USA Scholarships
D.O.O.R.S. Scholarship 2026 - $5,000 Life Sciences Award
The D.O.O.R.S. Scholarship 2026 pairs $5,000 in tuition support with a year of biotech mentorship for undergraduates who already look like future research scientists. BTCI, the nonprofit institute that shares a campus with Promega in Madison, Wisconsin, runs the programme with Promega to open doors for ten students each year who show exceptional research talent and professional promise. The money goes directly to your accredited institution, not to you personally, and covers qualified educational expenses such as tuition and fees. Beyond the check, each scholar is matched with a Promega mentor, joins group mentorship sessions on experimental design and career development, and travels to D.O.O.R.S. Scholar''s Day for in-person networking with industry scientists at the BTCI and Promega campus. The 2026 application deadline is Tuesday, 30 September 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CDT, with recipients notified no later than 2 November 2026. Eligible applicants are at least 18, enrolled in a life sciences undergraduate programme at a US, Canadian, or Puerto Rican institution, and actively contributing to biomedical research.
What is the D.O.O.R.S. Scholarship 2026?
The D.O.O.R.S. Scholarship 2026 is one of the few undergraduate awards that treats research experience and industry mentorship as equals to the cash. BTCI, the BioPharmaceutical Technology Center Institute on Promega''s Madison campus, partners with Promega Corporation to select ten life sciences undergraduates each year who already contribute to biomedical research and intend to stay in biotechnology.
The financial piece is straightforward but easy to misunderstand. Each scholar receives $5,000, and the payment goes straight to the accredited school on your account. BTCI and Promega cannot wire the prize to your personal bank account, which is standard for institutional scholarships that must align with tax and financial aid rules. What you get beyond money is the part alumni talk about: a Promega mentor, group sessions on experimental design and career paths, and D.O.O.R.S. Scholar''s Day in Madison with scientists who built careers on the industry side of the bench.
Applications for the 2026 cycle close at 11:59 p.m. CDT on 30 September 2026. You need two essays capped at 600 words, a short professor or lab administrator recommendation, and honest detail about a research project you touch today. Winners hear back by 2 November 2026 and accept outreach obligations that can include interviews or blog features for up to a year, which is the trade for access to mentors and travel support.
Geography is broader than many US-only lists suggest. Institutions in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico qualify, though this guide sits on a US scholarships site and most readers will be at American universities. Promega employees, BTCI staff, their immediate families, and authorized distributor employees cannot apply. If you want parallel STEM funding without the biotech mentorship layer, compare the Supporting STEM Scholarship USA 2027 and the Hertz Fellowship USA 2027. Official prompts and the apply button are on Promega''s D.O.O.R.S. programme page.
Eligibility
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✓At least 18 years oldApplicants must be at least 18 at the time of entry. The programme targets undergraduates who are already involved in research activities rather than high school students planning future lab work.
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✓Enrolled in a life sciences undergraduate programmeYou must be enrolled in an undergraduate life sciences programme at an accredited educational institution in the United States, Canada, or Puerto Rico. Community colleges, universities, and technical colleges qualify if the programme fits the life sciences focus.
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✓Active biomedical or biotechnology research involvementSelection looks for students currently involved in life science research activities with a biotechnology-related major and intent to continue in that career path. Your application includes a research abstract describing a project you have worked on, are working on, or will work on during your degree.
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✓Pursuing a biotechnology-related careerRecipients should be pursuing a biotechnology-related major with the hope of continuing in that field. The personal statement asks how you hope to make broader impact through a career in biotechnology or life sciences.
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✓Not employed by BTCI, Promega, or immediate familyEmployees of BTCI or Promega and members of their immediate families are not eligible. Employees of authorized Promega distributors are also excluded.
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✓Willing to collaborate on outreach if selectedWinners agree to share research stories with BTCI and Promega and to support promotional activities such as interviews, webinars, or blog features for up to 12 months after accepting the award. Travel to Scholar's Day is arranged and covered by the programme under published travel rules.
