Manjusha Handa Cancer Research Award

Award amount: One award of up to $5,000 to go towards living expenses, tuition, or research related costs at the student’s discretion

• Please note: if you receive a summer award and are not enrolled in summer classes, the award amount will be paid to you through direct-pay. If you are enrolled in classes during the quarter you receive this award, this amount will instead be applied to your student account, which may impact financial aid. Please discuss specific questions regarding this with the financial aid office directly.

• You must be a STEM major engaged in cancer research
• You must have demonstrated financial need
• You must be participating in a STEM diversity program (for questions or clarification on this, email us)
• You must propose a research project relating to cancer research or provide a summary of the research project you are already engaged in
• You must have a faculty mentor for your research project

This award is one of several science division summer research awards. You can view each of these research awards and their various eligibility criteria here.

If you have questions, please contact the awards manager at sciawards@ucsc.edu.

Please find complete application instructions below.

**All award recipients will be required to provide a handwritten or typed thank-you note and complete a questionnaire for donor stewardship purposes and may be asked to participate in other recognition events. If for any reason you would be unable to participate in the recognition activities outlined above, we will work with you on an alternative.

The 2023-2024 awards cycle has ended. Applications for AY 24/25 will be posted in early November, and the application deadline will be set in early spring 2025 (typically late February.)

• Strength of research proposal (e.g., quality of writing, feasibility of project)
• Strength of faculty recommendation

Selection process: The Physical and Biological Sciences Undergraduate Award Committee, composed of faculty in the Sciences at UC Santa Cruz, will review the application materials, rank each proposal, and select the award recipient.

The research awards application will be posted in early November, 2024. Until then, please review the information under “selection criteria” and begin connecting with faculty labs that could oversee your research project.