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AGA-Dr. Harvey Young Education & Development Foundation’s Young Guts Scholars Program

$6,075 - $7,575

6 Awards

10 Month Term

$6,075 - $7,575

6 Awards

10 Month Term

This program supports undergraduate students from racial, ethnic and/or other groups traditionally underrepresented in biomedical research to perform mentored research related to digestive diseases throughout the academic year. The award provides a stipend, AGA membership, and a travel allowance to attend Digestive Disease Week®.

Application Deadline:

January 31, 2025

Funding Start Date:

August 15, 2024

Application Opens:

October 1, 2024

Application Deadline:

January 31, 2025

Apply Now

Application Opens:

October 2, 2023

Application Deadline:

February 1, 2024

Apply Now

Closed:

Applications Under Review

Closed:

Applications Under Review

Award Policies

Resources & FAQs

Meet Our Awardees

AGA Research Foundation

Preview Application

Objective

The objective of this award is to encourage students from racial/ethnic and/or other groups traditionally underrepresented in biomedical research to pursue careers in science or medicine, ultimately to expand the pipeline of investigators in digestive disease research.

Applicant eligibility

  • Applicants currently enrolled in an undergraduate program in the U.S. with at least one year left in their undergraduate education are eligible to apply  (i.e., no seniors graduating during the current academic year or the following fall semester).
  • Applicants must be in good academic standing at an accredited institution of higher education.
  • Applicants must identify with at least one of the following groups:
  • At the time of application, the student must have a commitment from a mentor for research throughout the academic year for a minimum of 12 hours per week. The mentor may be on- or off-campus (if at another local institution). The mentor must be a current, dues-paying member of the AGA at the time of application.
  • Applicants may not hold similar awards from other organizations (e.g., National Institutes of Health).
  • This award is not intended to provide salary support for individuals employed as laboratory technicians.
  • Ideal applicants will have at least one semester/quarter or summer of prior research experience, though this is not required.
  • Past recipients may reapply in subsequent years provided the required scientific progress report and any follow-up surveys were submitted following the previously funded project and other eligibility requirements are still met.

Application requirements

  • Applicants must identify, contact and secure a commitment from a research mentor who is a dues-paying member of AGA.
    • For applicants without a current mentor, AGA staff is available to help you find a willing mentor at or near your institution until January 17. Please complete this mentor request form and staff will follow-up within one week.
  • A letter of support from the mentor is required (limited to two-pages). The letter should:
    • Detail the mentor’s involvement in creating the research proposal, plan for mentoring the applicant, and the portion of the proposed research the applicant will reasonably complete during the award period. 
    • Describe what existing institutional activities or programs the applicant may benefit from during the research period, in particular those oriented towards undergraduates and/or underrepresented groups. 
    • Briefly justify the need for mentor lab funding support (see Award terms) or indicate that this funding is unnecessary.
    • Mentors at institutions different than the applicant should indicate explicitly that the mentor’s institution will allow an un-enrolled undergraduate to perform research within their laboratory.
  • An abstract and proposal (limited to two pages) describing the research you will perform during the award period. The proposal should include sections for background information, specific aims and a research plan.
  • A letter of reference from a current or past professor speaking to the applicant’s qualifications and engagement. Applicants will supply the contact information for the referee who will submit their letter directly to AGA. One individual cannot serve as both the applicant’s mentor and reference.
  • A personal statement (limited to one-page) describing:
    • Your career goals.
    • Your research background, if any.
    • Your interest in digestive disease research.
    • How the Young Guts Scholars Program will benefit your academic and career goals.
    • Your involvement in creating the research proposal.
  • An up-to-date transcript. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable provided all courses and credits are clearly legible.

Award terms

  • Recipients must submit a scientific progress report upon completion of the award.
  • Award recipients are required to acknowledge the AGA-Dr. Harvey Young Education & Development Foundation’s Young Guts Scholars Program in all testimonials, publications, abstracts and/or presentations that result from the award.
  • Recipients must participate in follow-up surveys and are expected to participate in future events as alumni of the program.
  • Recipients will receive:
    • A $6,000 stipend disbursed in two installments: one in August 2025 and one in January 2026.
    • AGA student membership for 3 years ($75).
    • A travel allowance to attend Digestive Disease Week® 2026 or 2027, payable upon proof of registration to the conference (up to $1,500).
  • Mentor labs may request funding support to offset the costs of hosting the student. Requests may be up to $1,000.

Application timeline

  • October 2024: Applications open
  • January 2025: Applications close
  • May 2025: Application review and recipient selection
  • June 2025: Recipients and mentors notified of status
  • August 2025 – May 2026: Recipients perform research with their mentors
  • May 2026: Recipients attend Digestive Disease Week® 2025
  • July 2026: Recipients complete close-out report and first follow-up survey. Mentors complete a close-out survey.

Selection criteria and review process

Recipients are selected based on their interest in biomedical and digestive disease research, engagement with the research proposal and proposed mentor, demonstrated need for the program, and likelihood of benefiting from the experience.

Application process

The application deadline is January 31, 2025. Applications are accepted through the web-based AGA Grants Management System. Applicants may preview the application as it will appear on the AGA Grant Management System before beginning an application. Please note that this preview is for reference only and all applications are completed online.

Contact

Please direct all questions to the AGA Awards Program at awards@gastro.org.

Acknowledgements

AGA gratefully acknowledges the Dr. Harvey Young Education & Development Foundation for supporting this program. Dr. Harvey Young acknowledges Mrs. Ha Lin Yip Huang’s generous support of the Young Foundation which led to the Young Guts program.

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