- About ARCS
- National Leadership
- FAQ
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Members
- ARCS National Luminary Award
- ARCS Light Honorees
- Scholars
- Alumni Hall of Fame
- Danaher Foundation Grant Scholars
- Partners
- Get Involved
- Ways to Give
- News
- Chapters Nationwide
- All participating institutions and programs must meet rigorous national standards to ensure that ARCS funding supports the highest-caliber scientific talent.
- Awards will be made in high-impact fields identified by the Council on Competitiveness and its National Commission on Innovation and Competitiveness Frontiers.
- Scholars will receive unrestricted funds to support doctoral research in emerging technologies essential to the nation’s economic strength and security.
- Areas of emphasis include advanced computing, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, microelectronics, quantum science, advanced manufacturing, and other frontier technologies shaping the future of innovation.
National Scholars Program
ARCS Foundation has launched a National Scholar Award Program to expand the organization's geographical reach while investing in high-impact scientific areas.
The ARCS National Scholar Award Program will provide support for exceptional graduate-level STEM students in regions not currently served by ARCS chapters, with a focus on scholars in scientific fields critical to U.S. competitiveness.
“This initiative places ARCS National at the center of our founding mission—supporting exceptional STEM scholars,” said ARCS Foundation President Jill Bray. “By partnering with universities in regions not yet served by ARCS chapters, we can broaden our organizational reach while building on nearly seven decades of remarkable chapter leadership.”
Announced in March 2026, the initiative will begin with a three-year pilot at up to three select universities.
Recent reductions in federal research funding and changes affecting international student enrollment have threatened the sustainability of research programs at universities across the United States placing graduate-level research and scientific innovation at risk and underscoring the growing need to support outstanding U.S. scholars and the universities that enable their pursuit of advanced research and discovery. By expanding its footprint and strategically investing in emerging areas of science, ARCS Foundation is helping bridge critical gaps in academic research support while strengthening the pipeline of U.S. STEM leaders whose discoveries will drive innovation and sustain America’s competitive edge.