The UNCF Merck Science Initiative awards 12 scholarships to help African American graduate students complete their coursework, conduct research, and prepare the dissertation in a biomedically relevant life or physical sciences and engineering program. Each fellowship provides up to $53,500 for one to two years of fellowship tenure.

To be considered, you must be African American, a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S., be enrolled full-time in a Ph.D. program in life science, physical sciences or engineering, and have passed qualifying exams by September 1, 2014. The application is due December 5, 2013 at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time.

For more information about the program and application, visit the UNCF Merck website.