Application and Eligibility

Requirements and Eligibility

The BioTiER Scholars Program targets financially disadvantaged, gifted individuals. The award amounts range up to $10,000, depending on financial need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid.


Awardee requirements:

• Must be a current Biological Sciences masters student at Cal Poly Pomona
• Enroll full-time during each quarter the scholarship is received
• Maintain a 3.5 GPA in his/her graduate curriculum
• Submit an Annual Graduate Student Progress Report and Plan to the Graduate Program.
• Attend program events, including the career workshops, roundtables, skills course, on-campus career fairs, yearly College of Science symposium, worksite engagements and scientific seminars

Must be a US citizen, permanent resident, US national, or refugee.

Application Guidelines

• Applicants are required to submit a Statement of Intent (1000 word max.) in which they must (1) detail their long-term career goals, (2) describe how they have displayed motivation & initiative in pursuit of their career goals, (3) explain how participation in the BioTiER scholars program will help them achieve their goals, and (4) discuss any other relevant information that the applicants feel the selection committee should take into consideration when assessing the application, including disadvantages or hardships that they have overcome, professional achievements worthy of mention, etc.
• Letters of Nomination. For each applicant, two letters shall be provided by individuals able to evaluate the applicant's academic ability, work ethic, appropriateness for the program, and their potential for success in a STEM-based career. Letters are to be submitted electronically to the BioTiER program director, Dr. Steve Alas, at alas@cpp.edu.  
• Transcript (unofficial okay). Incoming students with no graduate experience will be required to have had a minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0. Graduate students will be required to have maintained a 3.5 GPA or above in all graduate work. Transcripts will be required of all applicants.
• Applicants must submit a copy of their official score report for the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) General Test, required of all students entering the Master’s program.
• Applicants in the graduate program for more than 1 year will be required to provide a copy of their submitted Annual Graduate Student Progress Report and Plan (due to the Graduate Coordinator every June 1). 

Those who have satisfactorily met program requirements may reapply for a second year of scholarship support. Awardees may be supported for no more than two years.

Application deadline is announced through email directly to the graduate students of the Biological Sciences Department. To download the application, please click on the button below.