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✓No purchase of Promega products requiredEligible individuals do not need to buy Promega products or pay any fees to participate. The award is void where prohibited by law.
Benefits
- Scholarship payment $5,000 USD to your accredited institution
- Industry mentorship One-on-one and group sessions with Promega professionals
- D.O.O.R.S. Scholar's Day In-person event at BTCI / Promega campus, Madison, WI
- Travel to Scholar's Day Round-trip transport arranged and covered per programme rules
- Research feedback Constructive feedback on experimental design and posters
- Purchase requirement None. No Promega product purchase needed
- Direct cash to student Not paid. Funds go to institutional account only
- Graduate or postdoctoral study Undergraduate enrolment required
Document checklist
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✓Online D.O.O.R.S. applicationSubmit through the Apply section on promega.com/global/doors-program by the September 2026 deadline. The form collects contact information, institution, major, and demographic fields listed in the official rules.
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✓Personal impact statement (600 words or less)Describe the broader impact you hope to make through a career in biotechnology or life sciences, why it matters to you, and what the scholarship and mentorship would mean for reaching that goal. Include specific examples.
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✓Research abstract (600 words or less)Summarize a research project you have been, are, or will be involved in during your current undergraduate programme. Explain the project goals and your specific contribution to the research team.
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✓Academic reference letterOne recommendation from a professor, instructor, or lab administrator at your college or university who can speak to your lab role, interest in life sciences, and fit for the D.O.O.R.S. Award. The official instructions ask for about one paragraph.
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✓Academic sponsor coordinationOfficial instructions ask you to secure an academic sponsor and recommendation before submitting. Line up your recommender early so the letter arrives before the deadline.
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✓Contact details for Scholar's Day travelIf selected, BTCI and Promega arrange round-trip transportation between your institution's town and the Madison campus for Scholar's Day under the programme travel policy.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What does D.O.O.R.S. stand for?
D.O.O.R.S. means Development Of Our Research Scientists. BTCI and Promega launched the mentorship and scholarship programme in 2020 to foster access to development opportunities for undergraduates who show exceptional research talent and promise in the life sciences.
How much is the D.O.O.R.S. Scholarship worth?
Each scholar receives $5,000 USD, paid exclusively to the accredited educational institution where the recipient is enrolled. BTCI and Promega cannot pay or transfer the funds directly to the individual. The money applies toward tuition, fees, and other qualified educational expenses on the institutional account.
When is the D.O.O.R.S. Scholarship 2026 deadline?
Applications are due Tuesday, 30 September 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Central Daylight Time. Winners are notified no later than 2 November 2026 according to the official entry instructions on Promega's D.O.O.R.S. programme page.
Who is eligible for the D.O.O.R.S. Scholarship?
You must be at least 18, enrolled in a life sciences undergraduate programme at an institution in the United States, Canada, or Puerto Rico, and involved in research activities with a biotechnology-related career goal. Employees of BTCI or Promega, their immediate families, and employees of authorized Promega distributors are not eligible.
Do I need to buy Promega products to apply?
No. The official rules state that eligible individuals are not required to buy Promega products or pay any fees to participate. Selection is based on your application materials and research profile, not on commercial purchases.
What happens at D.O.O.R.S. Scholar's Day?
Scholars travel to the BTCI and Promega campus in Madison, Wisconsin, for an in-person event that includes networking with industry leaders and scientists. BTCI and Promega arrange and cover round-trip transportation between your institution's town and the event under the published travel policy, without routing through unrelated destinations.
How many D.O.O.R.S. Scholars are selected each year?
The programme aims to support ten undergraduate students every year. The 2025 cohort listed on Promega's site includes scholars from institutions such as Johns Hopkins University, UCLA, and the University of Michigan, which gives a sense of the academic range.
What essays are required for the D.O.O.R.S. application?
You submit two written responses of 600 words or less each. One is a personal impact statement on the change you hope to make through a biotechnology or life sciences career. The other is a research abstract describing a project you have been, are, or will be involved in during your undergraduate programme, including your specific contribution.
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