Program Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible to participate in the Takeda HBCU STEM Immersion,  Industry, and Innovation (I3) Fellows Program, applicants must:

• Be a current 2^nd year student (sophomore) on track to graduate in the spring of 2023
• Be a STEM Major at a partner HBCU (specific majors to be determined)
• Be Pell grant-eligible or a first generation college student
• Be currently on track to apply to the SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program (competitive GPA)
• Have an interest in community health or health care-related industries
• Desire to learn more about inclusive economic competitiveness, entrepreneurship and the innovation economy

Review Process and Selection Timeline

February 1, 2021 – Application Opens
March 28, 2021 – Application Deadline (5 PM EST)
April – Phase 1 Review and 1^st Round Interviews
April/May – Phase 2 Review and Finalists Selected
May – Fellows Announced

For additional details contact 
Arthur Mitchell
National Institute for Inclusive Competitiveness
mitchell@niicusa.org  215-341-3646

or

Stevie Lawrence
Southern Regional Education Board
stevie.lawrence@sreb.org  404-875-9211

Instructions for Applying

Review the required application materials below. Complete the form at the bottom of this page to determine your eligibility. If eligible, you’ll receive an email with a link to the online application. 

All applications must be completed online. Applications submitted in any other form will not be accepted. Please read all instructions carefully before completing your application. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. 

Essays (maximum 500 words each)

Formatting instructions:

• Please include your name on each essay submitted
• File type: .pdf only (no Word, .rtf, or other formats will be accepted)
• File size: as small as possible and no larger than 4 MB
• Font: standard 12-point (e.g. Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri)
• Spacing: 1.5 or double-spaced
• Margins: 1″ on top, bottom, and sides
• Page limits: Refer to individual upload requirements

Essay 1
Historically Black colleges and universities were established during a time when Black Americans were denied access to institutions of higher education across the country. In today’s global innovation economy, people of color are not barred access to these predominately white institutions by legal segregationist policies and laws, although the residue from generations of such public policy still have impacts. HBCUs have continued to produce successful graduates at a rate disproportional to their overall enrollment but continue to be under resourced. Share why you chose to attend an HBCU and how you view your future role as an alumnus in supporting your institution’s viability.

Essay 2
Food, water, energy, healthcare and waste play critical roles in the wealth and welfare of communities. Among America’s most vulnerable populations, these factors indicate systemic challenges that impact communities of color. Without ownership or control over food and water sources, energy generation and resource allocation, proximity to consistent quality healthcare and control over supply chains and recycling of discarded waste products, minority populations today remain in a perpetual state of reactionary survival and high-stress trauma. Why is it important to increase diversity in the STEM and innovation marketplace in order to provide solutions to these issues?

Résumé (maximum 3 pages)

Your résumé should provide details about your employment history, extra-curricular activities, community service and hobbies. Please include comprehensive details about your experiences and include any awards and honors.

Undergraduate Transcript(s)

• File type: .pdf only (.jpeg, .png, or other formats will not be accepted) 
• File size: as small as possible and no larger than 4 MB
• Transcripts must be in English and must include all courses and grades received as well as the date of the undergraduate degree, if completed.
• An unofficial transcript is acceptable and encouraged for the purposes of application; an official transcript will be required if selected for an award.
• Transcripts should not include Personal Identifying Information such as a Social Security number and date of birth. Staff may delete the transcript from your application if these data are present. Applicants should redact, cover or remove this information prior to uploading the document.
• The transcript should be legible, complete (clearly reflect your academic history and achievements), and cannot be secured, password protected, or encrypted.
• It is the responsibility of the applicant to upload all transcripts and to ensure transcript legibility and degree attainment dates after each document has been uploaded. Transcripts sent via postal mail or e-mail will not be accepted.

Letters of Recommendation

Your application must include a letter of recommendation from a current or past professor from the institution you currently attend. If you have participated in a research project, a letter from a research mentor or supervisor is acceptable. Letters of recommendation from personal friends, clergy, medical doctors and family members are not appropriate. Letters should contain substantive, comparative information about your abilities, activities and personal qualities, including specific examples that illustrate these attributes. Letter writers should indicate their relationship to you within their letter. Letters should be written on official letterhead. Letters are limited to no more than 2 pages and may be .pdf, .doc or .docx files. 

Eligibility Form

Complete this form to determine your eligibility. If eligible, you’ll receive an email with a link to the online application.