ACS Student Leadership Award

Award at a Glance

TypeAward
Recipient Student
Category Professional Development,  Travel
AmountVaries
DeadlineOctober 6, 2025

Purpose

The ACS Student Leadership Award provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to interact with ACS Board of Directors, Division, International Chemical Sciences Chapter, and Local Section Leaders, and Younger Chemists Committee (YCC) Awardees. Students selected will receive registration and travel expenses to the ACS Leadership Institute.

Description

Up to 15 undergraduate students who have demonstrated leadership skills within their student chapter will be selected to participate in the ACS Leadership Institute.  Awardees will have the opportunity to take leadership development cources, learn about resources, and make valuable connections with the ACS leaders.

The award covers registration fees, transportation, lodging and meals associated with participation in the annual ACS Leadership Institute. Students who attend will have an additional opportunity to become student liaison to the Undergraduate Student Advisory Board and further their leadership experience.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

Application requirements

Applicants will need to provide

  • Your contact info, including ACS member number, expected graduation date, and officer position held in your student chapter
  • Student chapter information, including institution name, faculty advisor contact info and if they approve of the application, and for U.S.-based student chapters the ACS local section 
  • PDFs of your cover letter and résumé.
    • Cover letter should be no more than two pages and describe the following: 
      • Current major, minor (if applicable), and expected graduation date
      • Future career plans and how you'll stay connected with ACS
      • Past/current leadership roles, including within your ACS student chapter
      • Involvement in your ACS student chapter and enthusiasm toward the field of chemistry
      • Desired leadership skills and plans to use these to strengthen your student chapter
      • Involvement in ACS beyond student chapter activities
    • Résumé should highlight your leadership experiences.
    • Letter of recommendation should be sent directly from the advisor to SCLeaders@acs.org, and an email will be sent for confirmation.

Sponsor

Sponsored by the Society Committee on Education Undergraduate Student Advisory Board

Contact Information

Please contact SCLeaders@acs.org with any questions.

Related Opportunities

  • Nina McClelland Memorial Award The Nina McClelland Memorial Award provides $2,000 to postdoctoral scholars to travel and present at the ACS GCI's Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference.

  • Irving S. Sigal Global Mobility Award Program This award aims to recognize and support international postdoctoral scholars conducting research outside of the United States in the field of chemistry.

  • Pfizer Emergent Leader Award To recognize up to eight outstanding individuals in the second year and above of their graduate studies or undertaking post-doctoral research. The applicants must perform research in the areas of organic chemistry, synthetic methodology, total synthesis, medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry and chemical biology.

  • Ciba Travel Awards in Green Chemistry Sponsoring U.S. students to attend and participate in an ACS meeting, conference, or training program with a significant green chemistry or sustainability component.