Awardees will receive a $1,500 stipend along with a one-year mentorship program that pairs them with an industry employee. They will present their research at an ACS Pride Merck Graduate Research Award half-day symposium.
Who can apply?
To apply for the ACS Pride Merck Graduate Research Award, you must:
- Be a US citizen (studying anywhere) or a non-US citizen attending a graduate program in the US or Canada.
- Be a member of the Division of Professional Relations (PROF) and a member of the subdivision ACS Pride. To sign up use the link here!
- Be available to present your research at the National meeting where you will receive your award. This will take place at the spring national meeting that follows your application submission.
- Complete the application prior to the deadline with all components submitted.
When would the award be presented?
The awards will be presented during the ACS Spring Meeting. Award recipients are expected to present at the spring meeting and will receive reimbursement after attending.
What should be included in the award application package?
- Research abstract (no more than 2500 characters in length) submitted to the ACS Pride Graduate Research Symposium. The abstract should include:
- Topic and its relevance to chemistry/importance and broader impact on society
- Description of background information
- Identification of gap in knowledge and its ties to the research question(s)/hypothesis
- Description of results and future directions
- Confirmation that the graduate student can participate in the spring meeting in person.
- Personal statement that reflects the candidate’s journey as an LGBTQ+ individual. Personal statements should be no more than 500 words in length. This statement should include:
- Description of lived experiences being part of the LGBTQ+ communities
- Candidates are encouraged to include any volunteer experiences that focus on LGBTQ+ issues but are not required to do so.
- A short statement about a challenge you have faced as a chemist and how you’ve dealt with that challenge. (250 words)
- How do you see your legacy in your chosen community in the future? (250 words)
- Please describe in a statement (250 words) where you envision your professional journey going and what you hope your career will look like in the future.
- A copy of their C.V. or resume
- Proof of enrollment at a US based institution for graduate studies
- A letter of recommendation in support of the applicant for this professional award is strongly encouraged but not required. Letters of recommendation that are generic may not help the applicant, please ensure that your letter speaks to you and your character, as your technical ability will be assessed elsewhere in the application.
- Confirmation of the ability to use their name and likeness in publications.
All application materials must be submitted by Friday, September 18th, 2026. Applicants are not required to submit an abstract through the ACS MAPS system prior to submitting for the award. Recipients of the award will be invited to submit to the specified session before the closure of the submission portal.
For more information, please contact: awards@acsprof.org
