All students are welcome to attend LS-NSSA events, however only those who have applied to and are accepted as LS-NSSA scholars are eligible for funding from the Alliance. This includes funding for research opportunities and conference travel. 

Below are the key requirements for becoming an LS-NSSA scholar: 

  • Enrollment as a full- or part-time undergraduate student at one of our Alliance Partner institutions 
  • U.S. citizenship or permanent residency (green card holder)
  • Declared or intended major in one of the accepted STEM fields listed here
  • Experience with social, educational, or economic challenges that impact the pursuit of STEM degrees and careers

Benefits of the Alliance:

  • Eligibility to apply for the MnDRIVE Summer Research Internship, a paid 8–10-week undergraduate research experience exclusively for LS-NSSA scholars. Click here for more information
  • Eligibility to request funding to travel to federally sponsored STEM conferences and travel grants to learn and study abroad. All funding decisions take into consideration your level of involvement in LS-NSSA activities; therefore, we strongly encourage you to take advantage of our programming. We expect scholars to engage with us at least 5 hours per semester during the academic year.
  • Eligibility to apply to participate in the LSAMP Bridge to Doctorate Programs - a two-year graduate fellowship that covers the cost of tuition and fees, and provides funds for a stipend, supplies, and travel. Click here to learn more
  • Graduate school application fee waivers. 
  • Access to workshops on graduate school preparation, professional development, STEM career exploration, networking opportunities, and more!

Start Your Application

Click above to access the LS-NSSA scholar application form!

Important Notes:

  • Reapplying: If you have been accepted as an LS-NSSA scholar previously, do not reapply unless four or more years have passed, as scholar status is retained across multiple academic years. 
  • Await Notification: Once your application has been submitted, you will receive a confirmation email. We will contact you to inform you whether your application has been accepted. If you have questions, contact your institution's Site Coordinator. 
  • Rolling Applications: We accept applications year-round.