year-round life sciences research funding program for undergraduates.
Apply Here
Apply Here
Due July 8th, 11:59 PM PT
Due July 8th, 11:59 PM PT
Undergradates are undersupported in research. Let’s change that.
Undergradates are undersupported in research. Let’s change that.
DojoGrants is an initiative run by Nucleate Dojo designed to remove financial barriers for undergraduate students pursuing life sciences research. As the first institution-agnostic, year-round funding program for undergraduate biotech researchers, we provide direct funding, mentorship, and community to promising students across the U.S. and Canada.
Since launching in 2023, DojoGrants has supported 15 undergraduate researchers across two cohorts with $75,000 in total funding, enabling groundbreaking research in areas ranging from tuberculosis treatment and HIV diagnostics to Alzheimer's disease mechanisms and neuroscience.
The need has never been greater. Today's undergraduate researchers face an unprecedented convergence of challenges that threaten to disrupt the scientific pipeline at its earliest stage. Recent policy changes and institutional shifts have created a significant funding gap specifically impacting undergraduate research opportunities. At a time when traditional support systems are faltering, DojoGrants stands as an essential funding mechanism to meet the overwhelming need.
Applications and Host Lab Authorization Forms for the 2025-2026 academic year are now open and are due July 8th at 11:59 PM PT.
DojoGrants is an initiative run by Nucleate Dojo designed to remove financial barriers for undergraduate students pursuing life sciences research. As the first institution-agnostic, year-round funding program for undergraduate biotech researchers, we provide direct funding, mentorship, and community to promising students across the U.S. and Canada.
Since launching in 2023, DojoGrants has supported 15 undergraduate researchers across two cohorts with $75,000 in total funding, enabling groundbreaking research in areas ranging from tuberculosis treatment and HIV diagnostics to Alzheimer's disease mechanisms and neuroscience.
The need has never been greater. Today's undergraduate researchers face an unprecedented convergence of challenges that threaten to disrupt the scientific pipeline at its earliest stage. Recent policy changes and institutional shifts have created a significant funding gap specifically impacting undergraduate research opportunities. At a time when traditional support systems are faltering, DojoGrants stands as an essential funding mechanism to meet the overwhelming need.
Applications and Host Lab Authorization Forms for the 2025-2026 academic year are now open and are due July 8th at 11:59 PM PT.
Funding, for all undergradate researchers
Funding, for all undergradate researchers
We support the next generation of scientific breakthroughs.
You choose a research area and lab you’re excited about, and we’ll fund you. We don’t require high GPAs, extensive research experience, or recommendation letters. Instead, we look for boundless curiosity, self-motivation, and ambition in our research fellows — those who are ready to accelerate their careers in the life sciences, biotech, and beyond.
Beyond funding, we help our research fellows reach their goals.
World-class mentorship from top biotech companies and institutions, professional development, workshops, and a tight-knit community ensure fellows have the support they need to thrive throughout their research journey and beyond.
We support the next generation of scientific breakthroughs.
You choose a research area and lab you’re excited about, and we’ll fund you. We don’t require high GPAs, extensive research experience, or recommendation letters. Instead, we look for boundless curiosity, self-motivation, and ambition in our research fellows — those who are ready to accelerate their careers in the life sciences, biotech, and beyond.
Beyond funding, we help our research fellows reach their goals.
World-class mentorship from top biotech companies and institutions, professional development, workshops, and a tight-knit community ensure fellows have the support they need to thrive throughout their research journey and beyond.
Our Awards
Our Awards
DojoGrants Research Fellowship
DojoGrants Research Fellowship
Our flagship program for undergraduate life sciences and biotech-adjacent research projects. Selected fellows pursue part-time research over a semester or full-time research over the academic year. All grant awards are variable but most fall in the range of $5,000 - $10,000.
Our flagship program for undergraduate life sciences and biotech-adjacent research projects. Selected fellows pursue part-time research over a semester or full-time research over the academic year. All grant awards are variable but most fall in the range of $5,000 - $10,000.
How to Apply
How to Apply
For a detailed overview of how to apply and our advice on finding a lab position, view our previous 2023 webinar recording on YouTube or our 2024 webinar recording on Zoom (some details may vary from this cycle).
For the 2025-2026 application cycle, an info session will be held on June 28th at 10 AM PT and office hours will be held on July 5th at 10 AM PT. To access these sessions, please use the Zoom link here.
