In celebration of Henri A. Termeer’s commitment to scientific discovery and mentorship of aspiring and accomplished scientists, the MassBioEd Henri A. Termeer Student Scholarship program annually recognizes one outstanding student who plans to enroll or is currently enrolled in an eligible 2- or 4-year life sciences undergraduate program as described below. Candidates for this award must possess an academic record marked by a commitment to excellence and a demonstrated interest in the life sciences and biotechnology, with aspirations for a future career in the life sciences.

Eligibility

• Be a Massachusetts student who plans to enroll or is currently enrolled in an eligible 2- or 4-year life sciences undergraduate program (preference will be given to high school seniors, recent graduates or currently enrolled college students)
• Have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent)
• Be available to accept the award at the Champions for Biotechnology Award Ceremony during the evening of October 27^th, 2022 or submit a video acceptance.

If selected as a recipient, the student will receive a $2,500 scholarship. Awards are for undergraduate study only. Payments will be made directly to the awardee upon confirmation of enrollment in an eligible undergraduate program.

Eligible Areas of Study

Eligible areas of study include biology, chemistry, and other programs that provide the student with the skills and training needed for advanced study or a career in the life sciences industry. Specific questions on both the application and the candidate endorsement form will help us evaluate the eligibility of your intended course of study. Eligible areas of study would include but are not limited to:

• Biology 
• Biotechnology
• Biochemistry
• Biological Engineering
• Synthetic Biology
• Molecular Biology

Program Deadline

The 2022 submission period is from April 13 to June 30, 2022.

Application Process

Step 1: Complete the Application by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page. You will be required to submit the supporting documentation listed below with your application. All documents should be uploaded to the application in PDF form.

Supporting Documentation:

Academics:

• For High School or GED applicants: Provide a copy of your official high school transcript showing grades and cumulative GPA through Fall 2021 or high school equivalency diploma.
• For College applicants:  Provide a copy of your official college transcript showing grades and cumulative GPA through Fall 2021. 

About You: While your academic record and volunteer and community service activities are significant factors in selecting finalists, the most important part of your application is your essay. This is your opportunity to let the Selection Committee know that you have the motivation and persistence to succeed in college and beyond. You will be asked to upload your essay as part of the application below.

• Essay Prompt: Your Educational and Career Goals – please limit to 500 words: Describe your educational and career goals and explain what or who has inspired or helped you to shape these goals. Excluding financial needs, what are the most significant challenges you expect to face in successfully completing college? How will you overcome these challenges?

Financial: Applicants must be prepared to provide upon request their financial information or their parent/guardian’s financial information depending on their financial filing status (Dependent or Independent). If the applicant is married, they must submit their spouse’s financial information as well. If requested you will need to submit one of the following

• A copy of the complete Student Aid Report from the FAFSA for the current academic year      

OR 

• A copy of your family’s federal tax return from 2019 and 2020 showing the Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) reported. If your family did not file taxes for any reason, you must provide estimated income for each year as well as an explanation.

Step 2: Recommendations. Each candidate must obtain one completed Candidate Endorsement Form from an eligible reference. An eligible reference is an individual that has served as a teacher, mentor, employer, or work/volunteer supervisor and is familiar with your interest and aptitude for the life sciences. An eligible reference cannot be related to the applicant. 

Instructions and additional information for the Candidate Endorsement Form can be found here. References can complete the form by clicking on the Candidate Endorsement Link at the bottom of the page.

If we do not receive all your documentation by the deadline of June 30, 2022 we will be unable to review your application. If you prefer, documents can be mailed to: Termeer Scholarship, C/O MassBioEd, 255 Main Street, 8^th Floor Cambridge, MA 02142.

Step 3: Respond to Follow Up Questions. During the application review period, a member of the review committee may follow up with any additional questions. Please check your email and voicemail regularly and reply promptly!

Step 4: Decision Notices Sent and Conditional Acceptance. Applicants will be notified of decisions via email, and the accepted Scholar will be “conditionally approved” until they provide a tuition bill for the upcoming semester indicating enrollment in an eligible undergraduate program.