StudyDesk Scholarships
About the program
The Stowers Summer Scholars Program is the Stowers Institute for Medical Research’s annual undergraduate summer research program in Kansas City, USA. Selected scholars spend eight weeks working on an independent research project under a principal investigator, attend weekly scientific seminars, join weekly lunches with Stowers scientists, and present at a closing all-Institute poster session. Group activities around the Kansas City area round out the experience.
What sets it apart from most summer programs: it is fully funded with a salary rather than a stipend waiver — $5,000 for the eight weeks — plus travel and housing, with no fees at any stage. Applications for the 2027 cohort are open now on a rolling basis.
What the funding covers
- $5,000 salary for the eight-week program (confirmed on the program page and in the FAQ).
- Round-trip transportation between your school and Kansas City.
- Accommodation near the Stowers campus.
- Group activities around the Kansas City area.
- No fees: no application fee and no participation fee.
The 2027 cohort size is not published — treat any figure you see online as unconfirmed. The notification timeline for the 2027 cycle is likewise not published; the FAQ still carries stale 2026-cycle text in two spots (a January 2026 deadline and March 2026 offer dates), so rely on the main 2027 page for all dates.
Eligibility
- Full-time availability from 7 June to 30 July 2027 (brief delay exceptions are possible for school calendars — ask by email first).
- Completed one year of undergraduate studies by the program start.
- 18 years of age or older before the program start date.
- Field: enrolled in or just graduated from a degree-granting undergraduate program in biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, chemistry, physics, computing, engineering, mathematics, or a related field.
- Nationality: open to domestic and international students; Stowers Immigration Services supports accepted international scholars with the visa process.
- Open to previous Summer Scholars — returning applicants are welcome.
- Not eligible: anyone enrolled in or beginning a master’s, medical, or PhD program in Fall 2026. Combined BS/MS students must be within the first four years (equivalent to a US undergraduate program).
Documents you will need
Everything goes through the GradCAS portal:
- The completed GradCAS application: biographical information, a previous laboratory experience essay (including school projects), a statement of interest in Stowers research laboratories, and an optional personal statement.
- Unofficial transcript(s) uploaded to the application — official transcripts are requested only after acceptance.
- Two letters of recommendation, uploaded by the recommenders themselves through GradCAS (a third letter is optional).
Submit early: once submitted, the application cannot be altered.
How to apply
- Confirm your eligibility — one year of undergraduate study completed, 18+ by the start date, right field, and no graduate program starting in Fall 2026.
- Draft your essays — the laboratory-experience essay and the statement of interest carry real weight; name the Stowers laboratories whose research genuinely interests you.
- Line up two recommenders early — they upload the letters themselves through GradCAS, and late letters sink applications.
- Apply online through the GradCAS portal via the “Apply now” button on the official Summer Scholars page (the 2027 portal runs on the GradCAS system).
- Watch your email after the deadline — every applicant is contacted with the outcome. Questions: summerscholars@stowers.edu.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The 2027 program pays a $5,000 salary, covers round-trip travel to Kansas City and accommodation near the campus, and charges no application or participation fee.
Yes. The program is explicitly open to domestic and international students, and Stowers Immigration Services supports accepted international scholars with the visa process.
Yes — students who have just graduated from a degree-granting undergraduate program are eligible, as long as you are not enrolled in or beginning a master’s, medical, or PhD program in Fall 2026.
No. GradCAS submissions cannot be altered after submission, so review everything before you hit submit.
Yes — the official eligibility rules explicitly welcome previous Summer Scholars.
The 2027 notification timeline is not published. The FAQ’s March dates refer to the 2026 cycle and are stale — ignore them.
Verified 18 Oct 2026 against the official Stowers Institute pages: the 2027 Summer Scholars page (stowers.org/gradschool/summer-scholars — "Applications are now open", Key Dates: applications 1 Oct 2026 – 17 Jan 2027 11:59 pm ET, program 7 Jun – 30 Jul 2027, $5,000 salary, travel and accommodation, eligibility, GradCAS requirements) and the companion FAQ page (fees, salary, age-18 rule, international eligibility). The FAQ’s two stale 2026-cycle date lines were deliberately ignored; the 2027 cohort size and notification timeline are not published and are not stated as facts.
