The 2026 LGBTIQ+ OUTbio
Scholarship Program 

We are pleased to announce that the 2026 LGBTIQ+ OUTbio Scholarship is underway. The OUTbio LGBTIQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer) STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Scholarship Program is intended to encourage LGBTIQ+ young adults to pursue careers in the life sciences. The scholarship supports all students, regardless of gender or sexual diversity, who have demonstrated leadership and/or involvement toward advancing LGBTIQ+ diversity, equity, and inclusion in their community.

 

OUTbio, the biotech industry’s largest LGBTIQ+ professional group, was founded in Boston in 2015 and has now blossomed to include more than 2,000 members in the Boston area alone. It has branched out to nine affiliate branches worldwide. In addition to focusing on networking and professional development in the Biopharma space, OUTbio strives to give back to the community. One way of doing this is through our annual STEM scholarship program.

 

OUTbio will award unrestricted scholarship funds of up to $5,000 to one graduating high school student or an active student who will be attending a 2 or 4-year college or technical/vocational school in New England (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and Connecticut) in the 2026-2027 academic year.

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Who Should Apply?

We welcome applications from students pursuing life sciences degrees that may lead to careers in life sciences industries, including human disease biology, drug discovery, R&D, or biomanufacturing. We will also consider those studying in fields related to the life sciences, such as:

• Finance

• Operations

• Technology

• Communications

 

The award will be based on responses to the questions below, references, and a virtual interview.  Preference will be given to those whose degree paths align with careers in the life sciences ecosystem or related fields. OUTbio will award the scholarship annually as an unrestricted grant to support tuition and other educational expenses.

 

 

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Program Schedule for the 2026 Scholarship Process:

 

Application opens - April 7, 2026

 

Application deadline – July 10, 2026

 

Application Review Period and Interviews – July 13 - July 31, 2026

 

Applicants will be ranked based on their academic and extracurricular history, letters of recommendation, intended field of study, and quality of essay responses.

 

Finalists will be invited to be interviewed by members of the Scholarship Selection Committee.

 

Scholarship winner(s) selected and notified by August 14, 2026.

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Scholarship Eligibility Requirements:

To be eligible for the scholarship award, applicants must meet all requirements listed below.

 

Must be 18 or older at the time of award (14 Aug 2026).

 

A minimum of a 3.0 (out of 4.0 GPA) or have achieved a GED, and are willing to provide a transcript.

 

Be pursuing a degree in a life science discipline or are interested in pursuing a career supporting the STEM industry.

 

Be a student/accepted at an accredited secondary college/university based in New England (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and Connecticut)

 

Be willing to submit the completed application requirements.

 

Must be present in person at an OUTbio event to receive the scholarship.

 

Agree to be profiled and have a picture on the OUTbio website and/or print materials.

 

 

Scholarship Application Guidelines:

 

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide information about yourself, your current school, post-secondary education plans, and other extracurricular activities.  

 

 

The application components are listed below:

 

Contact Information

 

Demographic Information

 

High School Information

 

Undergraduate Information

 

Achievements,  Honors and Awards Received

 

Volunteer Work

 

Employment/Activities History

 

Essay – (300 words maximum)

 

One letter of recommendation

Written and signed by someone who is NOT a family member

Ideally from a:

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• Teacher, professor, or academic advisor

• Employer or supervisor

• Mentor, coach, or community leader

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The letter should:

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• Speak to your character, achievements, and potential

• Highlight your interest in life sciences/biotech (if applicable)

• Reflect your contributions to your community or LGBTIQ+ inclusion (important for OutBio)

 

Scholarship Application Submittal: Submit the online applications no later than the due date of July 10, 2026

 

 

Contact Information: If you have any questions regarding the application instructions, please contact us at: outbioscholarship@gmail.com.

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