[American Chemical Society](https://www.acs.org)

November 15, 2026 | December 1, 2026

$1,500 stipend per awardee; 8 awards annually; supports ACS Fall Meeting expenses.

Recognizes eight outstanding graduate students in chemistry who present research at an ACS Fall Meeting symposium, providing visibility and a stipend for meeting participation.

--- ## Description The Merck Research Award, administered by the ACS Women Chemists Committee (WCC), honors eight exceptional graduate students (primarily women) in chemistry and related fields. Awardees are selected to present their research at a dedicated WCC/Merck symposium during the ACS Fall Meeting. Each recipient receives a $1,500 stipend to defray meeting expenses and is recognized at multiple high-profile events, including the Awards Symposium Reception, Women in the Chemical Enterprise Networking Breakfast, WCC ‘Just Cocktails’ reception, and the WCC Luncheon. The award aims to highlight and celebrate the achievements of promising graduate researchers while fostering career development and networking opportunities within the chemical sciences. --- ## Due Dates - November 15, 2026: Application deadline (as listed on the ACS WCC award page) - December 1, 2026: Application materials deadline (as listed in the WCC Local Section Resource Guide) --- ## Funding Amount - $1,500 stipend per awardee. - Eight awards are given annually. - The stipend is intended to cover ACS Fall Meeting expenses (travel, registration, lodging, etc.). --- ## Eligibility - Open to graduate students in their **third or fourth year** of graduate school. - Research focus must be in one or more of: Organic, Inorganic, Medicinal, Analytical, Chemical Biology, Computational, Structural Chemistry, or related disciplines. - Open to: - U.S. citizens (studying anywhere) - Non-U.S. citizens enrolled in a graduate program in the U.S. or Canada - Previous recipients of the Merck Research Award are ineligible. --- ## Application Process - **Required materials:** - Resume or CV (including permanent address) - Brief cover letter (1 page) describing the award’s impact on your career and your support of the WCC mission - Proposed abstract for the WCC/Merck Research Award Symposium - Letter from your advisor commenting on your technical ability and potential, and confirming your participation in the ACS Fall Meeting if selected - **Submission:** Apply online via the ACS WCC Merck Research Award application portal (link provided below). - **Selection:** Awardees are selected based on research excellence, alignment with award goals, and potential impact. --- ## Additional Information - Awardees must present their research at the designated WCC/Merck symposium during the ACS Fall Meeting. - Recognition extends across several networking and professional events at the meeting, enhancing visibility and career connections. - The award is sponsored by Merck and the ACS Committee on Women Chemists. --- ## External Links - [ACS WCC Merck Research Award Program Page](https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/funding/awards/women-chemists-merck-research-award.html) - [ACS Women Chemists Committee](https://www.acs.org/about/governance/committees/women-chemists.html) - [Apply Online (when open)](https://fs7.formsite.com/vatz5F/MerckResearch/index) - [WCC Local Section Resource Guide (PDF)](https://acswcc.org/wp-content/uploads/WCC-Local-Section-Resource-Guide.pdf) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Email | Phone | |-------------------------|------------------------------------|-----------------| | ACS Women Chemists Committee | [wcc@acs.org](mailto:wcc@acs.org) | +1 800-227-5558 | | ACS General Contact | [help@services.acs.org](mailto:help@services.acs.org) | | ---

Merck Research Award

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