The info session recording for 2025-2026 application cycle can be accessed here.
Who can apply?
For a detailed overview of how to apply and our advice on finding a lab position, view our previous 2023 webinar recording on YouTube or our 2024 webinar recording on Zoom (some details may vary from this cycle).
For the 2025-2026 application cycle, an info session will be held on June 28th at 10 AM PT and office hours will be held on July 5th at 10 AM PT. To access these sessions, please use the Zoom link here.
The info session recording for 2025-2026 application cycle can be accessed here.
Who can apply?
Undergraduate students (currently enrolled, gap year, or co-op) intending to pursue a life sciences or biotech-adjacent academic research internship/project hosted by a U.S.-based university or institute.
For this cycle, we are only accepting applications for all awards from undergraduates who are Canadian citizens, U.S. citizens / permanent residents, and/or U.S. student visa holders (F, J, M, Q).
Research experiences must occur over the 2024-2025 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).
It is not necessary for applicants to have prior research experience.
Applicants should be able to regularly engage with in-person lab activity.
Selected DojoGrants Research Fellows are expected to attend group virtual meetings, speaker events, and engage in 1:1 chats with DojoGrants leadership and mentors.
Undergraduate students (currently enrolled, gap year, or co-op) intending to pursue a life sciences or biotech-adjacent academic research internship/project hosted by a U.S.-based university or institute.
For this cycle, we are only accepting applications for all awards from undergraduates who are Canadian citizens, U.S. citizens / permanent residents, and/or U.S. student visa holders (F, J, M, Q).
Research experiences must occur over the 2024-2025 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).
It is not necessary for applicants to have prior research experience.
Applicants should be able to regularly engage with in-person lab activity.
Selected DojoGrants Research Fellows are expected to attend group virtual meetings, speaker events, and engage in 1:1 chats with DojoGrants leadership and mentors.
Selection criteria
Selection criteria
We are looking for candidates who have clear, ambitious goals and can articulate how DojoGrants (and their life sciences research) will enable them to achieve them.
By the time of application, candidates must source a research position at a university or institute and be prepared to share more about the proposed research project.
Candidates should comprehensively describe the impact they hope their research will have (including for personal development). We encourage applicants to think of the implications of their research on human health and the larger bioeconomy.
Candidates will be asked in the application to demonstrate any financial need. We take into consideration barriers to research access, including socioeconomic status.
Award amounts are variable and often range from $5,000 - $10,000 in grant funding. They may be determined by the applicant's requested amount, financial need, research experience duration, and lab location, among other factors.
We are looking for candidates who have clear, ambitious goals and can articulate how DojoGrants (and their life sciences research) will enable them to achieve them.
By the time of application, candidates must source a research position at a university or institute and be prepared to share more about the proposed research project.
Candidates should comprehensively describe the impact they hope their research will have (including for personal development). We encourage applicants to think of the implications of their research on human health and the larger bioeconomy.
Candidates will be asked in the application to demonstrate any financial need. We take into consideration barriers to research access, including socioeconomic status.
Award amounts are variable and often range from $5,000 - $10,000 in grant funding. They may be determined by the applicant's requested amount, financial need, research experience duration, and lab location, among other factors.
Research projects
Research projects
What counts as a life sciences/biotech-adjacent 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
What counts as a life sciences/biotech-adjacent 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
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.
A copy of your resume (or equivalent page of experiences).
An outline of requested funding amount and details of your financial circumstance.
Completed responses to personal statement questions, including:
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? (350 words max)
Beyond your planned research project, how do you envision staying engaged with Nucleate Dojo throughout the academic year? What specific ways would you like to contribute to our community? (200 words max)
If you had all the funding and resources in the world, what research question would you pursue and why? (200 words max)
See the application and 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.
A copy of your resume (or equivalent page of experiences).
An outline of requested funding amount and details of your financial circumstance.
Completed responses to personal statement questions, including:
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? (350 words max)
Beyond your planned research project, how do you envision staying engaged with Nucleate Dojo throughout the academic year? What specific ways would you like to contribute to our community? (200 words max)
If you had all the funding and resources in the world, what research question would you pursue and why? (200 words max)
See the application and 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. Nucleate Dojo will come out with its own guide after this application cycle!
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. Nucleate Dojo will come out with its own guide after this application cycle!
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?