Summer Research Fellowships: The Office of Student Fellowships and Research is an essential resource for students interested in pursuing research during their undergraduate years or seeking nationally competitive fellowships. Their goal is to further student academic endeavors by connecting worthy students to merit-based opportunities, to encourage self-development, and to make the application process a worthwhile learning experience. For a complete list of Summer Institutional Research Fellowship opportunities, please click here.
Fellowships in the Biological Sciences: Fellowships may include: Life Sciences Fellowships, INBRE Fellowships {Maine IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence}, Bowdoin Scientific Station (BSS) Fellowships, Beckman Scholar Program and Paller Neuroscience Research Fellowships. See below for more details.
Bowdoin Scientific Station (BSS) Fellowships: Fellowships are available to support summer research at the College's biological research station on Kent Island, in Canada's Bay of Fundy. BSS Fellowships support field studies in a variety of disciplines (e.g., biology/ecology, geology, oceanography, and chemistry). It is expected that research conducted with BSS Fellowship support will culminate in an Advanced Independent Study or Honors in one of the natural sciences or in Environmental Studies. The BSS Summer Fellowship Program lasts for 8 weeks. A stipend, plus transportation, meals, and lodging at Kent Island are provided. A parallel fellowship program at BSS is offered for the arts and humanities. Students interested in applying for a fellowship should contact the Director of the Bowdoin College Scientific Station on Kent Island, Professor Patricia Jones (pjones3@bowdoin.edu). See more information about Kent Island.
Beckman Scholar Program (BSP): This unique research opportunity is a 15-month consecutive summer-academic year-summer experience, for two students in the spring of either their freshman, sophomore, or junior year. BSP supports field studies in a variety of disciplines (e.g., chemistry, biochemistry, the biological and medical sciences, or some interdisciplinary combination of these subjects). Research activities must be performed part-time (ten hours per week) during one academic year, and full-time over two summers (ten 40-hour weeks each summer) immediately before and after the academic year research experience.
- Student Stipend $18,200; per student, distributed as follows:
- First summer - $6,800
- Academic Year - $4,600
- Second summer - $6,800
- Scientific Supplies and Travel $2,800; per student, distributed as needed to support current research activities. Can be used to support travel, materials and supplies purchases, graduate school application fees, and other activities that support the Scholar’s research and their transition into future training positions.
- Subsidized college housing, on campus housing is on a first come first served basis.
The BPS facilitator faculty (Lisa Ledwidge and Karen Moulton) hold an informational meeting for information on BSP on February 6, 2026, at 3:35 in Druck 16, the next info session will be February 2027. If you cannot make the meeting or missed it and would like more information, please email Lisa and Karen at beckman@bowdoin.edu.
To register your intent to apply for the Beckman Scholar Program, click (link to be available the evening of the informational meeting). See further Application and Deadline information below.
Bowdoin College Fellowships in the Life Sciences: Funds donated to the College will support 8, 9 or 10 week fellowships for students wishing to conduct independent research in the life sciences during the summer. In addition to students working with faculty in the biological sciences (Biology, Biochemistry, Neuroscience), students working on biological problem in the physical sciences and mathematics are eligible for these fellowships. Students will receive a stipend of $615/week (2026) and subsidized college housing, as well as funds to cover research supplies. On campus housing is on a first come first served basis.
INBRE Summer Fellowships: An INBRE (IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence) grant from the NIH will support 8, 9 or 10 week fellowships for students wishing to conduct independent summer research addressing biomedical questions, including questions relating to comparative functional genomics. Students will receive a $615 weekly stipend (2026) and subsidized college housing, as well as funds to cover research supplies. On campus housing is on a first come first served basis.
INBRE State-wide Summer Fellowships: An INBRE (IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence) grant from the NIH will support 8, 9 or 10 week fellowships for students wishing to conduct independent summer research addressing biomedical questions, particularly questions relating to comparative functional genomics, at any of the INBRE institutions in the state of Maine. Students will receive the campus-wide standard weekly stipend ($615 for 2026) on-campus housing support, a food stipend or on-campus dining (at some institutions), as well as funds to cover research supplies. On campus housing at Bowdoin is on a first come first served basis. For more information, please visit the INBRE fellowships website: https://inbre.maineidea.net/student-training/undergraduate-research-fellowships/
INBRE Post-baccalaureate Summer Fellowship: Bowdoin will offer a summer fellowship (stipend $615/week in 2026 plus housing on campus) for a graduating senior to continue working on his or her ongoing research project, with a goal of making progress towards publication, for 8-10 weeks during the summer after graduation. Because this fellowship is supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Maine INBRE (IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence) program, projects submitted for the fellowship should have some biomedical relevance, with a preference for projects in the general field of comparative functional genomics (broadly defined). On-campus housing will be on a first-come first-serve basis.
The Biology faculty held an informational meeting for information on summer fellowships in the Biological Sciences October 22, 2025, the next info session will be late October 2026. If you missed the meeting and would like more information, please email the Biology Department Chair, Hadley Horch, at hhorch@bowdoin.edu.
Students should begin discussing potential projects with faculty sponsors early in the Spring semester 2026.
To apply for a Bowdoin Scientific Station Fellowship, click here.
To apply for a Life Sciences or INBRE Summer Fellowship, use Bowdoin Student Fellowships’ online application. You may request support for project-related expenses of up to $1000; an itemized budget and justification should be submitted by your mentor with their letter of support. (Note: Additional materials are required for Paller Fellowship applications; please see your mentor for details.)
Applications and Deadlines
- Late November/early December: Contact faculty to find out about research opportunities for the following summer.
- February 17, 2026 (noon): Deadline for students to submit the Phase One Application. Once submitted you will receive an automated email with a link to the Phase Two application.
- February 24, 2026 (noon): Deadline for students to submit the Phase Two application online. Late applications will not be accepted; students should plan accordingly.
- Applicants who have been selected by the Biological Fellowships Committee will be notified by email by April 1, 2026, that they are being offered Biological Science fellowships.
- April 6, 2026 is the deadline for students to accept or decline Biological Summer Fellowships.
- April 9-10, 2026, if funds are available, a second round of awards may be offered to students who did not receive a Fellowship.
- April 13, 2026 All applicants not selected in the first round of awards will be notified of their final award status.
- April 15, 2026 Deadline for students who were notified of a fellowship award on April 13 to accept/decline offer.